⏱ Read time: 8 min | 🌿 Difficulty: Beginner | ⏰ Time: Half a day (4 hrs) | 👷 1 person
Autumn can be tough on your carpets! From muddy boots to mucky paws, it's easy for dirt and stains to build up, leaving your carpets looking a little worse for wear. With Christmas just around the corner, now's the perfect time to give them some TLC. A carpet cleaner can help lift stubborn dirt, refresh tired carpets and get your home looking its best, ready for the festive season!
When should I start my Christmas carpet refresh?
The ideal time to give your carpets a deep clean is between last weekend of November and first weekend of December, just before your Christmas decorations go up!
Cleaning your carpets before putting up the tree and moving furniture around means you can tackle those hidden areas and give the whole room a refresh. It also allows plenty of time for your carpets to dry before the festive foot traffic begins.
Whether you're hosting Christmas dinner, welcoming family and friends or simply enjoying a cosy Christmas at home, a freshly cleaned carpet is a great way to get your home ready for the festivities!
What do you need to clean your carpets?
You'll need a carpet cleaner, carpet cleaning solution, a carpet stain remover and a few safety bits. The table below shows what each item does and whether you hire or buy it.
How do you refresh your carpets step by step?
Follow these simple steps to give your carpet a well-deserved refresh.
- Clear and vacuum. Move furniture out, tie curtains up and hoover thoroughly. The machine tackles ingrained grime, not loose dirt.
- Pre-treat marks. Apply your carpet and stain remover to any spots, following the label. Test a hidden patch first.
- Mix your solution. Fill the clean water tank with warm, not boiling, water. Add carpet cleaning solution at the ratio on the bottle. More product will not clean better.
- Plug in via an RCD. Connect the machine to the RCD, then the socket.
- Clean in overlapping passes. Hold the trigger to spray as you pull the wand towards you. Release it, then go back over the strip to lift the dirty water. Go slowly and do not soak the carpet.
- Empty the dirty tank. Do it when it fills up, or suction drops.
- Dry properly. Open the windows, run an air mover if you have one and keep everyone off for 2 to 4 hours.
- Finish. When it is bone dry, hoover lightly and put the furniture back. Furniture sliders help.
Can you use a carpet cleaner on stairs
The answer is yes, the additional upholstery attachment works great on stairs. To clean your stairs follow these steps:
- Keep the machine on a flat surface Keep it at the top or bottom of the stairs, never balanced on a tread.
- Work from the top down. You will never stand on a freshly cleaned step.
- Do treads, then risers. Spray lightly and pull the tool back across each step.
- Clean alternate steps if the stairs are your only route. Do the rest the next day.
This tool also suits fabric sofas,but not leather, faux leather or velvet. See how to clean your sofa.
How do you deal with Christmas stains?
The best way is to act fast. Don’t rub the stain, blot it first, use a pre-treatment carpet and stain remover before the machine goes over the top.
The table below gives the first move and follow up for each festive mess
**Always test any product on a hidden patch first
Is hiring a carpet cleaner cheaper than paying a professional?
Usually yes. Checkatrade states the professional average clean for a 3 bedroom house is about £250. A kit from HSS DIY starts from £80.70* before the cleaning solution.
*prices are correct at the time of writing, prices are subject to change, please check live product pages.
What do customers say about our carpet cleaner?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "It cleans carpets well and hiring it saved a lot of money compared to paying someone." - Matthew’s review on the carpet cleaner.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "It's easy to use and does a great job. I was quite amazed about the dirt it extracted from the carpets." Jen’s review on our carpet cleaner.
What health and safety points should you know for cleaning carpets?
Carpet cleaning is low risk but there are still health & safety points to consider. Water and electricity do not mix, so it's important you know how to stay safe.
- Use an RCD. The HSE advises considering one in wet surroundings. It is not mandatory for our carpet cleaner, but we recommend it. Hire an RCD breaker.
- Check the lead and plug. If either is damaged, stop and return the machine. Never repair it yourself.
- Ventilate. Damp carpets can lead to mould, which Asthma + Lung UK says can worsen lung conditions. Keep windows open while drying.
- Protect yourself. Wear gloves when handling solution and knee pads for stair work.
- Keep children and pets away until the carpet is dry.
- Test first. Check a hidden patch for colour fastness.
Our health and safety page has more tips.
Your Christmas carpet refresh checklist
Tick things off as you go
☐ Book your carpet cleaner hire, and an air mover if time is tight
☐ Order carpet cleaning solution and a carpet and stain remover
☐ Move furniture and tie up the curtains
☐ Vacuum every room thoroughly
☐ Pre-treat marks and test a hidden patch
☐ Fit the RCD and check the lead
☐ Clean in overlapping passes, stairs top to bottom
☐ Open the windows and keep everyone off until dry
☐ Hoover lightly and put the furniture back
☐ Put the tree up
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a carpet cleaner from HSS DIY?
Our small carpet cleaner starts from £35.05 for a typical two-day hire. Add your dates to the live product page for an exact price. Carpet cleaning solution is extra.
How long do carpets take to dry?
Usually 2 to 4 hours with good ventilation. An air mover, hired from £33.60, speeds things up.
Can I use the carpet cleaner on my sofa?
Yes, with the optional upholstery attachment. Avoid leather, faux leather and velvet, and test a hidden patch first.
Do I need an RCD?
Not mandatory for this machine, but we recommend one, especially around water.
Should I clean carpets before or after putting up the tree?
Before. You will avoid moving a decorated tree.
Can I use the same machine on my car seats?
Yes, on fabric seats, mats and boot linings. Check for leather or part leather trim first.
Do I need proper cleaning solution or will washing up liquid do?
Use a proper carpet and upholstery cleaning solution. Washing up liquid foams badly in the machine and leaves a residue that attracts dirt.
Ready to give your carpets a festive glow-up?
And that's all there is to it!
A Christmas carpet refresh is not a big job. Simply vacuum, pre-treat, clean, dry, and you'll be done with enough time left to put the tree up and argue over the fairy lights. Hiring keeps costs down, and the kit does the stairs and sofa too.
Book online 24/7, choose next day delivery and add your carpet cleaning solution, stain remover and RCD to the same order. If your order has several items, they may arrive separately.
Buy the materials. Hire the tools. One order. All in one place.
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