How To Clean High Traffic Carpet

A. Chadwick said, "Some really good tips here, but, please, can anyone help with this one? I have a light-coloured carpet in my bedroom that has got a path which is darker where we walk. Has anyone got a tip on how to move this and restore the carpet back to its original colour?"

There are natural paths that people take when walking, which often leaves a dirty trail on carpets over time. There are several ways to clean a high traffic area on carpet, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Choose a method below and follow the steps to restore your carpet to an even clean.

The Dry Cleaning Method

This method is fast and easy, and since no water is used for this method, it does not have the risk of damaging the carpet like a wet method would.¹ However, it is likely that some of the powder will remain in the carpet even after thoroughly attempting to remove it, so it is important to read the label of your selected product to ensure that it is safe for children and pets.²

You Will Need:

A vacuum
Dry carpet cleaning kit

Steps to Clean the Carpet:

Begin by vacuuming the carpet to remove as much dirt as possible.¹
Select a dry carpet cleaning product, such as the Capture or Host brand kits. Follow the instructions on the label of your selected cleaner to apply the cleaning solution. Always start cleaning the edges of the area first and work inward.¹
Work the dry cleaning solution into the carpet according to the instructions on the label.
Vacuum the area thoroughly to remove the dry cleaning solution.²
Use the nozzle attachment on the vacuum to restore the pile.³

The Foam Method

This method is also fast and relatively easy. It can be used with or without water, depending on your selected cleaner. However, if any residue from the foam remains in the carpet, it can attract dirt to that area more readily in the future.¹

You Will Need:

A vacuum
Foam Carpet Cleaner

Steps to Clean the Carpet:

Begin by vacuuming the carpet to remove as much dirt as possible.¹
Select a carpet cleaner that is specifically made for high traffic areas, such as Zep or Resolve. If you have children or pets, select the cleaner that is safest for them.
Follow the instructions on the label of your selected cleaner. Always start cleaning the edges of the area first and work inward.¹
Consider cleaning the entire carpet with an extraction machine, commonly called a steam cleaner, after shampooing the high traffic area with the foam to remove any residue. See the Additional Tips section below for more information on extraction cleaners.²
If you don't want to use an extraction cleaner, soak a towel with plain water, wring it out so that it's only damp, not dripping, and rub the area with the damp towel to remove as much residue from the foam as possible.³
Pat the area with a dry towel to remove as much moisture as possible.³ Allow the carpet to dry fully before walking on it.¹
Use the vacuum nozzle to restore the pile.³

The Hand Shampoo Method

All of these methods require some degree of rubbing the selected cleaner into the carpet, and shampooing the carpet by hand is not much more difficult than that. This method does use some water, so care should be taken not to overwet the carpet, however, less cleaning residue should be left behind with this method than with the foam or dry cleaning methods, which will keep the area more clean in the long run.

You Will Need:

Laundry detergent
A spray bottle
Water
A nail brush
Clean towels

Steps to Clean the Carpet:

Begin by vacuuming the carpet to remove as much dirt as possible.¹
Select a laundry detergent that is safe for your material of carpet, such as Woolite for a wool carpet. If your carpet is nylon or polyester, an enzyme detergent, such as Seventh Generation, would be best. Use caution with detergents that contain bright dyes.³
Pour a small amount of the detergent into a spray bottle and fill the bottle with water. Shake the bottle to ensure it mixes well.³
Mist the area lightly, ensuring not to soak the carpet. ³
Use a nail brush to scrub the area.³ Do not scrub too hard, as you could damage the carpet fibers. Always start cleaning the edges of the area first and work inward.¹
Pat the area dry with a bath towel or paper towels.³
Soak a towel with plain water, wring it out well so that it's only damp, not dripping, and rub the area with the towel to remove any remaining detergent residue.³
Pat the area with a dry towel to remove as much moisture as possible.³ Allow the carpet to dry fully before walking on it.¹
Use the vacuum nozzle to restore the pile.³

Additional Tips and Advice

There are many different types of carpet, including wool, nylon, and olefin. Always make sure that your selected product is safe to use on your specific type of material either by checking the label or by testing it first in small, hidden area to be sure.
Clean the high traffic areas on carpet twice per year, and the rest of the carpet annually.¹
Vacuuming your carpet regularly is the best prevention for high traffic paths.²
Rotating the direction that you run the vacuum over the carpet will help to keep the pile upright and prevent matting.⁴
Covering a high traffic area with a throw rug will virtually remove any possibility of needing to deep clean the carpet underneath. However, it is best to vacuum the area under the rug regularly to keep the pile from matting.⁵
The extraction cleaners that you can often rent or buy to clean your carpet will probably not work for cleaning a high traffic area. This is because their solution will only be on the carpet fibers briefly, not long enough to handle all the dirt of a high traffic area. If you want to use an extraction cleaner, it would be best to use The Foam Method first.²
Extraction machines that you can rent often leave more water on the carpet than a professional carpet cleaner's machine would, which can easily damage your carpet.³
Considering the high cost of many products and rental fees, calling a professional carpet cleaner is often the cheapest method, as well as the safest method. However, make sure to let them know in advance that you have a high traffic area that needs cleaning so they can bring a pretreatment product if needed.²

Sources

The Complete Household Handbook by Good Housekeeping
The Cleaning Encyclopedia by Don Aslett
The Cleaning Bible by Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie
Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook
Household Hints for Dummies by Janet Sobesky

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