How to Clean Your Carpet: No Water, No Mess, No Damage

If you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to clean a carpet without water, the answer is yes. A dry carpet cleaner uses a low-moisture, sponge-like powder to absorb and lift dirt from fibres. Brush it in, let it dry as it dissolves and traps soils, then vacuum, so carpets refresh fast without over-wetting or long drying times.

If you’ve ever shampooed a carpet and then tiptoed around damp patches for hours (or days), you already know the case for going dry. A powder clean keeps moisture to a minimum, so you avoid the classic wet-clean pitfalls:

Fibres don’t stay soggy, so there’s less risk of browning, wicking lines, or that musty “still drying” smell. You can walk on the area sooner, handy in busy homes and rented spaces.

The powder dissolves, absorbs, and traps loosened soil in tiny sponges. When you vacuum, you remove the soil with the sponges, rather than leaving sticky detergent on the pile.

Perfect for high-traffic lanes, hallway runners, stairs and the spots where pets love to nap. You can treat the patch that needs it, right now, without setting up a machine.

Our formulation is designed for synthetic and natural fibres, with suitability for wool and development for sisal/coir in mind, so you can refresh a mixed-fibre home with one simple process.

The powder comes portioned for practical coverage, and you can pair it with refills and reusable tools to keep plastic down over time.

In short: quick to apply, fast to finish, and kinder to carpets that don’t like a soaking. Check out our full guide on 'Dry vs Wet Carpet Cleaning'.

Think of it as a thousand tiny sponges doing the heavy lifting for you. Each granule in our Eco Friendly Dry Carpet Cleaner is softly textured and lightly moistened with plant-derived cleaning agents:

1. Contact. Brushing works the granules between fibres so they touch more of the pile, that’s where they can do their best work.

2. Dissolve. The light moisture helps break down greasy films and everyday spills that cling to fibres (from footsteps, pets, cooking aerosols and life in general).

3. Absorb & trap. As the granules dry, they pull dissolved soil inside, a bit like a sponge soaking up the mess, so it doesn’t re-stick to the carpet.

4. Vacuum away. A thorough vacuum removes the “loaded” granules, leaving the pile lifted and fresher without detergent left behind.

A neat visual cue: the powder darkens as it picks up soil. When you see that change, you know it’s doing its job.

• Eco Friendly Dry Carpet Cleaner (150 g sachet) → As a rule of thumb, one 150 g sachet covers about 1 m × 2 m for a general refresh (coverage naturally varies with pile type and soil level).

• A carpet cleaning brush → Brushing boosts contact and performance. Prefer a vegan-friendly brush? We’ve got you covered.

• Probiotic Odour & Spot Remover (optional but powerful for organics) → Use this first on pet accidents, milk, food spills and other organic sources so odours are dealt with at their cause.

• A vacuum with decent agitation (beater bar/brushroll if suitable for your carpet).

Optional add-ons: a dustpan/brush for lifting dry solids before you start, and a small kneeling pad or towel for comfort on larger areas.

Choose a tucked-away corner, apply a little powder and brush gently. Let it dry and vacuum. If the area looks good, you’re set.

Vacuum to remove loose dust and grit. For fresh pet accidents, lift solids first, then blot with kitchen roll. Apply Probiotic Odour & Spot Remover to the spot (if needed), give it a little time to work, and blot again until it’s just damp, not wet.

Shake evenly over the target area. As a guide, use about 150 g per ~1 × 2 m for a general spruce-up. You’re aiming for a light, even layer, not a snowdrift.

Use short, overlapping circles to work the granules down between fibres. On cut-pile carpets, brush lightly in multiple directions so you cover the sides of each fibre. On loop-pile or sisal/coir, keep pressure lighter and follow the weave to avoid fuzzing; several gentle passes beat one aggressive one.

This is where the magic happens. As the powder dries it changes colour and locks in the dissolved soil. Give it the time it needs; airflow helps (a cracked window or open door is perfect).

