What you'll need
- Vacuum cleaner
- Bucket or spray bottle
- Mild detergent (a small amount goes a long way)
- Cold or lukewarm water
- Soft brush or sponge
- Clean dry towels or old sheets
- Outdoor space, balcony, or bathroom with drainage
Drying is what most people don't plan for.
Vacuum thoroughly first
Vacuum the carpet well on both sides before introducing any moisture. Dry dirt and grit come out much more easily than wet dirt. Flip the carpet and vacuum the underside too. This five-minute step makes everything that follows simpler.
Choose your washing spot
A small carpet (under 2 m²) can be washed in a bathtub. A larger one needs outdoor space — a balcony, garden, or any flat area where you can lay it out fully. Washing a large carpet indoors without proper drainage is genuinely difficult: a wet carpet holds far more water than you'd expect.
Mix your solution and dampen the carpet
Add a small amount of detergent to a bucket of cool water. Not too much — leftover soap residue is a more common problem than too little. Dampen the carpet evenly, working from the edges inward.
Scrub gently with the grain
Work the solution in with a soft brush, always moving with the direction of the fibres — not across them or in circles. Pay extra attention to stains: press gently rather than hard, which can push the stain deeper or spread it wider.
Rinse thoroughly
Rinse out all the detergent. Soap residue is the carpet's number one enemy after washing — it attracts new dirt faster than a clean surface does. Rinse once more after you think you're done. The water should run completely clear.
Remove excess water
A wet carpet can weigh three times as much as a dry one. Press gently (don't wring) or fold the carpet and press against a surface. Walking over the carpet with a dry towel underneath is also effective — the towel draws out water from below.
Dry flat with good airflow
Lay the carpet flat on a clean surface or hang a lightweight carpet over a rack. Good air circulation is critical: a damp carpet sitting in a warm room for more than 24 hours is a mould risk. Wind, outdoor air, and good ventilation speed up drying dramatically.
Watch out
- Too much detergent is worse than too little. Soap stuck in the fibres attracts more dirt.
- A big wet carpet indoors without ventilation is a mould risk. Plan the drying before you start the wash.
- Deal with stains immediately — waiting until the next full wash makes them significantly harder to remove.
Home washing
Works for small and synthetic carpets with a suitable washing spot and drying space. Requires physical effort and time.
Mattonouto
One booking — everything else is handled. Centrifuging removes water effectively, drying time drops significantly.