Cleaning stair carpet

The stairs are often the busiest part of the house. Day in, day out we walk up and down in shoes, socks or bare feet. So it's no wonder that the carpet on the stairs wears out and gets dirty faster than the rug in the living room. The walking route in the middle and the edges of the steps in particular take a beating.

Do you want to clean your stair carpet yourself to remove that grey haze and get the fibres standing up again? In this article you'll read how to tackle it smartly. We look at manual methods, using machines and why you need to be extra careful with a steam cleaner on stairs.

Why carpeted stairs are difficult to clean

You can roll up or turn over a rug, but when you clean stair carpet you're stuck with the construction.

1. Glued down: The covering is firmly glued to the steps. This means you shouldn't work too wet, because moisture can't escape through the underside.
2. Corners and edges: Dust and sand build up in the corners and risers, places a normal vacuum nozzle can hardly reach.
3. Footpaths: Because you always step on the same part of the step, the dirt gets trodden deep into the fibres there.

Step 1: good preparation is half the work

Never start wet cleaning before the loose dirt is gone. If you add water to dusty stairs, you create mud in the fibres.

• Use a stiff brush: Before you grab the vacuum cleaner, brush the steps firmly with a hand brush or soft brush. This loosens trodden-in sand and hair.
• The crevice tool: Use the narrow attachment of the vacuum cleaner. Go along all the edges and don't forget the transition between the step and the riser.
• Work from top to bottom: That way, swirling dust falls on the steps you still have to do instead of on the steps that are already clean.

Step 2: cleaning by hand with household products

Don't have a machine at home? Then you can already achieve a lot with a bucket and the right products.

• Green soap: A classic. Dissolve a little green soap in lukewarm water. This natural product degreases well and is safe for most types of glue.
• Cleaning vinegar: Mix water with a splash of vinegar. This removes nasty odours and freshens up the colour of the carpet.

The method Use a soft cloth or sponge. Dampen it (don't soak it) and dab the steps clean. Don't rub too hard in one spot to prevent wear. Dry with a clean cotton cloth.

Step 3: machine cleaning for depth

For the best result, handwork often isn't enough. You can't get deep-seated dirt out with a cloth. A carpet cleaner (spray extraction machine) is the answer here.

Because stairs are hard to reach, a large, bulky machine is impractical and dangerous to lift. A compact portable cleaner such as the Achaté Spot Cleaner is ideal for stairs.

1. You spray water with cleaning product into the fibres.
2. You brush the dirt loose.
3. You immediately suck up the dirty water again.

The big advantage of cleaning stair carpet this way is that you leave much less moisture behind, so you can quickly walk up and down again.

Warning: be careful with steam cleaners

It seems like a good idea because the hot steam kills bacteria and cleans. However, on stairs it is risky. Stair carpet is glued down. The heat of a steam cleaner (often around 100 degrees) can soften or dissolve the adhesive layer.

The result? The carpet comes loose. This not only looks ugly but is also extremely dangerous, because you can trip over loose covering. So only use steam if you're sure the glue is heat-resistant, or choose the safe option of a cold-water carpet cleaner.