How To Clean Car Carpet Without Extractor? (Comprehensive)

Let’s be honest, cleaning a car carpet without professional tools and equipment can be challenging.

But there are ways where you can certainly deep clean the carpets without burning your pockets.

It’s not difficult to deep clean carpets; all you need to know is how to do it correctly, which you will learn in this article.

Since I’m assuming that you don’t have the equipment or only have basic tools, I’ll walk you through 5 effective ways to clean your car carpet.

Here’s what this article covers.

• Prep Work to Clean the Car Carpet
• How to clean carpet without extractor?
  • Cleaning car carpets using Carpet Cleaning Solution
  • Cleaning car carpets using Baking Soda
  • Cleaning car carpets using carpet shampoo cleaner
  • Cleaning car carpets using Steam Cleaners
  • Clean Carpet using Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Drill
• Precautions to take while Cleaning Carpets
• How long does it take to deep clean carpet without extractors?
• Which method is best for you?
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s dive right into it.

Prep-Work to clean the car carpet

In order to start the prep work, you will need the following items.

• Stain Remover
• Towel OR Microfiber cloth
• Mat and Carpet Brush

The first step is to prep the carpet areas by removing any loose dirt or debris with a vacuum.

You’ll want to make sure you have a powerful vacuum that can pick up all the dirt and debris.

Once you’ve vacuumed the area, you’re ready to move.

If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, you can also use a brush to loosen the dirt before cleaning it.

Just make sure that there isn’t any dirt or debris left before you start the cleaning process.

Note: The pre-work will remain the same for all the methods outlined below. This article covers multiple ways to clean car carpets without extractors.

Asses the Carpet areas

The next step in under prep work is to assess the carpet areas. You need to identify the heavily soiled areas as well as the lightly soiled areas.

Check if the areas around the carpet have any stains.

In a lot of cases, you will find that there are coffee or drink stains around the carpets that look something like this.

You can either use a carpet stain remover or make your own with 1 tablespoon spoon of baking soda with a bowl of water.

Simply spray the cleaning solution on heavily soiled areas and use a brush to gently scrub the dirt.

Make sure you’re not too harsh as you don’t want to damage the areas around the carpet.

After scrubbing, use a towel to wipe off the wet areas.

This completes the prep work.

Let’s take a quick look at different approaches you can take to clean your car carpet without an extractor.

How To Clean Car Carpet without extractor?

There are many ways to clean the car carpet without an extractor.

We will be discussing 4 easy methods and you can use any one of them as all are equally effective.

Let’s take a look at our first method.

Cleaning car carpets using Carpet Cleaning Solution

In order to clean the car carpet without using any special equipment, you will need the following items.

• Carpet Cleaning Solution
• Scrub Brush
• Water Spray Bottle
• A microfiber cloth

Once you have the above items handy, start by spraying the water so that it loosens up the dirt.

Next, add the carpet cleaning solution to the water and mix it well.

Note: Not all carpet cleaning solutions are the same, so the amount of water required per ounce of cleaning solution depends on the solution you are using. Therefore read the instructions on the carpet cleaning solution label carefully to find out how much water is required.

After the solution is ready, start by pouring the solution onto the carpet, and then scrubbing the carpet with a brush.

After you are done scrubbing, make sure to wipe off the foam.

Remember, you should not allow the foam to sit on the carpet for wash as it will ruin the whole process.

Re-asses the carpet

After you have completed the cleaning process, it’s time to take a look at the carpet areas again.

You will notice that there are still some areas that are heavily soiled.

In such cases, you can repeat the process by adding more carpet cleaning solution and scrubbing the area again.

After scrubbing, make sure to wipe the area with a microfiber cloth.

This will help remove any stubborn dirt or stains.

Dry the Car Carpet

Once you’re done, allow the carpet to dry completely before using it.

In order to dry the carpet faster, you can use a hair dryer.

However, make sure that the hair dryer is on the low setting as you don’t want to damage the carpet.

Alternatively, you can air-dry the carpet in the sun.

Cleaning car carpets using Baking Soda

In order to clean your car carpets using baking soda, you will need the following items.

• Baking Soda
• Water
• Scrub Brush
• A microfiber cloth

The process is fairly simple and similar to the one we discussed earlier.

Start by mixing baking soda with water to form a paste.

After the paste is ready, apply it to the car carpets and scrub it using a brush.

After scrubbing, make sure to wipe off the excess paste with a microfiber cloth.

Once you’re done, allow the carpet to dry completely before using it.

You can either use a hair dryer or air-dry the carpet in the sun.

Cleaning car carpets using Carpet Shampoo cleaner

Cleaning car carpets with Carpet Shampoo can be an excellent way to remove tough stains and dirt.

In order to clean your car carpets using Carpet Shampoo, you will need the following items.

• Dry Foam
• Water
• Scrub Brush
• A microfiber cloth

Once you have the key ingredients ready, let’s make a cleansing solution.

Instructions to make the cleansing shampoo solution

Mix the dry foam solution in water in a 1/10 ratio and pour the solution into the spray bottle.

Steps the clean the carpet with dry foam

Follow the below instructions to clean the carpet using dry foam.

Step 1: Remove the carpet

The very first step is to remove the car carpet so that you can clean it easily.

Step 2: Spray the Solution

Once the carpet is removed, start by spraying the cleaning solution onto the carpet.

Step 3: Scrub the Carpet

After spraying the carpet, use a scrub brush to scrub the carpet.

Make sure to focus on the heavily soiled areas.

Step 4: Wipe the Carpet

Once the scrubbing part is covered, make sure to wipe the carpet with a microfiber cloth.

