Agitating and vacuuming your carpet should be completed as a precursor to deeper cleaning. But whether you deep-clean afterward or not, to keep your carpet looking fresh, you should agitate and vacuum it regularly—about twice weekly. [2] X Research source
If you don’t want to make your own cleaning solution, you can use commercial carpet shampoo instead.
You can also use a combination of equal parts white vinegar and water instead of baking soda and salt. [5] X Research source Add the vinegar and water to a spray bottle, mist the carpet one patch at a time, then blot excess liquid with a microfiber cloth. [6] X Research source
You may need something stronger to remove tough water-soluble stains including coffee, blood, or wine: try ammonia. [9] X Research source Mix 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of ammonia and 1 c (240 mL) of water. Ammonia can cause burns or breathing issues if it comes into contact with skin or is ingested, so make sure to wear gloves and keep the area well-ventilated if you use ammonia. [10] X Research source
You can also use a microfiber towel for this.