How to Wash Carpets Without a Carpet Cleaner

Carpets get dirty; that’s just a fact of life. Whether your toddler spilled a cup of grape juice or your shoes tracked dirt through your home for months, you can learn how to wash carpets without a carpet cleaner.

Though carpet cleaning isn’t always a fun job, it’s a job that eventually needs to get done (ideally as soon as the mess appears). It’s time to put on your DIY hat and dive into carpet-washing steps that don’t involve a carpet cleaner.

How to Clean a Carpet Without a Carpet Cleaner

After you spot treat stains, you’ll need to clean your entire carpet. This guide will walk you through it step-by-step—without leaving dirty shoe prints. 

1. Vacuum Your Carpet

Start by cleaning your carpet with a vacuum, removing loose dust and dirt. If your vacuum is too delicate to vacuum, you can try brushing it with a stiff-bristled broom. It may take a little more elbow grease, but it works well—especially on pet hair.

2. Sprinkle Some Baking Soda 

It’s not just for baking cakes: Baking soda is a multi-use green cleaning product that can banish nasty odors. Sprinkle baking soda across your carpet, and let the powder sit for at least 30 minutes before you vacuum it away. 

How to Spot Clean a Carpet Without a Carpet Cleaner

Before you clean your entire carpet, you’ll need to spot clean the stains, ideally when the stain is fresh. Each carpet cleaning method has its pros and cons. Some are gentle, albeit less effective, while others are harsh but can lift tougher stains. Start with club soda (which is typically harmless unless you’re dumping lots of it on a wool rug that can’t handle moisture) and move from there.

1. Blot With Paper Towels

If you’ve got a fresh, liquid spill on your hands, blot it immediately with a white paper towel or absorbent microfiber cloth. You may be able to blot up the entire stain before it sets. If not, move to another method.

2. Try Club Soda

Blot—don’t scrub—your stain using a white paper towel and a small amount of club soda. Use just enough to saturate the area. This method will help dilute and lift a fresh stain. It won’t work well with a stain that has already set, so in that case, move on to the next method. 

3. Use a DIY Solution of Vinegar and Dish Soap

You can use vinegar and clear dish soap to make a powerful DIY spot cleaner. Keep in mind that vinegar is acidic, so it can lift some of the pigment in a dyed carpet. Do a spot test first. To make the solution, mix the following ingredients in a bowl: 

• 1–2 cups of white vinegar

• 1 cup of warm water

• 2–3 drops of clear dish soap

Use a clean sponge or cloth to apply the solution to the stain, dabbing from the edges to the center of the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes to lift the stain, then blot it with a dry towel. Repeat the process if needed. Once you’re done, use a clean cloth to blot the area with water. You want to remove the rest of the cleaning solution. 

4. Make a Baking Soda Paste

A baking soda paste works well to remove deep carpet stains. Here’s what you need to do:

• Combine three parts baking soda with one part water to make a paste.

• Work the paste into the carpet (a toothbrush can help you get in deep).

• Let the paste sit for a few hours. 

• Once it’s dry, vacuum up the paste. 

• If you can’t get all the paste up, you can blot the area with warm water.

Tips for Cleaning Your Carpet Without a Machine

There are a few things to remember when cleaning a carpet without a machine. Not every material is the same. Some are damaged more easily. To ensure your carpet comes out looking—and smelling—like new, consider the following:

• Always use the gentlest cleaning method possible.

• Always spot test your cleaner before applying it to a noticeable area on your carpet.

• Limit moisture, which can encourage mold and mildew to grow.

• Open your windows to help moisture evaporate.

• Move your furniture out of the way to give you a better workspace.

• Blot, don’t scrub. Scrubbing can spread a stain or embed it deeper into the pile.

• If you’re cleaning the whole carpet, start in a corner and work your way across. You want to avoid stepping over areas you’ve already cleaned—especially if they’re still wet or covered in powder.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean Your Carpets?

The typical cost of professional carpet cleaning is $120 to $230, depending on the job. You’ll pay an average of $240 for shampooing or $300 for steam cleaning. If you do the job on your own using something other than a steam cleaner, you’ll just have to pay for materials. Commercially available carpet cleaners typically cost less than $20 at a local hardware store or online.

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

You can save money on carpet cleaning by doing the job yourself. DIY cleaning generally works well as long as the carpet isn’t very delicate and doesn’t have significant stains or sticky odors (think: pet urine and cigarette smoke).

If your carpet is delicate or has deep-set stains, you’ll probably want to hire a professional. You can’t deep clean by hand as well as you can with a machine. A simple steam clean can make old carpets feel brand new. On top of that, a local carpet cleaner will know the best cleaning method for the type of carpet and the grime at hand.