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How to clean different carpet materials

Whether you have a carpet that needs a good clean or are looking to buy a new carpet and want to get a material that is easy to clean, we can help. Different carpet materials have different needs when it comes to cleaning, some are naturally more stain resistant, some need a gentle touch, whereas others can't be cleaned with harsh chemicals like bleach. And it's not just whether your carpet is a man-made material or natural that will affect the chemicals you can use. Whatever your needs, here we'll go through how to clean carpets based on the material.

Cleaning your carpet

Different carpet materials have pros and cons, which include how easy they are to clean. If you are still deciding on a carpet, check out our guide to carpet materials.

Cleaning your carpet is a fine balance between getting rid of dirt and stains, whilst keeping it looking fresh and not damaging the carpet. The material of your carpet will affect what you can safely use on your carpet. Here's how you can best clean different carpets based on the material:

Contents

How to Clean Wool Carpet

 

Luckily, wool carpets are naturally stain resistant, so most stains can be cleaned up using water. However, due to its natural properties, you can't use harsh chemicals such as bleach on wool carpets, but don't fret! It's still easy to clean any stains and accidents that may occur. Here's how to clean a wool carpet to keep it looking fresh:

 

General Cleaning

Vacuum the carpet at least once a week. Ensure your vacuum cleaner has soft bristles when cleaning a wool carpet. Rooms that see lots of footfall will need vacuuming more regularly. You should also use a steamer twice a year to keep your wool carpet looking its best.

 

Cleaning Wet Spills

For fresh, wet spillages, follow these simple steps for cleaning a wool carpet:

  1. Blot the spill with a dry paper towel or cloth
  2. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray a small amount on the carpet
  3. Use a soft sponge or cloth to rub the water into the spill
  4. Continue to blot using your dry paper towel or cloth

 

If the liquid has dried before you get to it, follow these steps to clean your wool carpet:

  1. Make a cleaning solution using 1 teaspoon of approved wool detergent, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 litre of warm water
  2. Dampen a clean cloth with this cleaning solution
  3. Lightly rub and dab the spillage with the cloth
  4. Use fresh water to remove the cleaner from the carpet
  5. Leave to dry

 

Before you use the cleaning solution, be sure to spot-test the solution in an inconspicuous area first.

 

Cleaning Difficult Spillages

For difficult spillages such as oil or crayon, you will need some mineral turpentine. This can be found at DIY shops and is used to thin paints. Once you have this, do a spot test on your carpet in an inconspicuous area. Then follow these steps:

  1. Soak a clean cloth in the mineral turpentine
  2. Lightly dab and blot the spillage
  3. Blot with a dry paper towel

How to Clean Sisal Carpet

 

Sisal carpets are easy to maintain and they don't attract dust. This natural carpet material allows dirt to fil-ter down instead of sitting on the top. However, it's important that this carpet is always cleaned using a dry method and isn't wetted.

 

General Cleaning

A sisal carpet will benefit from regular vacuuming to keep it clean. Although sisal allows dirt to fall to the bottom of the carpet, so it may not look dirty, regular vacuuming will bring up any dirt that has gathered between the fibres. For the best clean, ensure your vacuum has a strong brush suction.

 

Dry Cleaning

Because of its natural properties, it is best to dry clean a sisal carpet. This is simple to do:

  1. Sprinkle cornflour or baking soda over the carpet
  2. Leave for an hour
  3. Vacuum the carpet

 

Cleaning Wet Spills

Sisal carpet can be damaged by liquid, so it's important to clean any liquid spills as quickly as possible. To clean a fresh, wet spill, follow these steps:

  1. Immediately blot the spill with a dry paper towel (it's very important with sisal not to rub the spillage)
  2. Cover the wet area with a thick layer of cornflour
  3. Leave overnight
  4. Vacuum the area the next day

 

