How To Clean Carpet On Stairs (The Simple Way)
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Carpeted stairs present a unique cleaning challenge.
Carpeted stairs give your home a high-end finished look, and feel much nicer under bare feet than hardwood, or stone stair treads.
That being said, at some point you are going to find yourself staring at your dingy-looking stairs wondering how such a relatively small amount of carpeting could possibly be so difficult to clean.
We have been there…and we have some solutions to make the task a whole lot easier. So, before you start thinking about sacrificing your comfy carpet, take a few minutes to read our tips on how to clean carpet on stairs (the simple way).
Your Best Guide for How to Clean Carpet On Stairs
Here you will find several different methods for cleaning carpeted stairs. We’ve tried to include several ways so that you won’t have to go out and buy a bunch of things to get the job done.
In many cases, you’ll be able to use some of the simpler, manual methods for cleaning your carpet.
The Best Tools To Have
Before we get started let’s have a quick discussion about some of the best carpet cleaning tools to stock up on to make tackling this chore as simple as possible.
The list below is generalized, you may not need certain items, depending on the method you ultimately choose. While you may not need every tool on the list, it is an excellent starting point for assessing what you currently have, and what you may need to purchase or rent before you get started.
- Vacuum Cleaner (a lightweight vacuum is ideal)
- Carpet Cleaning Machine
- Stiff Bristle Brush
- Sticky Tape Roller
- Carpet Shampoo
- Baking Soda
- Deodorizer or Essential Oil Spray
- Absorbent towels
- Fan
The Best Way To Clean Carpet On Stairs
Now that you have taken stock of your carpet cleaning supplies, we can move forward to explore some of the top carpet cleaning methods, so you can choose the best way to clean the stair carpet in your home.
Related: How to Keep Your Carpet Stairs Clean
Cleaning Carpet Manually
As anyone who has ever attempted to lug a carpet shampooer up a flight of stairs can likely attest, this may be one area where machines don’t necessarily make the work lighter.
With that in mind, let’s dig into some of the best manual carpet cleaning methods that offer an easy way to refresh your stair carpet without lugging heavy equipment up and down the staircase.
Method #1: Stiff Brush or Broom
Depending on the type of stair carpet in your home, the level of foot traffic, and debris on your stair treads, you may be able to refresh your carpeted stairs using the quick and simple brushing method.
This is the easiest method by far, but it is best suited for low pile carpets, on stairs that do not see heavy use. This method is great for removing dust, and pet hair, but will not remove stains and odors.
Essentially, you are going to use a stiff bristled cleaning brush or broom to loosen the embedded debris and pet hair from the carpet surface so that you can then sweep it away into a dustpan, or vacuum it up.
You can use a sticky tape hair removal roller to give the stairs a final touch-up to remove any lingering surface dust or fine pet hairs that the brush or broom may have missed.
Method #2: Laundry Detergent & Baking Soda
For stair carpet that sees a lot of heavy foot traffic, or carpets that are particularly soiled, you are going to need some more heavy-duty cleaning power and a bit more elbow grease.
Fortunately, a blend of two simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand will make it simple to clean and deodorize your carpets all in one step.
Simply mix ¼ cup of baking soda and a small amount of your favorite powdered detergent into a spray bottle filled with warm water. Use the spray bottle to mist each step with the cleaning solution, and follow up with your stiff bristle brush to work the mixture into the carpet.
The trick here is to make certain that you are using enough cleaning solution on each stair to clean the carpet without over-saturating the carpet.
The wetter the carpet, the longer the drying time, and the more time for mold and mildew to develop. Take some time on the first few steps to get a feel for the right amount of cleaning fluid to apply and adjust as you go.
The best part of the baking soda and detergent method is the all-in-one aspect of the process. The detergent cleanses the carpet fibers, while the baking soda helps neutralize and eliminate any lingering odors.
After spraying, and brushing each step, use an absorbent towel to soak up any remaining moisture, and allow the carpet to air dry for at least 24 hours before vacuuming to lift out any remaining debris. You can use a fan to shorten drying time if desired.
Method #3: Vinegar
If you would prefer an all natural cleaning alternative, you can substitute a solution of warm water and ¾ of distilled white vinegar for the cleaning method discussed above.
When using the vinegar solution you are going to need to complete a second “rinse” step to avoid having your carpets smell like a submarine sandwich or salad dressing for days after cleaning (unless that is a home fragrance you are going for…we aren’t here to judge).
