How to Clean Olefin Carpets, Rugs, Upholstery, and More

Olefin carpet is one of the best and most beautiful high-traffic area carpets due to its qualities: Low maintenance, durability, stain resistance, low cost, and ease of cleaning.

Olefin gets damaged when exposed to high heat, but it loves oil, which sometimes causes yellowing.

Wondering how to clean olefin carpet?

1. Vacuum properly
2. Deal with stains
3. Deep clean using the best method
4. Allow the carpet to dry

It sounds easy, but DIY olefin carpet cleaning could cause three problems:

• Carpet wicking
• Over-wetting
• Carpet damage

You can DIY if you're dealing with a surface carpet stain. For deep or oil stains on olefin carpets, hire an expert like Zerorez®.

This write-up covers how to clean olefin carpets, upholstery, cushions, and more. So, read to the end.

How to Clean Olefin Carpet?

Olefin carpets, known as polypropylene, are stain-resistant, so most people love installing them in high-traffic indoor or outdoor areas. Their beauty, vast styles and colors, low cost, and ease of cleaning make them the best for homes and offices.

Olefin carpets have a tight weave, making them durable but also challenging to clean because they have a 0% absorbency rate.

Some people end up overwetting them, making drying difficult or impossible. Olefin carpets are also prone to wicking stains. Sadly, these beautiful carpets attract oils from foods, shoes, skin, and other sources.

Seek help from a professional carpet cleaning company when dealing with stubborn oil stains. For on-surface stains, keep reading to clean the carpet correctly.

Vacuum Olefin Correctly

When cleaning Olefin rugs or carpets, start by vacuuming to remove debris, dirt, and dust. Like other Berber carpets, Olefin is tightly knit, so using a vacuum with strong suction will effectively remove grime and dirt. A rotating brush removes dust, debris, and dirt stuck in the fibers, but it snags the carpet strands, pulling up little loops that later break and unravel.

To avoid damaging the carpet, disengage the brush. You can use a canister or an upright vacuum to clean the carpet.

For ease of cleaning Olefin Berber carpet, always vacuum regularly. Vacuum once or twice a week, more if you have pets and toddlers.

Remove Stains on Olefin

The best way to deal with stains on Olefin carpets is to deal with them immediately.

Mix vinegar and water (1:1 ratio). Dip a sponge into the solution and use it to clean the stain. Allow it to sit for about 20 seconds, and then use a clean towel to remove any excessive moisture.

If it's a surface stain, sprinkle a small amount of baking powder on the affected area. Once the stain has been absorbed fully, vacuum the carpet.

Deep Clean Olefin Carpet

There are various methods you can use to clean an Olefin carpet or rug:

1. Using a pressure washer
2. Dry cleaning
3. Hiring a professional

Method #1: Pressure Washer

You don't need to be too gentle when cleaning your Olefin rugs and carpet; just don't use a brush, as that would damage them.

Wet the carpet using the pressure washer. Spray the dishwashing detergent and allow it to set to remove surface stains.

For best results, hold the pressure washer's button and keep the spray nozzles about one foot away from your carpet. Clean it thoroughly by covering each area using a smooth, sweeping motion.

Hold the pressure washer's nozzles at 24 to 40 degrees.

Rinse the olefin rug and allow it to dry fully.

Method #2: Dry Cleaning

If you're worried about overwetting your carpet, use the dry cleaning method. This method requires no water.

Mix essential oils and baking soda (or any cleaning powder you choose) and sprinkle it on the carpet.

Use a cotton cloth to work the cleaning powder into the carpet fibers, and then allow a few minutes to sit on the carpet.

Finalize by vacuuming the powder.

Method #3: Hire a Professional

Once in a while, hire a professional to clean your olefin carpet. While it's easy to maintain this type of carpet, it requires professionalism because of several things:

• It's zero absorbency: You need to use a lot of water, but ensure you're not overdoing it; otherwise, the carpet won't dry.
• Wicking issues: Olefin carpets are prone to wicking, which occurs when moisture from the cleaning agents and spills move up to the carpet fibers from its backing. Once the carpet dries, previously cleaned stains resurface.
• It's an oil lover: Olefin carpets love oil, and it's difficult to remove oil stains. Sometimes, your carpet turns yellow after cleaning due to the wrong choice of cleaning detergents.

