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How to Clean Carpet Without a Vacuum: 5 Different Ways

Updated
Vacuums aren’t the only cleaning tool you can use to clean your carpet. 

The go-to cleaning tool for freshening up your carpet is often a vacuum — but are you looking for an alternative? Perhaps the children hate the noise, or you’re watching your money and want to save on energy bills. Or, you simply might not have a vacuum right now.

Whatever the reason, the good news is that vacuums are not the only way to clean your carpet. There are different ways you can remove dirt from shoes, pets, dust, and general debris from the carpet.

Let’s dive right in and see how to clean carpet without a vacuum so you can get started.

Key Takeaways

  • Use a broom and dustpan or a carpet sweeper for daily cleaning and removing dust and debris.
  • Try packaging tape for spot cleaning hair and pet fur on carpets.
  • For deep cleaning, use a mild detergent or homemade cleaner, like a vinegar and water solution.
  • Steam mopping is an effective, non-toxic method for sanitizing carpets and killing germs.


How to Clean Carpet Without a Vacuum

We’ve listed several ways to tackle cleaning dirt, stains, and hair that’s ruining your carpet.

1. Broom and Dustpan

What did people use before vacuums were so popular? Well, many simply used a broom and dustpan. This may seem old-fashioned, but it’s still an effective way to remove ground-in dirt and debris from the carpet.

The best technique is to brush in the same direction and sweep debris into one area. This way, it will be easier to get all of the dirt into the dustpan. Short strokes are effective, brushing in a straight line.

You’ll have to do some scrubbing with this method of cleaning. It’s most efficient to use a broom or brush with natural bristles. They are stiffer and better for loosening dirt.

Palmyra bristles are tough and help bring out debris you can’t see in the carpet fibers. Still, Broomcom is particularly popular since it’s sturdy but still bendable.

Broomcom is made from a variety of upright grass called Sorghum vulgare. This can absorb dirt and dust from your carpet (1).

It may be best to avoid horsehair and polypropylene bristles as they can be soft and make cleaning hard work.

2. Carpet Sweeper

Next, we’ve got the carpet sweeper — a quiet alternative to the vacuum. This device’s quiet operation may be appreciated by families with young kids or pets that get scared by loud sounds.

It also doesn’t require any electricity to run — it’s manual and has rollers and brushes in the base. So, as you glide the carpet sweeper across the carpet, the brushes rotate and capture dirt and dust. Afterward, simply tip out the dirt collector into the trash.

Using a carpet sweeper is simple — there are no buttons or different settings. Carpet sweepers are also designed to be lightweight, which may be suitable for those with a bad back. They can weigh around four to nine pounds, depending on the model.

You may want to use this mechanical tool for quick, daily cleans. It may not be the best for getting deep into the carpet fibers, but it’s a good method of dry cleaning.

3. Packaging Tape

You may be thinking — packaging tape, really? How will this clean my carpet? Hear us out on this one.

If you’re spot cleaning and notice hair or pet fur stuck to your carpet, packaging tape can remove it. The light adhesiveness can pick up stray hairs that you can’t easily do by hand.

Simply take some packaging tape and press it firmly onto the carpet fibers. Then remove it to lift up the fur and hair. It may also pick up dust and dirt.

Of course, this isn’t going to be practical for cleaning large areas of the carpet. But it’s a quick method for spot cleaning before guests arrive or after a deep clean.

You may want to avoid leaving packaging tape on your carpet for too long. If you leave it there for a couple of hours, you risk leaving a sticky residue behind.

4. Wash the Carpet

For deep cleaning, it’s time to get out a bucket and brush. This may help scrub dirt and dust from the carpet, restoring its natural color. It might also help to deodorize and kill bacteria lurking in the fibers.

Your local store will likely stock carpet cleaners, but you don’t always have to use harsh chemicals on your carpet. There’s a possibility that the ingredients might damage the fibers when used regularly or over a long period of time.

Instead, you can use a mild detergent or even make a homemade carpet cleaner. Common household ingredients such as vinegar are fantastic for this DIY task.

This simple ingredient contains around five percent acetic acid, killing germs. Vinegar destroys the cell structures of bacterium, protecting your family from bacteria such as E. coli (2).

