What is the best way to disinfect your carpet?

Carpets can harbor dirt, debris, allergens, and germs that can make your home unhealthy. Regular vacuuming helps remove some of these contaminants, but may not be enough to fully sanitize your carpets. Disinfecting your carpets can help kill germs and bacteria that vacuuming leaves behind.

Why should you disinfect your carpet?

There are several reasons why you may want to disinfect your carpets:

• Kill germs – Carpets can contain germs like E. coli, salmonella, and staph that can cause illnesses. Disinfecting kills these germs.
• Remove allergens – Allergens like pet dander, pollen, and dust mites can get trapped in carpet fibers. Disinfecting helps destroy these particles.
• Eliminate odors – Spills, pet accidents, and mildew can cause unwanted carpet odors. Disinfecting helps eliminate these smells.
• Prevent mold growth – Moisture in carpets can promote mold growth. Disinfecting prevents mold from developing.
• Improve air quality – Germs and allergens in carpets can circulate into the air. Disinfecting improves indoor air quality.

By killing germs and reducing allergens, routine carpet disinfection can make your home cleaner and healthier.

How often should you disinfect your carpet?

Most experts recommend disinfecting your carpets every 3-12 months. However, frequency depends on several factors:

• High traffic areas – Disinfect more often in rooms with heavy foot traffic like hallways.
• Pets – Homes with pets need more frequent disinfection to control dander and germs.
• Kids – Disinfect more with small children who play on the floors.
• Allergies – Disinfect more if you or a family member has allergies.
• Spills – Immediately disinfect areas where food or liquids were spilled.
• Illness – Disinfect carpets after illness to prevent spread of germs.

Inspect your carpets regularly and disinfect when they appear dirty, start smelling, or after any spill or illness in your home.

What’s the best way to disinfect carpet?

There are several effective methods and products for disinfecting carpet:

1. Hot water extraction

Hot water extraction, also called steam cleaning, is a deep cleaning method that involves spraying a carpet with an antimicrobial cleaning solution under high pressure to dislodge dirt and kill germs. The solution is then extracted along with dislodged contaminants using powerful wet vacuum suction.

Benefits:

• Very effective at killing germs and removing allergens
• Can clean deep down into carpet fibers
• Extracts dirt so no chemical residue remains

Limitations:

• Requires heavy professional equipment
• Long drying time – may take 10+ hours
• Not DIY friendly

2. Disinfectant spray

Antimicrobial disinfectant sprays are an easy DIY carpet cleaning method. Look for EPA-approved disinfectants safe for use on carpets.

Benefits:

• Kills germs including coronavirus
• Available at grocery and hardware stores
• No equipment required
• Fast and easy for spot cleaning

Limitations:

• Does not deep clean or remove allergens from fibers
• Can leave chemical residue in carpet
• May cause carpet discoloration

3. Baking soda

Sprinkling baking soda over carpet and letting it sit for up to an hour before vacuuming can naturally disinfect without chemicals.

Benefits:

• Non-toxic and safe for kids and pets
• Removes musty odors
• Doubles as a carpet deodorizer
• Affordable and readily available

Limitations:

• Not as effective as commercial disinfectants
• Does not clean deeply or remove allergens
• Takes more effort than spraying

4. Disinfectant powder

Disinfectant carpet powders contain antimicrobial ingredients that can kill germs. Sprinkle over carpet, let sit, then vacuum up.

Benefits:

• Disinfects without liquids
• Suitable for quick spot treatment
• Easy to apply powder formulation

Limitations:

• Does not remove deeply embedded dirt or stains
• Can be messy if applied too liberally
• May cause buildup if not fully vacuumed

Tips for disinfecting carpet

Follow these tips to safely and effectively disinfect your carpets:

• Pretreat heavily soiled areas – Spray stains with an enzymatic cleaner before disinfecting.
• Vacuum first – Remove loose dirt to allow disinfectants to work.
• Read labels carefully – Follow all instructions for application and ventilation.
• Wear gloves and a mask – Avoid skin and inhalation exposure to chemicals.
• Work in sections – Move furniture and disinfect only small sections at a time.
• Allow proper dwell time – Leave disinfectants on carpet for indicated contact time.
• Rinse after use – For liquids, rinse treated area with clean water.
• Dry thoroughly – Run fans and dehumidifiers to prevent mold.
• Ventilate well – Open windows and run fans to circulate fresh air.

How to make a DIY carpet disinfectant spray

You can easily make your own natural DIY disinfectant spray for carpets:

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide
• 10-15 drops essential oil like tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil (optional)
• Spray bottle

Instructions:

1. Fill spray bottle with 2 cups warm water. Warm water activates cleaning power.
2. Add 2 tablespoons white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. This acts as the disinfectant.
3. Add 10-15 drops essential oil if you want a nice scent. Oils like tea tree also have antimicrobial properties.
4. Shake bottle to mix ingredients.
5. Spray onto carpet. Let sit 5-10 minutes.
6. Blot any excess liquid with a towel. Allow to fully dry before walking on carpet.

This DIY carpet cleaner will naturally kill germs and bacteria without harsh chemicals. Always test in an inconspicuous area first to check for colorfastness.

How to make a carpet disinfectant powder

Making your own carpet disinfectant powder is an easy DIY solution too. All you need are everyday ingredients:

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup borax
• 10-15 drops essential oil, such as tea tree, lavender or lemon (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup borax powder.
2. Add 10-15 drops essential oil for scent if desired. The oils also provide disinfectant properties.
3. Mix well with a whisk or fork until combined.
4. Sprinkle the powder evenly over carpet. Allow to sit for 30 minutes up to 1 hour.
5. Vacuum thoroughly to remove powder.

This simple recipe makes a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial carpet cleaner using ingredients from your pantry.

Should you hire a professional carpet cleaner?

While DIY disinfecting can help maintain your carpets, periodically hiring a professional carpet cleaning service has advantages:

• Deeper cleaning method like steam cleaning
• Powerful equipment to sanitize all carpet fibers
• Ability to treat difficult stains
• Extracts all dirt, grime, and residues
• No equipment for you to rent or purchase

Professional hot water extraction every 6-12 months is recommended for a thorough disinfection and deep clean.

Cost to hire professional carpet cleaner

Hiring professional carpet cleaning costs:

Room	Cost
Bedroom carpet	$50 – $100
Living room carpet	$100 – $200
Stairs	$30 – $60 per flight
Whole house carpet	$300 – $600+

National average cost for professional carpet cleaning is $125-175 for one room and $325-475 for whole house.

Conclusion

Disinfecting your carpets should be part of your regular cleaning routine to control germs and allergens. Hot water extraction by a professional carpet cleaner provides the deepest clean. However DIY options like spray, powder, and baking soda can also sanitize carpets on a budget.

Be sure to always read and follow instructions on any commercial carpet disinfectant products. And test DIY solutions in an inconspicuous area first. With routine disinfection and professional deep cleaning, you can maintain healthy carpets your family can safely enjoy.