Consider hiring Zerorez, a Platinum-Rated carpet cleaning company, to clean the olefin carpet.

Can Olefin Carpet Be Steam Cleaned?

Steam cleaning, also known as the hot water extraction method, can be used to clean Olefin carpets without damaging them. This method injects cleaning solutions and hot water into the carpet fibers to remove stubborn grime and dirt combined with a powerful vacuum to extract the dirt and water from the carpet.

Steam cleaning is more expensive than other cleaning methods, but it's best for removing non-living allergens, stubborn grime, and dirt from your carpet. It's also ideal for cleaning moderately to heavily soiled olefin carpets.

At Zerorez, we use the hot water extraction carpet cleaning method so schedule an appointment online today!

How to Clean Olefin Cushions

Cleaning Olefin cushions is easy, and it keeps them fresh. Follow the steps below to clean them.

1. Wipe any stains as soon as they appear using warm water
2. For older stains, use a solution of warm water and mild cleaning detergent to clean
3. Rinse properly using clean, plain water
4. For tough stains, add one cup of bleaching agent to one gallon of water and use it to clean the cushion
5. Rinse again using clean water
6. Allow to dry; Olefin cushions dry fast because they're water-repellant.

How to Clean Olefin Upholstery

Here's what you need to clean Olefin upholstery:

• Water
• White Vinegar
• A vacuum cleaner with a high suction power
• Bucket
• Mild bleach and detergent
• Sponge

Procedure

1. Read the care label on the Olefin upholstery to ensure that the detergents you're using or water temperatures are approved.
2. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove loose dust, debris, and dirt, paying closer attention to folds, seams, and creases. This step is necessary to ensure that particles aren't embedded into the upholstery fabric when cleaning.
3. Fill the bucket with warm water and add a mild detergent or any other fluid recommended for cleaning olefin carpets.
4. Test the solution by applying a small amount in an unnoticeable area. Then, wait about 10 minutes to see how it reacts. If you notice discoloration or damage, don't use it. If there are no adverse reactions, proceed with the cleaning process.
5. Dip the sponge into the solution, wring out excess liquid, and then gently clean the Olefin upholstery in a circular motion.
6. Pay more attention to soiled or stained areas.
7. Once done, apply plain water on a clean cloth and use it to rinse the upholstery properly.
8. Use an absorbent cloth or a sponge to blot excess moisture from your upholstery.
9. Place the upholstery in a well-ventilated room to air dry.
10. Upon drying, check if there are any stubborn stains. If there are any, apply a mild bleach solution on a sponge and test it on an inconspicuous area. If it's effective and doesn't damage the upholstery, apply it to the stained areas.
11. To neutralize any odors, mix equal parts of vinegar and water and lightly mist the upholstery. Allow it to dry.

What Cleans Urine Out of Olefin Carpet?

Vinegar solution is effective in cleaning pet urine out of olefin carpet.

Follow the following steps:

• Soak up the urine: When you notice urine on the olefin carpet, blot or dab the carpet as dry as possible by exerting direct pressure on the sponge or paper towel. Don't rub the areas, as that makes it spread to other areas.
• Use vinegar solution: Add white vinegar into water (1:1) and use it to clean the area. Urine has an ammonia-like smell. If you don't remove this smell, your pet will continue to pee there. Apply the vinegar solution to the stained area and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes to neutralize the odor. Use paper towels or a sponge to blot the solution, and then allow the carpet to air dry.
• Baking soda: Once your carpet is completely dry, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area. It effectively absorbs the pungent odor.

If you have trouble cleaning your olefin carpet or don't want to clean olefin rugs and upholstery yourself, Zerorez can do it, faster and better. Please contact our customer care service at 866-937-6739 or check our nearest branches to schedule an appointment online today.