Carpets can be cleaned well with the right cleaning method. Manufacturers recommend methods depending on the carpet fiber, usually wool, polyester, olefin or polypropylene, nylon, silk, cotton or a blend of two or more of these. Once the fiber or blend of fibers used in a particular carpet is identified, the right solution can be selected.

Cleaning methods can be broadly classified as vacuuming, carpet shampooing, bonnet cleaning (also referred to as absorbent pad cleaning), external extraction (also referred to as 'steam cleaning') or the dry powder method (also referred to as 'dry cleaning' or absorbent dry compound method). A combination of two or more of these methods can also be used.

Vacuuming cleans surface dirt. A vacuum cleaner treats carpet surfaces to air flow at higher pressure than normal, pushing and then trapping surface dirt into an attached filter bag.

Carpet shampooing enables relatively deeper cleaning. It involves using foam generated by processing a carpet shampoo to attract embedded dirt to the surface and then vacuuming the surface.

Bonnet cleaning involves the use of a bonnet pad, which is soaked into a cleaning solution, rinsed partially to ensure that it is not dripping, and then rotated at high speed on the carpet. The objective is to collect dirt in the bonnet pad.

External extraction is a method recommended by many carpet cleaning experts and manufacturers. It is used to extract dirt from carpets by injecting a mixture of water and cleaning agents in the form of steam, and then, almost instantly, extracting it using air at a very high pressure.

The dry powder method is employed for cleaning dirt by sprinkling a dry powder, which is a solvent. It dissolves dirt when worked with a brush, and is then removed through vacuuming.

After selecting the most suitable cleaning method, determine how frequently a carpet needs to be cleaned. Consider the degree and type of foot traffic on the carpet, the color of the carpet and its proximity to dust or other factors that can cause it to get soiled. Most carpet cleaning experts recommend 'deep' cleaning carpets at least once a year. Surface cleaning through vacuuming is recommended at least once a week. Less frequent cleaning can make a carpet too soiled to clean. It can also damage the carpet and reduce its life.