However, ensure that you dilute white vinegar properly before using it on your carpet. We’d suggest a 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and warm water. The water shouldn’t be scorching hot — this can damage carpet fibers.

Also, if your carpet is made from wool, silk, or natural fibers, we don’t recommend vinegar. This ingredient might cause irreversible damage.

Now it’s time to use some elbow grease and use the brush to scrub the carpet. Dip it into your bucket of homemade cleaner and shake off excess water. You don’t want to oversaturate your carpet — it will take ages to dry.

Always give your carpet a couple of hours to dry before stepping on it again. The last thing you want to do is smear the surface with mud.

The room may smell of vinegar while you’re cleaning, but we can think of worse odors. Thankfully, though, once the carpet dries, this smell will dissipate. Plus, you can always open a window while cleaning if you’re bothered by the vinegar scent.

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Tips for Stains and Spills

If you’ve spilled a drink or any liquid on your carpet, don’t panic. We’d suggest using baking soda for this emergency. It’s inexpensive and may help remove carpet stains and odors by absorbing them.

Sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet and spray it with water. Leave it to sit on the stain for around three hours. Then you can brush it away.

If it’s a fresh spill, blot it and dab to remove the baking soda — don’t rub or scrub at it. This can make stains worse.

Take Note

Always test the carpet first. To avoid any damage, test the carpet solution on a small area first. Then, leave it for a few hours to see how the carpet reacts before cleaning the whole area.

5. Steam Mopping

One of the options we love for sanitizing carpets is the steam mop. This is a fantastic way to deep clean your carpet, especially if you have young kids and pets.

Steam mops use only water — there’s no need for any other chemicals. Thus, it’s non-toxic and safe for everyone.

The steam vapor can kill pathogens and germs within five seconds. This includes Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) (3).

Steam mops can also kill dust mites due to the heat emitted (4). You can also count on them to kill adult and larval fleas, plus some of their eggs (5).

Of course, since the water vapor reaches high temperatures of around 55 degrees Celsius, direct contact may damage the carpet. You might have to purchase a carpet glider for your steam mop.

This is a plastic device that you simply clip onto the mop head, allowing your steam mop to glide safely.

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FAQs

Can I Shampoo a Carpet Without Vacuuming?

You can shampoo without vacuuming by using a dustpan and brush. Sweep the carpet to collect larger dust deposits, and use packing or brown tape for the smaller particles. Once the dirt is gone, you can get on with shampooing.

How Do You Dry a Wet Carpet Without a Vacuum?

You can dry a wet carpet without a vacuum using a steam iron and paper towels. Another method involves a dehumidifier or a hairdryer. If all else fails, let it dry naturally by opening windows and door to increase airflow.

How Can I Make My Carpet Look New?

The best way to make your carpet look new is to perform a deep clean regularly. Also, deal with spot stains immediately before they dry.

How Can I Make a Homemade Vacuum?

You can make a homemade vacuum using a plastic bottle, a 12V adapter, a DC adapter jack, and an adhesive. Cut a hole in the cap and several holes in the base of the bottle. Make a propeller from a metal disc and attach it to the DC motor.

Insert it into the bottle and seal it with adhesive. Glue a plastic pipe to the cap, plug in the adapter, and you’re ready to go.


In Conclusion

You don’t always need a vacuum to clean your carpet — we’ve shown you five alternative cleaning tools you can choose.

For getting rid of dust and debris, you may choose a broom and dustpan. But if you don’t want to get down on your hands and knees, the carpet sweeper might be your preferred choice for this job.

If you have pets, you might want to consider using packaging tape for spot cleaning. Then, try washing the carpet for a deeper clean and removing stains. You can easily use the ingredients you have lying around the home.

For sanitization and non-toxic disinfecting, you can dry using a steam cleaner. Just remember to use a carpet glider.

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About the Author

Amy Anthony

Amy Anthony is a cleaning expert, author, and contributing writer for Oh So Spotless, a leading online resource for all things related to cleaning, organizing, and maintaining a spotless home. With over 15 years of experience in the cleaning industry, Amy has gained extensive knowledge and expertise that have made her a trusted authority on best practices, efficient techniques, and innovative cleaning solutions.