How to Keep Carpeted Stairs Clean (8 Tips)

Staircases can be one of the most heavily trafficked areas in a home, with constant foot traffic from carrying laundry, cleaning the house, and going up and down to the bathroom all day long. With kids and pets, these stairs are even more frequently used, increasing the likelihood of damage and stains, especially if they are carpeted.

Here’s how to keep carpeted stairs clean:

1. Keep doormats on both sides of the entry doors.
2. Schedule a reminder to change the filter on your furnace.
3. Vacuum at least once a week.
4. Blot up spills and treat stains immediately.
5. Have a professional deep cleaning done annually.
6. Install blinds to block direct sunlight.
7. Place a vinyl carpet runner or stair treads.
8. Apply a stair carpet protector.

Replacing carpeting can be costly, which is why proper care of your carpeted stairs can work wonders when it comes to their quality and longevity. Keeping a clean carpet not only eliminates stains and odors but also removes pollen, mold, and other airborne pollutants that you breathe in daily. By reading this article, you will learn some helpful, practical, and easy-to-implement tips on how to keep your carpeted stairs clean.

1. Keep doormats on both sides of the entry doors

Dirt and debris can be wiped off and left on doormats on both sides of the entry doors as people come in and out.

To keep dirt out, people can take off their shoes and leave them outside on a mat that’s protected from the weather and other elements. Shoes carry a lot of bacteria, chemicals, and even fecal matter. Carpeting collects everything that you track in from outside, and shoes rub the carpet fibers harder, leading to a worn appearance and dirt that settles deeper.

You can hang a Nikky Home Wooden Shoes off Welcome Sign from Amazon.com to politely ask your visitors to take off their shoes. This sign measures 11″ x 6″ and is made of high-quality wood for added durability and cleanability.

This Ubdyo Extra Durable Doormat from Amazon.com measures 30″ x 17″ and is made of rubber strips and synthetic turf to prevent slippage and help remove dirt and debris from the bottom of your shoes. It has a low-profile design so it won’t catch under swinging doors and is easy to shake off and clean.

2. Schedule a reminder to change the filter on your furnace

Ducted heating systems can stir up dust, pet hair, and skin flakes that settle directly onto carpeted areas like stairs. Even foot traffic with bare feet and socks can collect this dust and deposit it on the stairs as you go up and down.

Regularly replacing your furnace filter with a clean one (according to the manufacturer’s or installer’s recommendations) helps filter out these particles and collect them on the fresh filter. If you have pets, filters should generally be changed more frequently. Try scheduling a reminder on your phone or calendar.

3. Vacuum at least once a week

Vacuuming is an excellent method to keep the carpets and the entire space in your home cleaner, and it works in conjunction with your furnace filter by collecting particles that the latter cannot.

High-traffic areas like stairs should be vacuumed more frequently. Consider moving the nozzle over each step multiple times for a thorough clean.

To vacuum efficiently, make sure to clean out the bag or container when it’s full, and replace or wash the filter to ensure maximum suction power.

Using the vacuum cleaner’s attachment hose with the appropriate accessories can be good for reaching into all the tight corners and crevices of your stairs. However, handling a cumbersome and unbalanced vacuum on the stairs can be challenging, dangerous, and limited by the length of the hose and power cord.

Consider a cordless or lightweight and compact vacuum with hose attachment, or try a handheld vacuum like the BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Handheld Vacuum from Amazon.com for ease and convenience. This cordless option is great for cleaning smaller high-traffic areas like your stairs.

It comes with a long crevice tool for accessing hard-to-reach spots. With this equipment, you won’t have to be careful about bending and stretching to get where you need to. This vacuum is easy to maintain with its washable filter.

In conjunction with vacuuming, you can also use a carpet brush. You can agitate dust, dirt, pet hair, etc., and then immediately vacuum it up. This also fluffs up any mats on your carpet.

This MAITING Portable Carpet Brush from Amazon.com can remove hair, dust, and more from your carpet and furniture. It’s rust-proof, durable, sharp, and made with a copper head.

4. Blot up spills and treat stains immediately

The longer you leave a spill or stain, the harder it becomes to remove as it sets deeper into the carpet fibers.

Here’s how to remove or clean a spill or stain:

1. Vacuum to pick up loose dirt.
2. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one cup of warm water.
3. Use a clean white paper towel or cloth dampened with the mixture to blot the stain. Using a white material prevents the transfer of any color from the cleaning materials to the carpeted area.
4. Dab at the spot, working from the outside inward. Do not scrub as it will drive the stain deeper.
5. Allow the mixture to sit on the spot for at least five minutes, then blot it again with a new and clean white paper towel or cloth until the stain is gone (repeat the process as needed).