This will help remove any stubborn dirt or stains.

Step 5: Air Dry the Carpet

After you’re done, allow the carpet to dry completely before using it.

Simply place the carpet outside and let it dry in sun.

Note: This method is not recommended if the carpets are heavily soiled as it will not be as effective.

Cleaning car carpets using Steam Cleaners

There are a few reasons why steam cleaning is the best way to clean car carpets.

• First, steam cleaners can deep clean the carpets and remove any tough dirt or stains.
• Second, steam cleaners can kill germs and bacteria, making the carpets safe for use.
• Third, steam cleaners are relatively easy to use and don’t require any special skills or knowledge.

In order to use a steam cleaner on your car carpets, you will need the following items:

• A Steam Cleaner
• Triangular brush attachment for a steam cleaner
• Microfiber cloth OR Towel

Steps to Clean Carpet using Steam Cleaners

Follow the below steps to clean your car carpets using a steam cleaner.

Step 1: Fill the Steam Cleaner

The first step is to fill the steam cleaner with water.

Step 2: Attach the triangular brush

After the steam cleaner is filled with water, attach the triangular brush attachment. The triangular brush attachment helps to clean the carpets as the steam is released.

Step 3: Test the Cleaner on a Small Area

Before you start cleaning the entire carpet, it’s always a good idea to test the steam cleaner on a small area.

Step 4: Clean the Carpets

Start by cleaning the edges of the carpets with the steam cleaner.

After the edges are clean, move on to the rest of the carpets.

Make sure to go over each area multiple times until the carpets are clean.

Lastly, move the brush fast enough so that the steam is not concentrated in one place.

Step 5: Wipe the carpets

After you’re done steaming the carpets, make sure to wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or towel.

This will help remove any excess moisture from the carpets.

Step 6: Dry the Carpet dry

Once you’re done, allow the carpet to dry completely.

Note: Don’t forget to go through the prep-work before applying any of the above-mentioned methods.

Clean Carpet using Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Drill

If you have a wet/vacuum cleaner and a drill machine you can get a pretty decent quality wash.

In order to wash your car carpet using a vacuum cleaner and a drill, you will need the below items.

• Shop-Vac
• Drill along with Brush Fittings
• Spray bottle

Once you have managed to get the above items organized, here’s how you can get started with the process.

Note: Always start with the prep-work first and then proceed with the further steps.

Follow the below steps to clean the car carpet using a Wet/Dry Vac and Drill

Step 1: Spray the cleaning solution

Start by spraying the cleaning solution onto the car carpet.

Don’t forget to dilute the cleaning solution with water as per the instructions on the label.

Step 2: Scrub the Carpet using a Drill Brush Attachment

After spraying the solution, use a Drill brush attachment to scrub the carpet thoroughly.

All you need to do is attach the brush attachment to the drill and then turn on the drill machine.

This will make the brush rotate at a decent speed, simply guide the brush over the carpet.

Step 3: Re-asses the Carpet

After scrubbing the carpet with the drill brush attachment, re-assess and see if there are any areas that need more attention.

If you find any such areas, simply spray the cleaning solution and scrub it manually using a brush.

Step 4: Clean with the Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner

The next step is to clean the carpets using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

Ensure that you go over each area multiple times until the carpets are clean.

Precautions to take while Cleaning Carpets

While cleaning car carpets, there are certain precautions that you should take in order to avoid any damage.

Given below are some of the precautions that you need to take.

• Do not use too much pressure while scrubbing the carpets as it can damage the fibers.
• Be careful while using a drill brush attachment, as applying excess pressure can cause the fibers to break.
• Make sure to dilute the cleaning solution with water before using it.
• Do not use harsh chemicals as they can damage the carpets.
• Always let the carpet dry before using them.
• Wear safety gloves to ensure that your hands are protected from harsh chemicals.

How long does it take to deep clean carpet without extractors?

It usually takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to deep clean a car carpet without an extractor.

This time frame may vary depending on the size of the carpet and the level of soiling.

Also, the methods that you use to wash the carpet play a key role in deciding the time frame.

For instance, if you’re using a vacuum cleaner and drill, it will take lesser time as compared to cleaning the carpet manually.

Which method is best for you?

The method that you should use to clean your car carpets would depend on various factors such as the severity of the stains, the material of the carpet, and your budget.

Given below is a list of factors that you need to consider before deciding on a method.

Severity of Stains: If the stains are severe, it is best to opt for a professional cleaning service.

However, if the stains are not too severe, you can easily remove them using home-cleaning methods.

Material of Carpet: The material of the carpet also plays an important role in deciding the cleaning method.

For instance, if the carpet is made of hard rubber, you can opt for powerful chemical-based cleaners

On the other hand, if the carpet is made of soft material, you can easily clean it using home-cleaning methods.

Check with the dealer for the best practice, this way you will not damage your car carpet.

Budget: Another factor that you need to consider is your budget.

If you’re on a tight budget, it is best to opt for home-cleaning methods.

Final Thoughts

All the above-mentioned methods help to clean the car carpet without extractors.

These methods are efficient as well as safe.

Once you’ve decided on the method that you’re going to use, simply follow the instructions carefully and you’ll be able to clean the carpets without any problem.

Just remember to take the necessary precautions in order to avoid any damage.

Having said that, extractors do have a purpose and you cannot ignore the fact that extractors clean way better than manual methods.

So, if you accept this fact and then approach the manual cleaning methods you won’t be unhappy with the results.

It’s best not to compare the two methods and just focus on the fact that you’re able to get your carpets clean without extractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions related to cleaning car carpets asked very often.