Use steady, slow passes, two in each direction is a good rule, so you lift the granules and the captured soil in one go. Empty or clean the bin/filters if you’ve covered a large area; your vacuum will thank you.

Traffic lanes and old marks sometimes need a second, lighter cycle. Work smaller sections and spend a little longer brushing those fibres from different angles.

Dry powder cleaning shines when you need fast results without the faff of wet machines. Here’s where it really earns its keep, and how to get the best outcome each time.

Hallways, landings, and the patch in front of the sofa pick up oils from shoes and skin. Do a quick vacuum, brush in a light, even layer of Eco Friendly Dry Carpet Cleaner, let it dry fully, then vacuum slowly in two directions. You’ll lift the dulling film without leaving sticky residues that make fibres re-soil faster.

Act quickly: lift solids, then blot until barely damp. Pre-treat the spot with Probiotic Odour & Spot Remover to break down the source (that’s what causes lingering smells). Once it’s touch-dry, apply powder, brush in, allow to dry, and vacuum. For stubborn odours, repeat the probiotic step and give it longer dwell time before the powder cycle.

Older smells have often travelled deeper into the pile and backing. Plan two cycles: a generous probiotic pre-treat (allow good dwell) → blot → dry powder cycle → vacuum. Reassess the next day with a “nose test”; repeat once if needed.

Check the backing is colourfast and stable. Avoid loose jute backings that shed. Use lighter brush pressure on flatweaves; on deep-pile rugs, brush in short overlapping circles from multiple directions so the granules contact the sides of the fibres. Always finish with a slow, thorough vacuum.

Work two treads at a time. Powder, brush (small circles help on narrow treads), let dry while you move to the next pair, then vacuum cross-passes. A crevice tool along the nosing catches any granules hiding on the edges.

Great for many durable fabrics that tolerate light dry agitation, think synthetic blends on cushions and arms. Keep the layer sparse, use very light brush pressure, and vacuum on low power once dry. Avoid velvet/cotton velvets and anything labelled “dry clean only”; those usually need a specialist wet method or professional care. If in doubt, patch test first.

One of the big advantages of dry powder is avoiding water on plant fibres. Use a thin scatter, brush with the weave (no cross-scrubbing), let it dry fully, then vacuum. This helps freshen without swelling the fibres.

Because there’s no over-wetting, you can treat a room in the morning and be back on it by lunchtime. Keep a spare sachet for high-traffic lanes and entry mats so you can spot-refresh before handover.

Powder still visible after vacuuming → Under-agitation or over-application → Re-brush lightly to distribute, allow full dry (add airflow), then vacuum with slow, overlapping passes. Empty the bin/filter and go once more.

Dark “shadows” or track marks remain → Embedded soils or compacted pile → Target those strips with a second light cycle. Brush from different angles to open the pile before you vacuum.

Clumps in the powder → Applied too thickly or the room is humid → Break up with the brush, spread thinner and extend dry time. A cracked window helps.

Crunchy feel underfoot → Powder not fully removed or carpet needed cross-passes → Vacuum again at a slower pace in both directions. If your machine allows, raise the height one notch so the brushroll agitates without digging in.

Odour returns next day → The organic source wasn’t fully broken down → Repeat Probiotic Odour & Spot Remover with longer dwell, blot, then do another powder cycle. Check underlay/backing if accidents were heavy, treat from above more than once.

Fuzzing on loop pile → Too much pressure or cross-brushing → Brush with the loop direction only and lighten up. The powder will still do its job.

Powder caught along skirtings, at legs, or in door tracks → Normal on edges → Use the crevice tool and a quick cloth wipe on hard trims. Next time, switch to smaller circles at edges for better control.

Vacuum struggles / loses pickup → Filters and bin loaded with granules → Empty the bin and clean/replace filters. Granules are designed to vacuum out; good airflow is key.