How To Clean Carpet On Stairs

There are many less time-consuming ways to clean your carpets, especially the ones on the stairs. Therefore, the steps you take to clean your carpet depend on how you choose to go about it. Some ways to clean carpeted stairs include using a vacuum cleaner, commercial carpet/rug cleaner, and by hand.

I bet all the motivation you need to clean your carpet is the fear of losing the fiber-feel of your carpet. After a long time, most carpets lose that nice touch. It is often because of poor maintenance. The good news is that in this article, you will learn how to clean carpet on stairs.

Without a doubt, the best way to clean carpets is by using a machine. This is obvious because devices are often faster, more accessible, and more effective than crude labor. Carpets, however, can prove hard to wash because of their dirt retention capacity, making going for machines the best choice.

Expert carpet cleaners can also help clean your carpeted stairs, but you might not be lucky to hire a pro cleaning service. Moreover, some spills might require quick attention. Therefore, it is better to get used to handling the cleaning yourself either by using machines (vacuums or commercial cleaners) or by hand.

The good news is that affordable carpet cleaners you can buy will do the work perfectly for you. If you cannot afford to buy one, you can even rent it for a lesser price and subsequently handle minor stains by scrubbing with your hand.

There are several ways you can combine the cleaning abilities of a vacuum cleaner, carpet cleaner, and hand to get the magic you desire. However, the following step gives the best way to clean your carpet:

Step 1

The first thing is to get all your washing equipment ready. It includes the vacuum cleaner, commercial carpet cleaner, stiff brush, water, carpet shampoo, etc. Each of these items has its benefits, and it is best to get them in one place to avoid running around.

Moreover, ensure the machines you will be using are in good condition. Make sure the carpet cleaner is functioning well. If not, take it to the repairer. Also, always ensure that your vacuum filter is empty or free from dust for efficient performance.

Step 2

Ensure the stairs are free from any large objects. The presence of such will obstruct your work and make you move slower than expected. Not just object, clear the stairs of your equipment too. Make sure you only have one thing at a time.

Step 3

Depending on how dirty your carpet is, you might have to scrub it using a stiff brush. This helps remove some hardened stains on the surface of your carpet on stairs, stains the vacuum cleaner might not be able to remove. Essentially, vacuum cleaners are used for ground-in dirt.

Carry your vacuum cleaner to the top of your stairs to start work. It is always better to work from up-down. It is often easier to work with a cordless vacuum, but the other two are good enough. Ensure you cover every part of your stairs and vacuum for at least two rounds.

Step 4

It is time to use your carpet cleaner. What a vacuum essentially does is remove dirt and debris by suction. It does not clean your carpet but removes particles that can make cleaning difficult. On the other hand, your carpet cleaner makes use of soap and water to clean your carpet.

In this step, you get your carpet cleaner ready. There are different types of carpet cleaners. Therefore, follow the manufacturer's manual. In the manufacturer's manual, you will know precisely how to mix the washing solution and water and where to add each of them. Moreover, just like the vacuum cleaner, start the cleaning from top to bottom.

Step 5

After shampooing stairs, there will be excess water on and inside the carpet. If your carpet cleaner has a drying feature, you can skip this step. If it doesn't, you can clean it the old version way. Do this either by using towels or leaving it for 12 hours (or more) to dry up. You can use a fan to speed up the drying process.

How often should I clean my carpet on stairs?

Now that you know why to clean your carpet, you probably have an idea of how often you should clean it. Like many other surfaces in your house, you wash them based on how often you use them. The same thing applies to carpets. Stairs are the high-traffic area in the home. It means there is a possibility dirt and debris will accumulate there very fast.

Moreover, it also depends on the number of your household. If you have children, you need to clean your carpets more often for obvious reasons. The situation can be different if you have some unprecedented spills on your carpet.

In such a situation, you should attend to it ASAP. From studies and observations, you should clean your carpeted stairs once a week. If once in a week is too often for you, you can clean once every 10 - 14 days. However, if you stay alone, meaning you are the only one regularly occupying the traffic area in your home, you might consider cleaning it once every month.

Why should I clean my carpeted stairs?

The nature of carpets requires that they are regularly cleaned to remain hygienic. Carpets retain dust and dirt fast than any other floor decorating item. This is because of the kind of fiber used to make them. After holding a lot of dust, they start to release them intermittently.

Prolong retention of dirt can lead to bacteria and mold in the carpet. Therefore, the carpet becomes a treat to your health. You should regularly clean your carpet to save you and your loved ones from any bacteria-related diseases. Moreover, at some point, the carpet starts irritating you and then loses its fiber. To maintain the beauty of the rug, clean it regularly.

How to clean carpet on stairs (Even without a vacuum)

Much of what we have discussed so far is about cleaning carpets using machines. The advantage of using devices over the other means is the effectiveness and ease it affords. However, they are often expensive. The only advantage of cleaning carpeted stairs by hand is affordability.

