Explore this step-by-step guide to deep cleaning an area rug yourself if you have a carpet in a common space that you want to freshen up.

Prep Outside Working Station

For the cleaning process, you’ll need a large enough outdoor working area where you can lay the rug down flat. Preferably, you’ll want to do this on a patio or paved surface that you’ve cleaned of any dirt and grime. If that isn’t an option, a tarp over grass should function well as a workstation.

Vacuum Both Sides

Once you’ve got your rug outside, the first thing you’re going to want to do is to vacuum the rug thoroughly. You should vacuum both sides. This process will remove most surface dirt so that the shampoo can focus on more deeply embedded stains. If you hit the rug after vacuuming and still notice dust coming off the surface, beat it with a broom handle or similar item. You’ll want to keep at it until nothing rises off the carpet when you strike it.

Test Out Carpet Shampoo

Scrubbing with shampoo is a fantastic way to prolong an area rug’s life, but the wrong soap could cause discoloration or fiber damage. Before you wash the entire rug, you’ll want to test out your carpet shampoo on a small corner. If you get a soap that’s specifically made for the type of material you have, you shouldn’t have a problem, but you’ll still want to make sure that the shampoo doesn’t cause any adverse effect.

If you don’t have carpet shampoo, you can try a mixture of dish soap and tap water. You’ll especially want to test any home mixtures to ensure you’ve gotten the proportions correct. You should only need a couple of capfuls of dish soap.

Wet Rug With Hose

Spray down the rug with a hose. Don’t worry about getting it “too wet.” You’ll need it very damp for the shampooing.

Scrub Shampoo In

With a brush that has firm bristles and a handle, scrub down the rug. Work hard to get between the fibers, down to the bottom of the pile. Once you’ve finished, let it sit for a few minutes. If you used a store-bought shampoo, it should list a suggested wait time on the bottle.

Rinse With a Hose

Once you’ve let the shampoo sit, rinse it off with a hose. Make sure that you get all the soap out of the carpet at this time.

Dry

Next, you’ll want to set the rug out to dry. It would be best to find a lateral post or hang up a clothesline that enables you to expose both sides of the rug at the same time. You’ll have to let the rug sit outside for a few days to fully dry. As such, before cleaning the rug, check the weather to ensure you’ll have a few sunny days in a row.

Vacuum

When the rug is dry and back in your house, vacuum the rug one more time. This final touch will reset any fibers that got displaced during the cleaning process.

By following this step-by-step guide to deep cleaning an area rug yourself, you can return any carpet in your home to its former glory.

A master suite is one of the most exciting ways to upgrade your house, but is it really worth the time, effort, and money it takes? This is a grand undertaking, but the results can completely transform your home. Even better, a master bedroom is the perfect way to treat yourself and add a little more luxury to your life. Still not convinced? Find more reasons to invest in a master suite for your home with this guide.

All You Need in One Space

A master suite is more than just a spacious bedroom. You also get plentiful closet space and a luxurious en suite bathroom. The master suite includes everything you could want in a comfortable, functional bedroom. This means no more sharing a bathroom with kids or other members of the house. The upgrade in storage space is also incredibly useful. Plus, you can add other fun features, like your own fireplace, a reading nook or sitting space, or even a private balcony. A master suite offers comfort, privacy, and the perfect level of extravagance to give you the room you deserve.

Customize Any Way You Want

Your bedroom should always reflect who you are and what styles you enjoy. A new master suite presents a blank slate to display any design or décor you want. This is the perfect excuse to give your bedroom a refresh. Plus, the extra space of a master suite gives you even more room to decorate.

Remember that good bedroom design incorporates more than just what you hang on your walls. You must consider many factors when designing your master suite. Find ways to optimize your lighting for a cozy atmosphere. New furniture can also be a fun upgrade. Always make sure you keep functionality in mind as you design the space. When you balance function, comfort, and beauty, you create a master suite that meets every need you have.

Settle Down in a Home That Lasts

Many homeowners design a master suite because they want to stay in that house for the rest of their lives. After all, one of the best reasons to invest in a master suite for your home is to make your space more comfortable for years to come. You can also design your master suite for aging in place. Wide spaces, grab bars in the bathroom, and other accessibility features will keep your space comfortable and safe as you enjoy your home through the years.

Increase Your Home Value

Even if you don’t want to stay in your current house forever, a master suite increases the value of your home. The spacious design and luxurious features will make your home more desirable on the market, which in turn makes it easier to sell down the road. If you plan on eventually selling your home, try to incorporate desirable amenities and features into your master suite. A jetted tub, energy-efficient lighting and water fixtures, heated floors, and other additions will make your home stand out.

Thinking about selling your home and moving on to greener pastures? You want to make as much money as you possibly can from selling your home to accrue the funds needed to purchase the home of your dreams.

You have a renovation budget ready, but what should you spend it on to increase your home’s value the most? Here are a handful of top tips for increasing your home’s value.

Focus on the Areas That Matter Most

If you want to increase your home’s value, you should focus on the areas of the home that matter most. Think—what do most house hunters want? A beautiful and functional kitchen, a bathroom where they can relax and unwind, a roomy master bedroom, and a finished basement are common high priorities. Conversely, not many house hunters are looking for a chandelier in the garage or a cat obstacle course that stretches from floor to ceiling.

For the best return on your investment, spend your renovation money on improving the main areas of the home instead of adding niche details that could be a hit or miss.

Aim For Efficiency

Another top tip for increasing your home’s value is to make it eco-friendly. Energy-efficient homes are valuable in the eyes of eco-conscious and cost-conscious buyers. Energy-saving appliances, lighting, and windows reduce a home’s environmental footprint as well as the cost of monthly utilities. Score—two birds with one stone!

When you’re out shopping for any of the above, look for products that are EPA-Energy Star certified. These products are deemed highly energy efficient by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.

Replacing regular fixtures and appliances with Energy Star devices will save you money while you still own your home and make you money when you sell it.

Cover Up Imperfections

The cabinets and counters in the kitchen are outdated, the interior walls are scratched and stained, and the siding outside is dirty and discolored. Fortunately, there’s a one-size-fits-all solution—a brand-new layer of paint!

Paint is fantastic for those who want to cheaply and easily boost their home’s value. An interior paint job comes with a whopping 107 percent ROI while an exterior paint job offers a lower, but still excellent ROI of 55 percent. Get in touch with a contractor, pick out some nice hues, and bask in the instant profit!