You can try carpet cleaners from Amazon.com that are specifically designed for cleaning carpets and certain types of stains, such as:

• Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator: This product helps remove stains and odors caused by pet accidents, vomit, and other organic materials. It’s safe to use around pets and children, leaving no residue behind. It can be used on carpets, furniture, clothing, and more.
• Parker and Bailey Stain Remover: This 16-ounce bottle can be used for blood, grease, coffee, and other stubborn stains. This non-abrasive formula is free of perfumes, sulfates, and bleach.
• Resolve Professional Strength Carpet Cleaner: This 32-ounce spray bottle claims to be the number one carpet stain remover. It’s great for removing tough everyday stains and odors and penetrates deep to prevent stain re-soiling.

5. Have a professional deep cleaning done annually

In addition to vacuuming, a deep cleaning may be necessary to go beneath the surface of the carpet fibers and remove pet hair, dust mites, pollen, and more.

You can rent a deep cleaner from Rent or a Carpet Doctor if one is available in your area, or hire a professional from a local carpet cleaning service. The equipment offered for rent or by a cleaning service is more powerful and better suited for larger carpet cleaning jobs.

Keep in mind that any thorough carpet cleaning is done with a solution that contains water. Cleaning services often have methods for faster carpet drying, so mold and bacteria don’t have time to grow. Therefore, it’s important to allow it to dry and keep the area free of pets and young children during that time.

You can try a small handheld version for more focused stain cleaning, such as the cordless Bissell Pet Stain Eraser from Amazon.com. Powered by a lithium battery, this small but powerful machine can spray, scrub, and suction to remove stains and more from carpets, stairs, rugs, and more.

Additionally, you can try dry carpet shampoos, which help loosen dirt and more by bringing particles to the carpet fiber’s surface. After applying, you can vacuum everything up. Consider this Arm & Hammer Pet Dry Carpet Cleaner from Amazon.com, which can be used safely around children and pets as it leaves carpets clean and dry for immediate use.

Carpet cleaning can be done at any time of the year.

Spring is a popular time for removing all the salt and dirt from winter weather.

Summer is a great time to remove pollen coming in from spring and mud from your shoes.

A fall carpet cleaning gets it ready for the holiday season when you start spending more time indoors.

Winter is also an entirely acceptable time to have your carpets cleaned and remove any outdoor pollutants while you mostly stay indoors. This helps improve indoor air quality as you hunker down to stay warm.

6. Install blinds to block direct sunlight

In many homes, a window illuminates the staircase through a door. However, direct sunlight and UV rays can cause premature fading and contribute to stains setting more permanently.

You can try installing blinds or blackout curtains to reduce the impact of sunlight. Blinds can be more effective at blocking rays than window blackout curtains but cost more, are harder to clean, and may not be as aesthetically pleasing.

This Redi Shade Easy Lift Trim-At-Home from Amazon.com is a nice option as it is cordless and available in four different sizes. It can be installed without screws or a drill.

7. Place a vinyl carpet runner or stair treads

You can use a vinyl carpet runner on your stairs, which provides an easy-to-clean surface. An effective runner should adhere or grip tightly to your base carpet. However, be cautious as the vinyl surface might be slippery, especially with socks. Some people may also have an allergic reaction to the smell of vinyl and simply do not care to have it in close proximity.

The Resilia Floor Protection from Amazon.com is clear and easy to clean and use with deep pile carpets. It is available in many sizes and can be customized to fit your stairs. Notably, it’s made of a flexible and phthalate-free vinyl that’s more environmentally friendly and nose-friendly.

Non-slip stair treads can also be applied on top of the carpet to protect it from wear or dirt in the areas most frequently traversed on your stairs.

Consider these Clear Stair Treads Carpet Protectors from Amazon.com with “teeth” used to grip the carpet and keep it in place. While they’re designed to prevent slipping, any smooth material can be slippery with socks, so try out this 2-pack to see if it works for you. Amazon offers easy returns if this isn’t what you’re looking for.

Make sure these products are securely attached to avoid tripping or falling.

8. Apply a stair carpet protector

This differs slightly from carpet runners or treads in that it covers the stairs more thoroughly to protect them from stains, dirt, and more. These are generally used during construction and usually don’t last very long.

If applied with an adhesive, residue may be left on your carpet, which could make your cleaning job slightly more difficult. However, it may be worth it if stains and dirt are a problem for your household.

The LAMINET Non-Slip Carpet & Floor Protector from Amazon.com is a higher-end option for protecting the carpet flooring on your stairs. It’s based on a non-slip backing that works well with any type of carpet and can be used on hardwood or tile as well.

It can be cut to the desired size and easily removed and washed in the washing machine. This protector leaves no marks or residues on your base carpet.

As mentioned, all additional layers on a carpet should be flat and firmly attached to avoid tripping and falling.

Important Notes

To thoroughly clean your carpeted stairs, you can try a few simple techniques, including using doormats at your entry doors, changing the filters on your furnaces, vacuuming, cleaning up spills immediately, blocking direct sunlight, and investing in a carpet protector. Additionally, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned at least once a year.