How to Clean an Area Rug in Just a Few Steps

Area rugs often get overlooked in people's homes from a cleaning perspective.  If you are unsure about how to clean an area rug, this post is for you!

I personally didn't own any area rugs until I was in my first home.  So I can promise you I definitely didn't know how to clean one.  

Shortly after we moved in, we adopted our first puppy.  If I thought keeping the area rug clean without a dog was hard, I was in for a rude awakening. 

However, after some research, I found the best combo for cleaning an area rug that truly doesn't take too long but yields great results. 

You really don't need many products and once you have them, you'll be set for a long time. 

This post is all about how to clean an area rug!

How to Clean an Area Rug

There are truly only a few steps to cleaning an your small or large area rugs.  I always try to find the quickest but most effective way to tackle tasks like this.  The general steps for cleaning your area rug are below.

1. Vacuum

Although this is an easy step, its an important one.  Make sure you move all of the furniture sitting on the carpet and vacuum the entire carpet. 

You want to make sure you have vacuumed all of the loose dirt, dust, hair, fibers, etc. before shampooing.  If you don't vacuum thoroughly, you will see a lot of debris in your shampooer.  This just hinders the effectiveness of the shampooing process, so you want to get everything up ahead of time.

2. Spot Treat

Once you have vacuumed the carpet and have removed all of the loose dirt, find any stains that you can spot treat.  I use a separate cleaner for these stains than the shampoo I use in my Bissell Shampooer.  The product I linked is designed to lift the toughest stains and prevent future ones.  Follow the directions for the spot cleaner of your choice.  I use the scrub brush linked below to thoroughly remove any stains. 

3. Shampoo

Now that all of the prep is complete, you can start the shampoo process.  I rave about the Bissell shampooer linked below.  It was very inexpensive and was worth every penny.  I combine it with the Bissell Pet solution.  The process is rather simple. 

You fill the tank with warm water to the fill line.  Then you add the solution to the next line. You simply plug the shampooer in, lift the handle and get to work. 

I work in long sections.  You hold the button down on your first pass to release the water and solution.  Then you release the button and pull the shampooer over your first pass so the device can suck up all of the water and solution. 

I complete this process twice per section.  It is extremely satisfying to watch the dirt come right up. There is a full line on the tank that you will need to keep an eye on and empty it when needed. 

You will also need to refill the water tank and add more solution if necessary.  Once the entire carpet has been shampooed, you will need to give it a couple of hours to dry. 

4. Deodorize

Once the carpet is clean, I like to use a deodorizer.  This is not a necessary step because the carpet is fully clean at this point, but I do it for the smell!  

5. Vacuum Again

When the deodorizer is ready, I vacuum the whole carpet again. This just gets the deodorizer up and removes any loose fibers after shampooing.  

Best Area Rug Cleaner

There are a ton of options when it comes to carpet cleaning products, but I have linked my recommendations.  And they are all available on Amazon. 

The Bissell Upright Shampooer was the most affordable option with the best reviews.  There are certainly fancier options that may make sense if you have large carpets, or a number of area rugs you are cleaning. However, we have two pets and an area rug in a high traffic area and this model has been perfect for us. 

I spent a long time comparing models because although I didn't want to spend a lot of money, I also wanted to make sure I was getting a machine that was going to perform.  We have had this model for over a year and are very satisfied with it. 

I also love the Bissell Pet Solution.  It has worked really well for pet stains, dirt, etc.  The solution also lasts a really long time since you need the smallest amount of solution per shampoo. 

When it comes to vacuuming, I swear by my Dyson.  The suction on it is so, so good and I love that it is wireless.  However, you can use absolutely any vacuum.  You just want to make sure you are doing a solid vacuuming so that there isn't a lot of debris in your shampooer.  

I linked the scrub brushes I use for spot cleaning and the spot cleaner below.  You can use a scrub brush from the Dollar Store, Walmart, etc.  There are also a ton of spot removers but I tend to look for ones that are good for stains, dirt and pets.  Since I had success with the Bissell brand between the shampooer and the solution, I stuck with the brand for spot treatment. 

As I mentioned before, deodorizing the carpet is an optional step, but this natural lemon and eucalyptus one is amazing and leaves your house smelling super clean.  Growing up we had all carpet in my house.  My parents always used a deodorizer and it truly makes a difference.  Carpets get a lot of traffic and trap all kinds of odor.  I suggest giving it a shot if you haven't before! 

Final Tips

Now that you have a super clean and fresh smelling carpet, the final tip is to make sure you are thoroughly cleaning your Bissell Shampooer.  

Regardless of how thorough you are when vacuuming, if you have pets, you are going to find hair and some fibers from the carpet in the shampooer.  Although this is normal, you want to make sure you clean it all out before your next shampooing. 

The directions for cleaning the shampooer come with the device and are very easy to follow.  Once you get the pieces separated from the device, you basically rinse it under warm water and set it out to dry. 

You just want to make sure you are letting everything dry completely before putting it back together and storing it. 

Final Thoughts

Getting the products you need to clean your area rug is really the hardest part.  You just want to make sure you have everything you need to complete the process.  I highly recommend these products because the reviews are great and I have tested the process myself with great results. 

You will be completely shocked with how dirty the water is when you dump it out but my gosh its so satisfying.  

I recommend completing this process once every three months (four times a year).  Obviously you can spot clean more regularly if needed, but I do a full shampoo every three months (give or take a few weeks). 

If you have any questions about the process or the products recommended, be sure to leave a comment below! 

This post is all about how to clean your area rug!

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