Carpets add a hint of sophistication to your home and make your space appear warm and inviting. However, they can get sticky with time because of spills and stuck debris.
This ruins your carpet’s beauty and makes it uncomfortable to use. Further, a dirty carpet can be 4000 times dirtier than a toilet seat!
In this blog, we’ll share exactly how to clean sticky carpets and remove all residue and stains for good!
Know the Causes of Sticky Carpets
Before you try to clean your sticky carpet, you must know the actual cause behind it. Some possible reasons are:
- Spills from sugary beverages, such as juice, soda, or alcohol
- Soapy residue from using excess carpet cleaning solution/shampoo and inadequate rinsing
- Sticky materials, such as wax, adhesive, glue, or gum
- Excess humidity in the environment leads to stickiness from the mixture of moisture and carpet dirt.
How to Clean Sticky Carpets?
Step 1: Collect all tools and supplies
For an effective and easy cleanup, prepare the following household items and specialized goods.
- Microfiber cloth
- Warm water
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Soft-bristled brush
- Mild carpet cleaner
- Carpet stain remover
- Vacuum cleaner (brush attachment)
- Steam cleaner
Step 2: Prepare for the cleaning procedure
You don’t want your carpet to get dirty from the surroundings while cleaning. Otherwise, you’ll only increase your cleaning tasks. So, prepare according to these steps:
- Remove all objects and furniture away from the carpet. This will help you access the carpet comfortably.
- With a vacuum cleaner on the brush attachment, vacuum the entire carpet, under it, and on the surrounding floor. If necessary, do it twice to remove maximum dirt and debris.
After that, scrutinize the carpet closely for the spots that feel sticky. You can mark these areas by keeping certain items over them.
Step 3: Take certain precautions
Before trying any carpet cleaning method in this guide, focus on how to maintain carpet quality and durability simultaneously. Check the carpet manufacturer’s instructions for suggestions against using certain chemicals or cleaning methods.
Too much cleaner/detergent can create a sticky layer on the carpet. The instructions might also recommend the amount of product required for cleanup.
Lastly, while trying any DIY cleaning method, test the solution on a small and inconspicuous zone, such as a corner that stays under furniture. Let the test spot dry completely and check for color fading or other issues.
Even if a cleaning solution is unsuitable, it won’t discolor/damage any noticeable or huge area.
Step 4: Try different carpet cleaning methods
There’s no single all-in-one solution for cleaning and removing sticky carpet residue and stains. You must try out different methods and check which one works the best.
I. Specific Sticky Substance Removal
If your carpet turned sticky because of gum, wax, or glue, follow the mentioned steps.
a. For Gum
Fill a plastic bag with lots of ice cubes and place it on the gum. This will freeze the gum and harden it. Touch it to know if the gum has hardened. After hardening, scrape it using a dull spoon. Be gentle but persistent, and it’ll come off soon.
b. For Wax
Harden any wax spill using ice in a plastic bag. Scrape off with a blunt spatula. Pick it up as much as possible in this way.
Then, there will be a bare minimum of wax left on it. Put a clean cloth, paper towel, or brown paper bag on the wax spill spot. Iron it on gentle settings. The heat melts the wax and transfers it to the material used.
If ironing is a no-go, you can even heat it using a blow dryer. Repeat the process until all wax remnants come off.
c. For Glue/Adhesive
Glue or adhesive can’t be frozen like the previous options. You can deal with them using a little rubbing alcohol on the spot. Rub it in well so the alcohol can cover the glue from all surfaces. It will dissolve the glue after some time.
Wait for a while and blot it gently with a clean cloth. Once the stickiness is gone, rinse it well and remove all the residue.
II. Other Cleaning Methods
Sometimes, you might not know the cause of the stickiness, or it might not go away even after trying the above methods. Then, explore these options.
a. White Vinegar and Water
If your carpet is made of fancy materials and the sticky residue is mild, white vinegar is a suitable natural cleaning agent. It dissolves the sticky residue without any damage or discoloration.
Procedure:
- Fill equal volumes of white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution on the sticky areas until just damp. Avoid saturating the carpet to prevent mildew growth or damage.
- Blot gently with a microfiber cloth to remove the sticky residue. Don’t scrub, as it’ll push the residue deep into the fibers.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
- After completely removing the residue, blot the carpet with another damp, clean microfiber cloth. This removes all vinegar residue, which can also cause stickiness.
b. Baking Soda
If the residue is tough and odorous, baking soda effectively absorbs all moisture, removes the residue, and deodorizes it.
Procedure:
- Evenly sprinkle plenty of baking soda over all sticky spots. Don’t use old baking soda, as it might not be effective.
- Let it sit for a few hours, especially if it’s a tough, pungent residue. If you keep it on longer, it’ll be more effective.
- Remove the baking soda by vacuuming the spots several times. There must be no white powder left on the carpet.
- After vacuuming, check whether there’s any stickiness.
c. Steam Cleaning
If you tried the last two processes but it’s still sticky, you need to deep clean the carpet with a powerful steam cleaner. With the hot water and strong suction power of steam cleaners, you can extract and loosen the sticky residue and other embedded dirt and debris.
If you don’t have one, rent the appliance from a reliable local hardware store.
Procedure:
- Fill the appliance with an appropriate amount of cleaning solution and water, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Slowly run the steam cleaner over the sticky areas. Repeat it multiple times for thorough results.
- Let the carpet air dry, and don’t walk on it until then. Additionally, a fan can be used to speed up the drying process.
Step 5: Remove any stain
After removing the residue, if there are any stubborn stains from spilled drinks and food, use carpet stain removers for spot treatment.
Procedure:
- Check the stain remover packaging and pour out the recommended amount in a container.
- Dip a clean microfiber cloth into it and gently blot on the stain. Don’t scrub or rub the stain.
- Rinse the spot with plain room-temperature water and blot with a towel to dry.
Conclusion
While these steps can help you remove sticky residues from your carpet, doing it all by yourself is not easy. You need to try different solutions and see which works best. This demands patience and plenty of time.
Rather than taking all this pain, a wiser option is to rely on professionals. If you’re wondering where or how to hire a carpet cleaner, connect with our team at MaidforHaven and avail yourself of a range of eco-friendly carpet cleaning solutions.
We hire only the top 2% of elite cleaners in the industry, vetted by stringent methods and trained thoroughly. With a satisfaction guarantee and flat prices, we’ll ensure your carpet is as good as new in no time!
