How do you disinfect and sanitize carpet?

Carpets can harbor dirt, dust, allergens, and germs that can be harmful to health. Regular cleaning is essential, but disinfecting and sanitizing carpets on occasion is also important to kill potentially dangerous microbes. There are several effective methods and products to disinfect and sanitize carpets.

Why disinfect and sanitize carpets?

Carpets trap and hold on to all sorts of particles and microbes. Bacteria, viruses, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores settle into the carpet fibers. Over time, carpets become breeding grounds for these allergens and germs. Some common microbes found in carpets that can cause illnesses include:

• Staphylococcus aureus – causes staph infections
• Salmonella – causes food poisoning
• E. coli – causes gastrointestinal illness
• Rhinovirus – causes the common cold
• Norovirus – causes acute gastroenteritis

When people walk on carpets, these particles and microbes get kicked back up into the air for people to inhale and come into contact with. This exposes you and your family to health risks.

Some people are more vulnerable to carpet germs than others. This includes babies, young children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. Disinfecting carpets helps provide a healthier indoor environment.

How often should you disinfect carpets?

The frequency of carpet disinfection depends on factors like:

• Amount of foot traffic
• Number of pets
• Presence of allergy or asthma sufferers
• Frequency of spills and stains
• Last time it was professionally cleaned

For light traffic areas, disinfecting carpets every 6 months is usually sufficient. High traffic areas like stairs, hallways, and common areas may need disinfecting every 2-3 months.

It’s a good idea to disinfect carpets more frequently if you have young children or pets. Do spot cleaning of stains and spills as soon as they occur to prevent microbe growth.

Professionally steam cleaning carpets every year is recommended to deep clean and sanitize them. You can disinfect carpets yourself in between professional cleanings.

How to disinfect carpets

There are several effective disinfectants and methods you can use at home to sanitize your carpets:

1. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective natural disinfectant. It kills bacteria, viruses, fungus, and spores. Follow these steps:

• Vacuum the carpet to remove dirt and debris.
• Mix 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of warm water. Or use undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide.
• Spray or sponge the hydrogen peroxide solution onto the carpet. Make sure you rub it into the carpet fibers.
• Let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the hydrogen peroxide can work.
• Blot and air dry the carpet. No need to rinse.

2. White vinegar

White vinegar is a natural antibacterial that kills bacteria, mold, and viruses. Follow these directions:

• Vacuum carpet thoroughly.
• Fill spray bottle with equal parts cool water and white vinegar.
• Spray vinegar solution onto carpet. Focus on high traffic areas.
• Let sit for 20-30 minutes.
• Blot excess liquid.
• No need to rinse. Allow carpet to air dry.

3. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a powerful disinfectant. It kills a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Here are the steps for use:

• Vacuum carpet to prep the area.
• Mix 20-25 drops of tea tree oil with 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle.
• Spray carpet liberally with tea tree oil solution.
• Let sit for at least 10 minutes.
• Blot excess liquid with clean towel.
• Allow carpet to air dry. No rinsing needed.

4. Borax

Borax works as a natural disinfectant and deodorizer for carpets. Follow these instructions:

• Vacuum thoroughly to lift dirt from carpet.
• Sprinkle borax powder liberally over entire carpet.
• Let borax sit for a minimum of 1 hour to kill germs and absorb odors.
• Vacuum up the borax to remove it from carpet.

5. Steam clean

Steam cleaning uses very hot water and strong pressure to deeply clean carpets. The heat kills germs and bacteria. Renting a steam cleaner allows you to sanitize carpets yourself. Here are some tips:

• Vacuum first to lift dirt and debris.
• Fill steam cleaner with hot water and carpet cleaner solution.
• Work slowly and methodically. Go over areas twice.
• Rinse with clean water to prevent residue.
• Allow carpet to dry completely, about 8-12 hours.

6. Disinfectant spray

There are many EPA-approved commercial disinfectant sprays made to sanitize carpets and kill germs. Look for sprays that kill coronaviruses. Follow all label instructions carefully.

Some popular disinfectant sprays include:

• Lysol Disinfectant Spray
• Clorox Disinfecting Spray
• Microban 24 Hour Multi-Purpose Cleaner
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Concentrate
• Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray

Be sure to find a product specifically made for disinfecting carpets. Wear gloves and open windows when using disinfectant sprays.

Tips for disinfecting carpets

Follow these tips to safely and effectively disinfect your carpets:

• Always vacuum first – This lifts dirt, allergens and lets disinfectants reach deeper into carpet fibers.
• Use concentrated solutions – Diluting too much makes disinfectants less effective.
• Allow proper contact time – Read label instructions and let solutions sit to work properly.
• Blot don’t rub – Rubbing can damage carpet fibers. Gently blot up excess liquid.
• Dry thoroughly – Trapped moisture encourages mold and bacterial growth.
• Repeat as needed – Heavily soiled high traffic areas may need repeat applications.
• Consider professional steam cleaning – This deep cleans and disinfects carpets thoroughly.

How to sanitize carpets

Sanitizing carpets helps reduce germs and bacteria to safer levels. But sanitizers do not necessarily kill all viruses and microbes like disinfectants do.

Some good options for sanitizing include:

Baking soda

Baking soda absorbs odors and helps reduce mold and bacteria levels. To sanitize carpets with baking soda:

• Vacuum carpet thoroughly.
• Sprinkle baking soda liberally over entire carpet area.
• Let sit for minimum 6-8 hours or overnight.
• Vacuum up baking soda from carpet.

