How To Clean The Carpeted Stairs Effectively

In many homes with stairs, cleaning them often gets overlooked. When it’s time to vacuum, how often do you actually focus on your staircase?

Cleaning carpeted stairs isn’t as quick or simple as running a vacuum across the living room floor. Stairs require more time, more effort, and often a different technique. Because of that, they tend to be cleaned less frequently than they should be.

Make It Simple

The easiest way to stay on top of stair cleaning is to build it into your routine. Set aside one specific day each week for a thorough home cleaning session. When you have a clear plan to follow, the job feels less overwhelming and much more manageable. Knowing exactly what needs to be done and how to do it properly makes the entire process faster and more effective.

The 6 Simple Steps to Clean Your Carpeted Stairs

Here are the steps I follow to clean my carpeted stairs with a vacuum cleaner.

Step 1: Declutter

Before you pick up that vacuum cleaner, you must spot clean. Declutter the mess on the stairs.

For example, I have shoes lined up along my entire staircase. I move them out of the way before I even begin. Simply, move any large objects off of the stairs.

Utilize a Carpet Grooming Rake to remove pet hair, scrub deep spots and food strains.

Pick up anything you see that your vacuum won’t suck up or that might clog the vacuum cleaner. You should see nothing on your stairs.

Step 2: Dust

This is the perfect time to dust or pledge the handrail and staircase spindles.

This way, the excess dirt is pushed onto the carpet waiting to be vacuumed up.

Step 3: Bottoms Up

Now personally I always start at the bottom of the stairs. It makes more sense to me to do it in this order.

Depending on your vacuum cleaner and length of the hose, it’s quite possible you will have to haul the vacuum cleaner step by step with you. That will make the job a little bit more difficult but, it must be done.

Handheld & light weight vacuum cleaners are more handy in this case. You may easily move them.

So plug in your vacuum and set it at the bottom of the stairs and let’s get ready to begin.

Step 4: Get the Corners

You are ready to start at the bottom of the staircase. Pick the attachment that you choose to use. I would say the smaller the better, an attachment that will easily fit into the corners and along the edges.

I use the hose itself. I don’t like adding any attachments to the hose. I feel that using the hose alone is more powerful and effective. The hose does the job perfect for me. It’s your personal preference.

Now work your way slowly up the stairs, going step by step.

Use the hose or attachment to get in the corners and be sure to get the edges really good. On staircases, dirt, and debris tend to cling to the corners and hard to reach places. Move step by step, being sure to get in those nooks and crannies on every single step.

Step 5: Back it Up

Once you reach the top of the staircase, work your way back down. This time you are using the hose or your choice of attachment to clean the entire surface of the step.

Rechecking the corners, making sure each step is as clean as you can make it. If you have a powerful handheld pet vac, you can vacuum dog hair or dust over the entire surface of the step instead of using a hose or multiple attachments.

Step 6: A Job Well Done

As you make your way back down to the bottom of the staircase, take a long look back up. See if there is anything you missed.

Hopefully, you are impressed with your cleaning ability. Make sure it meets your standards. Now, the staircase is clean.

The Bottom Line:

Staircases are usually high traffic areas in the house that can get dirty extremely quick.

If you make cleaning your stairs part of your normal cleaning routine, the stairs will be easier to clean every time.

Vacuuming the stairs is an essential part of having a clean home.

Vacuuming the stairs regularly will keep the carpet looking newer, fresher, and of course, cleaner.