Dirty, stained or damaged carpet lowers the value of your home to the same degree that clean, well-maintained carpet increases the value. Dirty carpet is a health hazard; it's unsanitary, and full of bacteria. Carpet traps moisture, allergens, germs, pet odors and droppings. Mold, mildew and other fungus can form in the carpet and under it.
Steam cleaning carpets with a carpet extractor can solve most of these problems. Steam cleaners rent for around $40 per day. The carpet extractor cleans by spraying hot, soapy water into the carpet through a trigger wand as you push forward. As you pull the wand back and release the sprayer, it becomes a vacuum that extracts the water and dirt from the carpet.
The high-powered vacuum is able to extract most all of the water; the carpet is damp but dries quickly. The carpet extractor is a lot of work to use, but the results are wonderful. The extractor can remove an amazing amount of dirt and even many stains. To kill mold, fungus and bacteria, make sure that the soap you use is an antibacterial or antimicrobial soap.
If you are remodeling a newly purchased home with dirty or damaged carpet, it may be best to skip cleaning and remove the old carpet. Cleaning your own dirty carpet is one thing, but someone else's dirt is another issue. If your own carpet is damaged, cleaning won't help and you'll need to replace it.
Removing old carpet is a great DIY project. It does require some elbow grease and some basic carpet tools. There are a few precautions to observe, also.
1) First, contact your garbage disposal service. Find out how they handle carpet disposal. There may be certain guidelines to follow, such as cutting the old carpet into pieces, rolling it and bundling it. The sanitation company may only collect larger items like carpet on specific days.
2) Depending upon how much carpet you want to dispose of or if you are disposing of other large items, consider renting a dumpster. When we remodeled our home, we rented a dumpster and it was invaluable. Be sure to check specifically what can and cannot go into the dumpster.
3) Choose a dry day to remove the carpet. High humidity will cause more bacteria to grow. Your floors will not be able to air properly on rainy or humid days.
4) For carpet removal, you will need: work gloves, protective clothing, safety goggles, knee pads, a paper mask to cover mouth and nose. Carpet tools include a screw driver, heavy-duty pliers, a claw hammer and a large, sharp utility knife. For cleanup, you will also need a shop vacuum, low odor solvent, tarps (or plastic runners), bleach cleanser, old rags, a spray bottle filled with isopropyl alcohol and two fans.
5) Cover skin with protective clothing. Carpet removal is dusty, dirty, allergenic and full or bacteria at best. At worst, you will handle toxic or moldy carpet. Protect your eyes, mouth and nose as well. Be sure that the room you are working with is vented. Run floor or ceiling fan in possible.
6) Lay out a tarp or plastic runner over any flooring that you want to protect.
7) Begin along the perimeter of the carpet, pulling up the carpet as you go. Wall-to-wall carpet is attached to 'carpet strips' which are long thin strips of wood with nails or 'carpet tacks' sticking up. These go along the walls. The carpet is folded over and pressed down on the tacks. Use a claw hammer or screwdriver to carefully wedge under the carpet if it is stuck down tightly. Mind that you don't scuff the walls.
8) Many carpets are glued down in the middle. Apply some solvent to dissolve the carpet glue if the carpet won't come loose. Use the pliers to pull the carpet up and back. Cut the carpet into pieces or strips with your utility knife and roll it as you pull it up. Vacuum up dust, dirt and debris as you go also.
9) After you have removed the carpet, check for mold or mildew on the subfloor. Loosen it with a brush and vacuum up as much as you can. Spray the mold with bleach spray to kill the mold spores. Wipe the floor clean. Spray the floor with alcohol to prevent further mold growth and to dry the floor thoroughly. Place one fan in a window blowing out to act as an exhaust fan. Place one box fan blowing on the floor to dry it.
Air the floor and allow it to dry completely before laying new carpet.