White vinegar sanitizing solution

Mixing vinegar with soap makes an effective sanitizing solution. Follow these steps:

• Mix 2 cups warm water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 tsp. clear dish soap.
• Transfer to spray bottle. Shake well to mix.
• Spray solution onto carpet. Focus on high traffic areas.
• Allow to sit 5-10 minutes.
• Use towel to blot excess solution.
• Allow carpet to air dry fully.

Hydrogen peroxide

In addition to disinfecting, hydrogen peroxide can also sanitize carpets. Follow the same method described for disinfection but allow solution to sit for only 5 minutes before blotting dry.

Steam cleaning

Steam cleaning with a hot water carpet cleaner kills many bacteria and sanitizes carpets. See steps outlined in disinfectant section.

How to clean carpets after disinfecting

It’s important to do a final clean of carpets after disinfecting them. Disinfectants leave behind residues that should be removed.

Follow these steps for carpet cleaning after disinfecting:

1. Allow carpet to dry completely after disinfecting. This takes 6-8 hours.
2. Once dry, vacuum again to lift up cleaning residues.
3. Use an oxygen-based carpet cleaner to break down and lift residues.
4. Spot clean any heavily soiled high traffic areas.
5. Steam clean or rinse with clear water if needed to remove residue.
6. Run air movers and dehumidifiers to dry carpets quickly.
7. Vacuum again once fully dry.

Benefits of disinfecting carpets

Disinfecting carpets provides many important benefits including:

• Kills dangerous bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella, Staph that can cause illness
• Reduces respiratory infections by killing viruses
• Helps provide a healthier indoor environment
• Destroys mold and fungi that aggravate allergies
• Removes musty “dirty carpet” odors
• Makes carpets look cleaner and extend their life
• Prevents growth and spread of microbes and allergens
• Protects health of children, elderly and immunocompromised

Disinfecting high traffic areas helps provide a deeper level of cleanliness. It reduces the amount of dirt, germs and irritants tracked into homes. Maintaining clean carpets can help reduce allergies and respiratory symptoms.

Potential risks of carpet disinfectants

While disinfecting carpets has clear health benefits, there are some potential risks to be aware of when using certain products:

• Skin and eye irritation – Many disinfectants contain harsh chemicals that can cause burns or irritation if they come into contact with eyes or skin. Always take precautions and use appropriate PPE like gloves and eye protection.
• Respiratory problems – The fumes from some disinfectant products can trigger asthma symptoms or difficulty breathing. Open windows and use fans to allow proper ventilation.
• Residual build-up – Disinfectant residues left in carpets can sometimes cause discoloration or attract more dirt over time. Be sure to rinse and extract carpets properly after disinfecting.
• Damage to fibers – Rubbing or over-wetting carpets with certain disinfectants can potentially damage or stain the fibers. Always blot gently instead of rubbing.
• Reactions with other chemicals – Never mix ammonia-based and bleach-based cleaners together. This creates a toxic gas that is dangerous to inhale.
• Health impacts of fumes – Young children and pets should not inhale fumes from harsh chemical disinfectants. Keep them out of the area during and after treatment.

To minimize risks, select an EPA-approved, non-toxic disinfectant method appropriate for carpets. Read all safety warnings and instructions. Allow for proper ventilation during and after use.

FAQs about carpet disinfectants

What is the best disinfectant for carpets?

Some of the most effective carpet disinfectants include hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, borax, tea tree oil, steam cleaning, and commercial disinfectant sprays designed for carpets. Look for EPA-approved, non-toxic products.

What kills mold in carpets?

To kill mold and mold spores in carpets, use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, borax, tea tree oil, baking soda, or commercial antimicrobial products. Steam cleaning also kills mold and sanitizes carpets.

Do I need to rinse carpet after disinfecting?

Most home disinfectants like hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and tea tree oil do not require rinsing from carpets. Just be sure to blot up any excess liquid. Commercial disinfectants and steam cleaning do require rinsing/extraction.

Is it safe to mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for carpets?

No, do not mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together as this creates peracetic acid which can damage carpet fibers. Use them separately instead.

Does Lysol disinfect carpet?

Yes, Lysol makes several EPA-approved disinfectant sprays suitable for use on carpets. Make sure to select their carpet cleaner formulas and follow all label instructions carefully.

Can I use bleach on carpets?

Bleach is not recommended for use directly on carpets as it can damage or discolor fibers. An oxygen-based bleach alternative is safer if you need a bleach cleaning step.

How long after disinfecting can I walk on carpets?

It takes about 6-8 hours for carpets to fully dry after disinfecting. Keep high traffic to a minimum during this time. Placing fans to circulate air can help speed drying.

Conclusion

Disinfecting carpets helps remove dangerous germs, viruses, bacteria, allergens and dust mites. For best results, vacuum thoroughly first before applying your choice of disinfectant solution. Allow proper contact time so disinfectants can work effectively. Always blot gently instead of rubbing and make sure carpets dry fully.

Sanitizing carpets reduces germ levels without necessarily killing everything. Baking soda, vinegar, steam cleaning and hydrogen peroxide all work well for sanitizing. Be sure to clean carpets again after disinfecting to remove chemical residues.

With the right methods and products, you can effectively disinfect and sanitize your carpets to help promote better health and cleaner indoor air quality.