How to Clean Carpet on Stairs (and Keep It Clean)

Carpeted stairs might be the hardest-working surface in your home. Every trip up and down concentrates foot traffic on the same few inches of each tread, and the front edges (the "nose") wear and gray first. They're also awkward to clean — which is why they're often the dirtiest carpet in the house.

Vacuum the right way

• Work from the top down so dirt falls onto steps you haven't done yet.
• Use the crevice tool along the back corner of each tread, where dirt and pet hair collect.
• Use the upholstery or motorized hand tool on the treads and risers.
• Vacuum stairs at least weekly — more often with pets.

Spot clean as you go

Stairs collect drips and spills that go unnoticed. Blot fresh spots with a white cloth and a mild detergent solution (about ¼ teaspoon clear dish liquid per cup of lukewarm water), rinse with plain water and blot dry. Our stain removal guide covers specific stains.

Deep cleaning stairs

Home machines are bulky and hard to use on stairs, and it's easy to over-wet the carpet — water then runs into the pad and the wood beneath. Professional cleaning uses hand tools designed for stairs, with the same pre-treatment and hot water extraction used in the rest of the house.

Why stair edges turn gray

The nose of each step takes the most pressure and friction. Soil gets ground in there first, and over time the fibers wear down. Regular vacuuming and cleaning remove the grit before it wears the fibers. Some graying on very old carpet is wear, not dirt — a cleaning will improve it, but it can't restore worn fibers.

Tips to keep stairs cleaner

• Make the stairs a shoes-off zone.
• Keep a mat at the bottom and top if pets use the stairs a lot.
• Have stairs cleaned at the same time as the rest of your carpet so the whole house matches.

Our customers are often surprised by the difference — "my front stairway had heavy traffic marks but now look as good as new," one wrote in a Google review. Stairs and hallways are priced when we confirm your appointment; add them in our instant estimate tool and we'll include them. See more before and after photos.