ARTICLE
5 Signs Your Carpet Needs Cleaning
February 5, 2025-4 min read
A casual glance might have you thinking your carpet looks clean, but take a closer look and chances are it’s a different (and slightly scary) story underfoot. Areas like the living room, hallways and children’s bedrooms get plenty of foot traffic, making them prone to dirt and stains. Not to mention hair, pet dander and eau de doggy (or moggy) left by your four-legged friends. This spring-cleaning season, don’t forget to show your carpets some love. The latest vacuums and carpet cleaners make it easy to revive a dull, dirty carpet.
Read on for the five warning signs that it’s time for a carpet-cleaning session, and the go-to carpet cleaning machines to make your carpet look and feel like new.
Warning Sign #1: Stains
If you’ve run out of side tables and rugs to strategically place over stains, then it’s time for a clean. Most carpet stains call for much more than a dab with a damp cloth. That’s where a dedicated carpet cleaning appliance comes in. These machines inject a mixture of cleaning solution and water deep into the carpet fibres. Then, brushes agitate to loosen the dirt, stains and grime before a powerful suction vacuum lifts it all away.
“Instead of hiring a professional carpet cleaner, you can save money in the long-term by having one of these state-of-the-art machines on standby for stains and spills, as well as an annual deep clean of rugs, carpets and upholstery,” says Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guys Buyer – Floorcare. Adding a carpet cleaning machine to your at-home cleaning arsenal also means you can attack spills before they become stains.
“Efficient stain removal is all about acting quickly. That’s why it’s such a good idea to have your own household carpet cleaner on standby,” says Nick. “Easy to use and effective when it comes to removing common carpet stains, carpet cleaners will do all the hard work for you.”
Our Top Pick: VAX Platinum Spot Washer
When it comes to cleaning solutions, VAX have got your whole home covered. If you’re looking to easily spot clean everyday spills and stains, the VAX Platinum Spot Washer is the product you need. This multi-purpose spot cleaner lifts spills and stains from a variety of surfaces including carpet, upholstery, car interiors and hardwood floors, and it’s portable and compact design makes storage a breeze!
“Efficient stain removal is all about acting quickly. That’s why it’s such a good idea to have your own household carpet cleaner on standby for spills.” Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guys Buyer – Floorcare.
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Warning Sign #2: Mystery Smells
Sometimes carpets and rugs get a musty odour. A certain furry friend could be to blame, or it could be food waste, soil or even pollen that gets stuck in the carpet fibres. Generally, odour comes from bacteria or mould, so it’s important that carpets get a regular and thorough clean. Most carpet cleaners use hot water extraction – a process where hot water and detergent is sprayed onto the carpet then sucked back into the machine, along with all the odour-causing dirt and grime. It’s a quick and easy process that not only cleans but also zaps odours!
Our Top Pick: VAX Compact Carpet Washer
If you’re after an everyday helper to keep carpets clean and hygienic, you can’t go past the VAX Compact Carpet Washer. Perfect for high traffic areas, pet messes and even tough stains, it weighs in at a super light 5.7kg, making it highly manoeuvrable to get into those tight areas. Heat blast technology also enables faster carpet drying, so you can get on with your day without worrying about soggy carpets.
Warning Sign #3: Not The Colour It Used To Be
However clean and careful you are, there’s nothing like a few years’ wear to turn your carpet a few shades darker. A once cream, beige or white pile (brave we know, but they do exist) can still be rejuvenated. Where general colour fading is hard to avoid, a build-up of dirt is not. For best results, look for carpet cleaners with a two-tank system that sprays on clean water and sucks up the dirty residue, helping your carpet return to its former glory. Many carpet cleaners also come with an arsenal of attachments, so you can get to everything, from stairs to tricky crevices and corners.
Our Top Pick: VAX Platinum Powermax Carpet Washer
If you’re looking to remove deep down and embedded dirt and stains, the VAX Platinum Powermax Carpet Washer can provide the powerful cleaning you need. VAX’s clever carpet washer comes with an extra-large rotating brush bar and seven SpinScrub brushes to agitate and lift away deep dirt from carpet fibres. Automix Technology automatically mixes the cleaning solution and provides an antimicrobial treatment for a hygienic, thorough clean every time.
Warning Sign #4: It’s Making You Sneeze
Like a venus flytrap of allergens and air pollutants, your carpet holds on to the stuff that makes you sneeze. Don’t be fooled by a seemingly clean surface: things like dust mites, pet dander and mould spores can lurk deep in the fibres of your floor. While a regular vacuum will keep floors fresh, a more thorough carpet clean can do your asthmatic and hayfever-prone family members a big favour by delivering a deep clean. Maximise your carpet cleaner’s germ-busting power by loading it with hot water and an antibacterial detergent for a more hygienic clean.
Warning Sign #5: Fibres Don’t Look Or Feel Right
A carpet cleaner can lift compressed fibres, such as in a hallway that gets trodden on all day long. It’s all thanks to the shampooing and suction action. While a carpet cleaner uses detergent and hot water to sanitise, its suction feature is responsible for drawing out dirt and springing life back into fibres. Aim to deep clean your carpets every 12–18 months, depending on the amount of foot traffic you get through each area, to keep them in tip-top condition.
Shop More Carpet Cleaners
Bissell SpotClean Carpet Cleaner
What Are The Best Carpet Cleaners?
When you’ve invested in quality carpet, you want it to look good for as long as possible. Alongside a reliable vacuum cleaner, a carpet cleaner will help your carpet go the distance. Choose a compact, cordless design for quick spot cleaning, or a more advanced model for cleaning full rooms of carpet or large rugs. Keep in mind these household helpers are also suitable to use on hard floors, mattresses and upholstery (car seats, we’re looking at you!).
Look for these features when buying your carpet cleaner:
Express mode to cut drying time
Heatwave technology to maintain water temperature
Hose attachment for hard to reach spots
Quick charge time
Antimicrobial treatment for hygienic cleans
Dual action brush roll for a deeper clean.
For carpet cleaners and vacuums that’ll add a (fresh carpet) spring to your step, visit The Good Guys in-store or online for the best range and expert advice.
