How To Disinfect Carpet

Introduction

Carpets and rugs get pretty gross. And why wouldn't they? Their millions of tiny fibers act like a sponge, collecting dirt, pet hair, food crumbs and who knows what else. Vacuuming takes care of the visible stuff, but what about germs you can't see? Can you disinfect carpeting?

It depends on how you define disinfection, according to Allen Rathey, director of the Indoor Health Council. The technical definition comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Strictly speaking, Rathey says, "EPA defines disinfection of hard surfaces but not carpet." Carpets and other porous materials are just too thick and dense to completely disinfect in place.

Does that mean you're stuck with a germy carpet? Not at all. In more common usage, Rathey says disinfection can simply mean reducing germs and making your carpets more hygienic, and there are plenty of ways to accomplish that.

First, an EPA-registered disinfectant can reduce germs on carpeting, but Rathey says these can be impractical. You'd have to soak the entire carpet long enough to kill germs, he says, and the use is technically "off-label." But let's say you just have a small space to disinfect — maybe your child is sick, or your pup had an accident. In these situations, a disinfectant can be worthwhile.

Hot water extraction machines, available for rent or via a carpet-cleaning company, provide great results, but can be expensive and cumbersome to deal with. Luckily, Rathey says consumer options, like the Bissell SteamShot and the Bissell Little Green can reduce germs on carpeting, too.

Here, I'll show you how to use the Little Green ProHeat to remove dirt and germs from a carpet that has seen better days, then how to apply an EPA-registered disinfectant for a small space.