If you missed the accidental spillage and it has dried, don't worry, you can still save your sisal carpet. You will need some liquid though, but use as little as possible and do a spot test first. Here's how to clean a more stubborn spillage on a sisal carpet:

  1. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and mix in some mild soap. It is possible to use white vinegar, if you'd rather do this, make a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water.
  2. Use a dry cloth or paper towel to blot up as much of the spill as possible
  3. Dampen another clean cloth with the cleaning mixture
    4. Blot the spill with the cleaning mixture, using as little of the mixture as possible to avoid spreading
  4. Dry the damp area with a hairdryer

 

Cleaning Solid Spills

Solid spills that leave a mark, like crayon, take a bit more time to clean. It is possible to use small amounts of turpentine if the mark is particularly difficult.

Follow these steps to remove evidence of these accidents:

  1. Cautiously scrape up as much of the dirt as possible using a blunt knife or nail file. Vacuum any that comes ups
  2. Dampen an un-dyed white cloth with a small amount of cleaning solution (either turpentine or a water/detergent mixture)
  3. Blot the spill, working towards the centre – do not rub carpet
  4. Use a hairdryer to dry the carpet
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How to Clean Polypropylene Carpet

 

A completely synthetic material, this type of carpet is not only stain resistant but can be cleaned with harsh chemicals such as bleach. Polypropylene carpets are popular in busy homes as they are very hardwearing. Here's how to clean a polypropylene carpet:

 

General Cleaning

A polypropylene carpet should be vacuumed regularly with a good vacuum cleaner. For low pile, use a vacuum cleaner with soft brushes, for deep pile carpets make sure your vacuum has good suction. You'll need to vacuum at least once a week. You can also steam polypropylene carpets and use carpet shampoos on this material, just ensure the carpet shampoo you are using is suitable and do a spot test before using.

 

Cleaning Wet Spills

If you catch a spillage quickly, you can easily clean it up with these steps:

  1. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray a small amount on the carpet
  2. Use a soft sponge or cloth to rub the water into the spill
  3. Continue to blot using your dry paper towel or cloth

 

If a liquid spillage has dried and left a mark, you can clean this with a cleaning solution:

  1. Make a cleaning solution using 1 teaspoon of detergent, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 litre of warm water
  2. Dampen a clean cloth with this cleaning solution
  3. Lightly rub and dab the spill with the cloth
  4. Use a fresh sponge dampened with water to remove the solution
  5. Blot the water with a dry paper towel or cloth
  6. Leave to dry

 

Before you use the cleaning solution, be sure to spot-test in an inconspicuous area first.

 

Cleaning Solid Spillss

For spillages that aren't liquid but still leave a mark on your carpet, you can use either turpentine or white spirit. Just be sure to do a spot check first. Then follow these steps:

  1. Soak a clean cloth in the white spirit/turpentine
  2. Lightly dab and blot the spillage
  3. Blot with a dry paper towel

 

Bleaching

Polypropeylene is a bleachable carpet, however, you do need to do this correctly so that you do not damage the fibres. You can only bleach 100% polypropylene carpet, not blends. Also, be sure to do a spot test first, as bleach, even when diluted, can lift the dye and so ruin the colour of your carpet. However, if there is a stubborn stain and you need to bleach, follow these steps:

  1. Prepare yourself and the room by putting on rubber gloves and opening windows
  2. Make a solution of 50% thin domestic bleach and 50% water, and put this into a spray bottle
  3. Evenly spray the 50% bleach solution over the stain
  4. Leave for one hour
  5. If needed, use a brush to loosen fibres
  6. Rinse the area with fresh water

How to Clean Nylon Carpet

 

Also known as polyamide, nylon carpets are easy to clean and maintain.

 

General Cleaning

Nylon carpets need regular vacuuming to keep them clean You want to be vacuuming this carpet a few times a week, areas with heavy footfall will benefit from daily vacuuming. However, do not use a bristle brush if your vacuum has one as this will cause your carpet to frizz. You can also use carpet shampoos and steamers to keep your nylon carpet clean.