Essentially, you will use the same spray, and brush method as described in Method #2, however, this time you will need to follow up with a second spritz of warm clean tap water to rinse the vinegar from the carpet after use.
Because you are going to be using twice the water on each stair, you are going to take extra care to remove as much moisture from the carpet as possible after cleaning to prevent mold and mildew from developing.
You can use absorbent towels to blot up excess moisture or use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out any remaining water. A strong fan or two will help speed up drying time considerably as well.
After the carpet on the stairs has had time to dry thoroughly, you can use a vacuum to refresh the carpet, and lift out any leftover debris.
Cleaning Carpet With Carpet Cleaning Machine
We aren’t going to sugar coat it, trying to maneuver a carpet cleaning machine up and down a staircase is not for the faint of heart.
Still, there are certain carpet cleaning scenarios that are going to require a deeper level of cleaning than any of the manual methods discussed above can provide.
If muddy boots, dirty pet paws, leaky pipes, or a spilled glass of vino have left you with a serious carpet cleaning dilemma, you are going to need to break out the heavy equipment.
Fortunately, modern technology and innovation have gifted us with carpet cleaning equipment that is far more lightweight and maneuverable than the gigantic carpet shampoo machines of a few decades past.
So let’s have a look at some of your best carpet shampoo equipment and steam cleaning options for tackling those tough carpet cleaning challenges.
Best Machines To Consider
Essentially, there are two basic types of carpet cleaning machines to consider: carpet shampoo machines, and carpet steam cleaning machines.
Carpet Shampoo Machines
Carpet shampoo machines generally contain two liquid reservoirs, one filled with a fresh carpet cleaning solution and hot water, and one that holds the dirty water solution removed from your carpet after cleaning.
The carpet shampooer uses a special vacuum attachment that allows you to deposit carpet shampoo solution into the carpet, while simultaneously vacuuming it back out along with the loosened debris and dirt embedded in your carpet.
Keeping the clean water and dirty water separate really makes it effective in cleaning tough stains.
Modern carpet shampoo machines do an awesome job at deep cleaning your carpets, however, the larger models can be quite cumbersome, while smaller models will require more frequent stoops to empty, or refill fluid reservoirs.
The spot cleaners from Bissell are a really great option to look into.
Carpet Steam Cleaning Machines
Carpet steam machines use a combo of carpet shampoo, suction, and steam to provide the deepest level of carpet cleaning action.
The super-heated steam helps to destroy odor-causing bacteria in the carpet, and break down the most stubborn stains. Like carpet shampoo machines, the downside here is the size and weight of typical steam cleaning equipment. A steam cleaner is still a great option if you really want clean carpets.
If you don’t have the budget or desire to purchase a carpet cleaning machine, you can always hire a rug doctor. We try to do this annually to keep the high traffic areas of our home cleaned and well maintained. It only usually takes one day to do our whole house so it isn’t really a long time.
However, a smaller spot cleaner like the ones from Bissell are well worth the investment for cleaning your staircase. The brush heads are the perfect size for cleaning individual stairs or a carpet runner.
General Maintenance For Carpeted Stairs
Perhaps the best way to clean your carpeted stairs is to prevent them from becoming soiled in the first place. Regular carpet maintenance including regular vacuuming can help you avoid, or at least delay some of the more labor-intensive carpet cleaning chores.
The cleaning process becomes quite simple when you stay consistent.
Regular sweeping and vacuuming will help keep surface dust, and loose dirt from becoming embedded in the stair carpet, keeping your stairs looking fresh and clean for longer.
It’s worth considering getting a specific vacuum cleaner to keep at the top of the staircase specifically for cleaning your stairs. If you have a heavy vacuum cleaner you’ll really appreciate what a lightweight, cordless vacuum can do for stair carpets.
What the best vacuum is for you will depend on your budget. Just be sure it has a good brush attachment to really pick up all those dust particles and stubborn dirt.
You can also use a spot cleaning solution of either commercial carpet stain remover, baking soda, or vinegar to clean up any spills, tracked mud, or “accidents” as they occur.
With regular maintenance, and occasional spot cleaning you will be able to keep your carpeted stairs looking and smelling fresh and clean for weeks, or even months, before deep cleaning is needed.
Final Thoughts
There is no way around it, cleaning the carpet on the stairs is a chore. Hopefully, the advice we have shared in this post has made this chore a bit simpler and less daunting for you.
Do you have any great carpet cleaning tips to share? We would love to hear your ideas in the comments section below!