How to clean carpet on stairs by hand

While it's good you know other means to clean carpeted stairs, you should also learn to clean your carpet by hand. You may prefer this option due to some unforeseen circumstances. For example, your machine might break down just at the point of use, or you might have some electricity issue that won't allow you to use your commercial cleaner.

Using your hand to wash carpets is a form of improvisation. For effectiveness, there are several alternative washing agents you can use, and they include the following:

Use of Carpet Shampoo

A carpet shampoo is a special detergent for cleaning a carpet. It is customized to ensure an effective cleaning yet maintaining the texture of your carpet. Manufacturers have designed this shampoo to handle the voluminous amount of dirt that comes from carpets.

You can shop for a carpet shampoo at the same store you buy a carpet cleaner. The best practice is to mix your carpet shampoo with a bucket of warm water. Once you have that, start from the top to bottom and use a stiff brush with your mixed shampoo to remove the dust, debris, soil, and stains on your carpet. Use a towel to dry the floor and leave it for about 12 hours to dry. Moreover, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the residual debris from the floor.

Using Vinegar

If you do not have a carpet shampoo, vinegar could be the best alternative for you. Mix half a cup of vinegar in warm water and use it to scrub your carpet. Like the one above, start at the top to the bottom. Once you are done with the first round, empty the bucket and fill it with clean water. With clean water and a clean towel, scrub the carpet one more time. Then, you can leave it to dry up.

Using Laundry Detergent Solution

How to clean carpet edges on stairs?

Sometimes the carpet edge can sustain more dirt and require a little more work. With a cordless handheld vacuum or one with brush and hose attachment, work the carpet edges. Suck up the loosened up dirt and apply shampoo liberally to the stained edges.

With a scrub brush, concentrate on the heavily soiled areas while working the shampoo into the fibers. Then get all the stains out by dabbing the area with a clean white cloth.

What is the best cleaner for the stair carpet?

There are different kinds of carpet cleaners. Here, we will review three popular and effective carpet cleaners.

1. BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot and Stain Carpet Cleaner

The Bissel cleaner is a very suitable machine for cleaning carpeted stairs. The lightweight makes it easy to carry about. It uses heatwave technology to maintain consistent water temperature, thus effectively removing dust and dirt. Moreover, it has deep reachability. It means it can enter deep into the root of your carpet to remove dust and bacteria. It has a self-cleaning ability. Therefore, it needs very little monitoring. Once you plug it into the socket, all you need do is to leave it for few minutes to heat up, and you are good to go.

It has a 37-ounce tank capacity. Therefore, with a single fill, you should be able to wash your carpet thoroughly. Moreover, its tank is easily removable, thus allowing you to refill the water and empty the previous one. Generally, it is easy to use but also has few cons. The first problem is that it is not wireless. Therefore, your stair should be close to an electric source. Moreover, it requires you to bend a lot for effective use. However, this carpet cleaner is pretty effective and durable, and it comes at an affordable price.

2. BISSELL ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Full Size Upright Carpet Cleaner

Here, we have an easy-to-use carpet cleaner with a two-times effectiveness compared with others from the same maker. You will be surprised that it has the fastest dry time ever. It is estimated that within 30 minutes of cleaner, you will have a perfectly dry carpet. It delivers a professional grade of cleaning, mainly because of its ability to remove embedded stains that are deep down your carpet. It also removes dust and stains.

It is a lightweight machine which makes it pretty easy to use. This one is also very affordable. It is easy to handle and makes the cleaning time more fun because you will spend less time coupled with less stress of carrying the machine.

3. Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

This is another portable carpet cleaner. It has a compact shape with a handle located at the exact middle making it easy to carry. It is green in color and might add to the beauty of your home. The multipurpose capacity of this carpet cleaner makes it stand alone in a class of its own. It has a spray and suction capability. You can control each of these functions, and you can make them work at the same time. The Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner helps tackle tough stains and spots with powerful spray and strong suction ability.

Better than the rest, its tank has a water capacity of 28 ounces. Therefore, you can clean a lot with a single fill. Moreover, its water tank is removable and easy to fill and empty. It also has an automatic hydro rinse tool attachment to clean out the hose after each use easily. Whether your stairs are long or short, this carpet cleaner is the best choice for you. It is also affordable. Therefore, save yourself the stress of washing your carpets yourself.

Wrap-Up

This article set out to explain everything you needed to know about cleaning the carpet on your stairs. The reason for this is apparent. Stairs are high-traffic areas in the home. Therefore, much attention should be on them. To make your home healthy for yourself and your loved ones.

You can experiment with all the different ways by which you can clean your carpeted stairs, as explained above. However, getting a carpet cleaner will save you the most stress.