A carpet at home needs two things from you: a slow vacuum every week, and a calm first five minutes when something spills. The rest is about water. Use too much in a flat where the air is already damp and you can do more harm than the stain did.

How do you clean a carpet at home, step by step?

You need a vacuum, white cloths or plain paper towels, a spoon, plain dishwashing liquid and a standing fan.

  1. Check the fibre labelFlip a corner and find the tag. Nylon, polyester and polypropylene can take every step here. Wool, viscose, jute and silk skip steps 4 and 5. Blot, then go straight to step 6.
  2. Vacuum slowly, at least once a weekThe Carpet and Rug Institute advises weekly vacuuming with slow passes, and more often where people walk most.[1] In most flats that is the strip between the front door and the sofa.
  3. Blot spills straight awayPress a dry white cloth onto the spill and lift. Work from the outer edge towards the centre, and scoop up solids with a spoon. No rubbing, no brush.[1]
  4. Dab on a weak detergent mixStir ¼ teaspoon of plain dishwashing liquid into 1 cup of water. Test it on a hidden corner, then apply it with the cloth, never straight onto the carpet. Do not use a stronger mix.[2]
  5. Rinse, then blot dryDab with plain water to lift the soap back out. Leftover detergent attracts soil, so press with dry towels until they come up dry.[2]
  6. Dry it the same dayAim a fan across the spot and switch on the aircon. Hang a small rug over two chairs so air reaches the backing.
  7. Deodorise only once it is drySprinkle bicarbonate of soda lightly, wait about 15 minutes and vacuum. Arm & Hammer says dry carpet only, and to check colour-fastness first.[3]

What should you do in the first five minutes of a stain?

Pick what landed on the carpet.

Carpet stain picker

Coffee, tea or wine

First five minutes
Blot with a dry white cloth, from the edge to the centre, until no more colour comes up.
Then
Dab on the detergent mix. If a mark stays, try 1 cup of white vinegar in 2 cups of water. Rinse and blot dry.
Avoid
Rubbing, a stronger soap mix, and printed or coloured napkins that can bleed dye.
Sources: Carpet and Rug Institute, coffee and wine guides, and its spill basics

Food grease or oil

First five minutes
Lift solids with a spoon, then blot with paper towels. Press and lift, never wipe.
Then
Work in the detergent mix with a white cloth while oil keeps moving onto it. Rinse and blot dry.
Avoid
Pouring solvent or spot remover onto the carpet. It can damage the latex backing.
Source: Carpet and Rug Institute

Pet accident

First five minutes
Press a thick layer of paper towels onto the patch. Repeat with dry towels until they come up almost dry.
Then
Rinse with clean, cool water and blot dry. Follow with a pet stain and odour remover made for carpets.
Avoid
Heat, which can set the stain and smell for good. Ammonia and vinegar too: strong smells may draw a pet back.
Source: Humane World for Animals

Mud or soil

First five minutes
Leave it alone. Keep feet and paws off until the mud is completely dry.
Then
Break up the dry soil and vacuum it out. Use the detergent mix on any mark left, then rinse and blot dry.
Avoid
Rubbing, which spreads the mark. Work from the edge to the centre.
Sources: IWTO wool carpet guide and FabricLink (dry, then vacuum), Carpet and Rug Institute (detergent mix)
Mark still there after two tries?
Carpet deep clean from S$95
Ask on WhatsApp

Why is too much water the biggest mistake in Singapore?

Singapore's mean relative humidity is around 82%, and it climbs above 90% just before sunrise.[4] A wet carpet here is trying to dry into air that is already nearly full.

The US Environmental Protection Agency says wet materials dried within 24–48 hours will not grow mould in most cases.[5] So a bucket and a scrubbing brush is the wrong kit. Water that reaches the backing sits against the vinyl or tile floor, where no air moves. If the spot is still damp the next morning, you used too much water.

!

Already seeing or smelling mould? Stop cleaning. Upward does not do mould remediation. That is a job for a mould remediation specialist.

What should you never do on wool, viscose, jute or silk?

Wool
Do not rub, scour or over-wet it. The International Wool Textile Organisation's guide says to use small amounts of a pre-tested cleaner made for carpet, on a cloth.[6] Dishwashing liquid is not made for carpet, so stop at blotting.
Viscose
Also labelled rayon. Carpet maker Edward Fields, a Tai Ping brand, says it breaks easily when wet, can shrink when soaked, and is best cleaned by a professional.[7]
Jute
Never wet shampoo or wash it. Rug retailer Sisal Rugs Direct warns that excess moisture can cause shrinkage, discolouration or mould if it is not dried quickly.[8]
Silk
Blot and leave it. Tai Ping's guide warns that water and water-based cleaners can damage silk, and says to call a professional instead of spot cleaning.[7] Upward only cleans in homes, so a silk rug that needs a full wash belongs with an off-site specialist rug washer.

Not sure which one you own? Our wool and viscose rug care guide shows how to tell them apart.

When should you book a professional carpet clean?

Book a deep clean when a mark keeps coming back or a smell stays after the carpet has dried. It also makes sense before a rental handover. The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests one every 12 to 18 months.[1]

Upward cleans carpets and rugs in homes only, by room-temperature water extraction with a clear-water, zero-residue rinse. A hospital-grade sanitising pass is included free at the end. If the label says viscose, rayon, silk or jute, WhatsApp us before you book. Prices are fixed by the size band your carpet fits within, so a 2.4m × 1.8m carpet books at the 3m × 3m rate.

Rug
1m × 1.5m
from S$90
Carpet
within 1m × 1m
S$95
Carpet
within 2m × 2m
S$130
Carpet
within 3m × 3m
S$150
Carpet
within 4m × 4m
S$170

Bigger than 4m × 4m, or another rug size? WhatsApp the measurements for a quote.

The carpet and rug cleaning service page explains what a visit covers, and the full price list has every other item.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for smell, on a dry carpet. Sprinkle it lightly, leave it about 15 minutes and vacuum. Check colour-fastness on a hidden corner the first time.
Often not. The US Environmental Protection Agency notes that absorbent materials such as carpet may have to be thrown away once mouldy. Upward does not do mould remediation, so speak to a mould remediation specialist first.
S$95 within 1m × 1m, S$130 within 2m × 2m, S$150 within 3m × 3m and S$170 within 4m × 4m. A 1m × 1.5m rug is from S$90. Larger carpets are quoted on WhatsApp.