Carpeted stairs are so stylish, and there’s no denying that they look wonderful, add that comfy-cosy feel beneath your feet and give you an extra layer of padding against sound or for little children if they ever bump themselves. However, carpeted stairs are dirt and dust magnets, and with time will build up an impressive quantity of grime if not regularly cleaned. That said, cleaning the carpet on your stairs can be a tedious and tricky business. So, to help you out, here are some of the best ways to clean it without having to move it!
Number 1. Clear the Area
I don’t know about you, but in my home the stairs have become a depository of everything and anything, especially when it comes to stuff that we’re too lazy to take back upstairs. A top tip that worked well in my house is to have a basket at the bottom of the stairs where anything that needs to go up but we’re too lazy to do right then goes in. Then, every evening, it is one family member’s responsibility to bring all of these things back up.
If you haven’t got this rule in place, your first step will be to clear your stairs of any objects, toys, papers, flowerpots, vases, shoes, you name it. While you’re there, you could give your handrails and stair spindles a quick polish as well.
Number 2. Get yourself the right broom
Get yourself a stiff broom to remove large dust bunnies, pet hair, and loosen up ingrained dirt. A stiff broom or brush with a roller attachment are your best allies to loosen everything up. Make sure you start at the very top of the stairs so that you don’t undo all of your work, and that you especially focus on all of those little corners, edges and crevices in which dirt just loves to lurk. Once you’ve finished with a step, use the brush to sweep some of the dirt down so that your dirt is all concentrated into one area and doesn’t risk getting trampled back into the carpet. Once you get to the bottom go ahead and shovel away this first pile of dust with a brush and dustpan.
Number 3. Make sure you have the right vacuum for your stairs
Unfortunately, standard vacuums are completely unsuitable for stairs. They are clunky and chunky, a total pain to get up and down the stairs, and worst of all, they do a terrible job of it. Cut yourself some slack and get yourself a special vacuum for stairs: a light, cordless, handheld vacuum cleaner which will make this chore so much easier for you. No having to carry that heavy hoover or have the misfortune of it tipping over and falling the whole way down while you’re still holding onto it. Experts recommend that you vacuum your carpeted stairs every day if they are being used a lot. This prevents dirt from building up. To do this, start again at the very top of the stairs and work your way down. Attach a tiny nozzle to your vacuum for stairs and run over the same step several times, again paying particular attention to any nooks and crannies. Then, go ahead a switch to your standard beater brush and give your stairs a final once-over.
Number 4. Give your carpet a monthly beauty treatment
So that your carpeted stairs bristle and shine we recommend that once a month you use some carpet shampoo to give your steps a good bath. To do this, get yourself some carpet shampoo and some good old rubber gloves – this is not a solution you want on your skin. Apply the mixture on each step using a scrub brush, and scrub until the mixture turns into a light foam. Focus especially on any stubborn spots or stains, but don’t scrub too hard or you might lose some of your carpet’s lovely colour.
Follow up with your vacuum for stairs to remove the excess moisture. If that doesn’t work for you, you could always use a towel.
It’s really important that you give your stairs a good dry, or you might risk getting mould on them.
The stairs need to dry for at least twelve hours, so we recommend you do this after the kids are asleep. Then vacuum your stairs once more in the morning and voilá! Your carpet will be restored to its original splendour.
Last quick tip to avoid getting so much dirt into the house would be to implement the rule that no shoes are allowed in the house. Dirt will always come in some way, but this is one of the most effective methods I’ve found to reduce how often I have to vacuum! Our dog is also technically not allowed up either, but I have a harder time resisting her puppy eyes so … it still happens.
Image Credits: Clean stairs Carpet from Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock