Soap and water work well on most minor stains. Address the stain as soon as possible after it is created. Dried stains are much more difficult to deal with, though dried mud (and even dried blood) can often simply be brushed away.
Mix a solution of ¼ teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Stir gently. Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-foaming household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water. Apply ammonia solution, rinse & blot. Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to the next step to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water. Apply the vinegar solution, rinse and blot. Most household spills and stains can be removed using this easy method. For best results, always clean up spots and spills immediately.
Pour dry cleaning fluid over the stain. Blot the stain with a dry, white cloth. After this do the same again now with detergent and rinse with water. Caution: Ensure that no flame or lighted cigarette is near and use in wellventilated areas.
After vacuuming, sprinkle the absorbent powder liberally on the carpet, brush it into the pile and then vacuum it out. Using a cleaning powder is an easy way to freshen a carpet because the carpet is not wetted. It also distorts the pile less and the room is ready sooner. Absorbent Powder may though be less efficient than other methods. Talk powder or salt can also be used to absorb (small) amounts of liquids.
For light superficial cleaning of small areas, aerosol foam shampoos – which can be bought at carpet specialist shops – are very convenient, dry quickly and require no special equipment. First test the shampoo for sticky residue that may attract dust. The foam is sprayed in a thin layer on the carpet, worked in with a wet sponge. Allow to dry and then vacuum. Work in one area at a time. Otherwise, streaking may occur if the foam dries before mopping.
This method is excellent for cleaning moderate to heavily soiled carpets. A hot water and detergent solution is sprayed onto the carpet under high pressure to flush out the dirt and soil. This solution is immediately extracted by the vacuum action of the machine. Although machines can be rented, it is best to have spray injection cleaning performed by a professional cleaner because care needs to be taken not to overwet the carpet, distorting the pile and backing. Professional cleaning is ideal for rugs and because it can effectively remove all of the soil.