 

Cleaning Wet Spills

When accidents happen, be sure to clean these up quickly by following these steps:

  1. Blot the spill with a dry paper towel or cloth
  2. Apply warm water to the spill and blot with a clean white cloth until no mark is evident
  3. Use layers of paper towels weighted down to absorb the water
  4. Once dry, vacuum the area to restore the texture.

 

Cleaning Dry Spills

If the spillage has dried and left a mark, if the dirt causing the mark wasn't liquid-based, or if you thought you had gotten the spillage up and it had reappeared, you need to clean the stain with a cleaning solution. Always test the solution in an inconspicuous area first. Then follow these steps:

  1. Blot the mark with a dry cloth
  2. Make a cleaning solution with ¼ teaspoon of washing-up liquid and 1 cup of warm water
  3. Use a clean white cloth to apply this cleaning solution to the stain
  4. Leave for 5 minutes
  5. Rinse the area with clean water
  6. Blot the stain with paper towels
  7. Repeat steps 3 – 6 until the stain has gone
  8. Use a few layers of paper towels weighted down to absorb access moisture
  9. Once dry, vacuum the area

How to Clean Polyester Carpet

 

Polyester carpets are stain resistant and durable, but they still need cleaning to keep them looking good. Because they are stain resistant they are generally low-maintenance when it comes to cleaning.

 

General Cleaning

As with all carpet materials, vacuuming at least once a week will help to keep your polyester carpet looking its best. High-traffic areas will need vacuuming more regularly. Regular cleaning with a carpet steamer is also recommended for polyester carpets.

 

Cleaning Wet Spills

If a spill happens, clean this up as soon as possible with paper towels. Although polyester carpets are stain-resistant, this doesn't mean they will never stain. So if there is a spill that you are worried will stain (such as coffee or red wine), or if the spillage dies before you get to it, follow these steps:

  1. Blot the spillage with a dry white cloth or paper towels, do this until the area is thoroughly dry (you may need several paper towels for this)
  2. Use commercial stain remover suitable for use on polyester carpets, or use a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water, simply apply a small amount of your solution to a clean, dry cloth
  3. Blot the stain with the cleaning solution (after doing a spot test)
  4. Once the mark has gone, soak a clean cloth with cold water
  5. Press the soaked cloth into the carpet
  6. Blot the area dry with paper towels or a clean, dry cloth

 

Cleaning Solid Spills

If a solid spill happens, you need to remove as much of the solid as possible before cleaning the carpet. To do this:

  1. Use a spoon to scrape solids from the carpet, or break up the solid spill
  2. Vacuum the area of the spill
  3. Follow the steps for wet spills from #2

How to Clean Blended Carpets

 

Carpet blends are made from two or more of the above materials. This can make cleaning a little more complicated as you have to clean in a way that suits both materials to lift the dirt and not damage the fibres.

If you are unsure, assume your carpet is the most delicate material in the blend, and treat it accordingly. That way you should avoid damaging your carpet.

General Carpet Cleaning Tips

 

When it comes to cleaning your carpets and keeping them looking fresh, prevention is better than cure. Here are our general carpet cleaning tips for any material of carpet:

  • Vacuum regularly – all carpets, regardless of material, should be vacuumed weekly
  • Clean spillages as soon as they happen to prevent staining
  • Don't wear shoes around the house
  • Have mats at entrances for wiping feet
  • Deep clean carpets annually – contact a professional carpet cleaner for this

 

If you have a persistent stain on your carpet, check out our guide on getting stains out of carpets. If you're worried about damaging your carpet, hire a professional carpet cleaner to tackle stains that you can't remove.

Overall, no matter what material of carpet you have, from wool to nylon, cleaning and maintenance can be relatively simple. The most important thing is to clean up any spills as soon as possible. For more help on caring for your carpet, head to our carpet care guide.