My house has a tiny entryway and carpeted floors, which, along with two busy adults, two cats to go outdoors, and a child who moves at full speed 24/7, can all come together to create the perfect storm of muddy floors and carpet stains and debris in winter.
To keep my carpets clean and tackle any stains that do crop up from muddy boots and paws, I tried various cleaning agents and protective items last winter, and these are the three best ones I’m sticking with for the job in 2025 and into the New Year. This winter, you can also save hundreds of dollars on professional cleaning bills and use these affordable carpet cleaning fixes without a machine instead.
3 Affordable Buys that Protect my Rugs and Carpets
1. Dr. Beckmann Carpet Cleaner
Small entryways can cause a traffic pile up as members of your household all enter at once to escape the terrible weather, leaving little time to take off shoes at the threshold.
I have tried Dr. Beckmann's Carpet Cleaner and the rest of the stain-removing range across my home and love it for the gentle and non-chemical smell. Coupled with its ability to actually shift carpet stains and rug spills with ease, it’s been a real winner for me. I have particularly found it useful on the muddy and tired spots in my small entryway, which is a third built-in jute, and the rest carpet.
The built-in stiff-bristle brush makes light work of scrubbing stains, but do be aware that once you open the safety seal on the bottle neck, it will remain open and needs to be stored upright. I made a small hole in the foil so it wouldn’t flow out in excess whilst scrubbing. This is also noted in the instructions, so make sure to read it first!
My carpets can easily soak up seasonal mud and wet-weather debris as we enter our home and quickly step off the small built-in jute to allow the person behind to fit inside during adverse weather. It’s the trouble with having a small entryway, and therefore, carpet cleaning or spot treating has been a regular winter must for me.
I also really like Dr. Beckmann's upholstery cleaner, which comes in a blue triangular bristled brush on the lid. I've used it monthly to spot treat my sofas.
Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Speckless, says, ‘Small entryways can be a nightmare in winter, mud, wet leaves, and debris get tracked in constantly, especially when there’s carpeting or a built-in jute mat.’
‘I recommend treating muddy spots as soon as possible so they don’t sink into carpet fibers. When cleaning jute or natural materials, always blot instead of scrubbing and let it air dry fully to prevent mildew.’
I also particularly like Dr. Beckmann’s upholstery stain remover, available at Amazon because I have cats who come inside through our living room windows, putting their muddy beans all over my sofa. My sofas are velvet, and this cleaner was gentle enough to shift the dirt without impacting the color or texture of my upholstery. However, do make sure to patch test on an inconspicuous spot of your couch first, though.
Karina adds, ‘The Dr. Beckmann range works beautifully for quick spot treatments because it lifts dirt without harsh chemicals or residue, which is ideal for high-traffic or pet areas.’
2. Boot Trays
These boot trays from Walmart are highly durable and if you have a hard floor, and not carpet as I do, they have a non-slip backing to avoid wet-weather accidents.
I invested in a pack of three boot trays, available at Walmart, using one by my front door tucked under my shoe rack, one by the back door where we have to exit to access the trash and recycling, and a spare for when I’m cleaning either one in play.
This means there is somewhere to immediately place muddy or wet footwear that won’t drip on other shoes in your small entryway storage, and means you don’t have to leave your boots outside where they can get rained on, exacerbating musty smells or worse, becoming home to spiders and other pests.
Pro cleaner Karina adds, ‘Boot trays are one of those simple yet high-impact fixes. They contain the mess and protect floors from constant moisture, which is a mistake that can warp wood or cause musty odors in your entryway and beyond.
‘I suggest keeping a tray by each entrance and giving them a quick rinse once a week to prevent grime buildup. Line the bottom with an absorbent mat or layer of newspaper to make cleanup even faster.’
It’s one way you can use leftover newspaper. Another use for a newspaper is as a silverfish trap. These pests are more likely to be found in moist or humid areas.
3. Baking Powder
Sprinkle baking soda to refresh rugs, runners and carpets, especially if they're in the path of entry over winter as they'll be more prone to dirt, debris and odors over time.
I made the mistake of lying down on my living room rug once to play with my cat and realised, to my horror, there was a smell coming off it.
Karina explains, ‘Even when there haven’t been spills, rugs naturally trap odors from daily life. Pet dander, skin oils, foot traffic, and dust particles can all build up over time. These elements settle deep into fibers, especially in busy areas like living rooms or playrooms.
Nevertheless, I was horrified and set to work to naturally deodorize it. As I have a young child who plays on the rug and pets who love to sleep there, I wasn’t keen to use any harsh chemicals to clean my rug over winter.
That’s when I remembered that cleaning carpets and rugs with baking soda is cheap, works, and I already had it sitting in my pantry. That’s why I grabbed my trusty pack of Arm and Hammer baking soda, available in 2lb resealable bags from Amazon, from the pantry and sprinkled it over the rug.
I kept my cats in another room for around 30 minutes. Then I vacuumed the baking soda up and did the lay-down test again. No smell. In fact, it smelled really fresh and clean.
When vacuuming the baking soda, our in-house vacuum tester and Home Tech Editor, Dan Fauzi warns, ‘Baking soda can clog regular vacuum motors, so you ideally want something better equipped and more rugged to handle it, such as a bagged canister vacuum. I recommend the Miele C3, available at Amazon. It’s hardworking, durable, and great for keeping a house clean with pets.’
If not, use a dust pan and brush to gather up the bulk of the powder, then vacuum with your usual appliance.
Karina adds, ‘You can refresh a rug or carpet with baking soda, which works as a safe, natural deodorizer. To boost its power, mix it with a few drops of essential oil, like lavender or Lemon, available at Walmart, before sprinkling it on the surface. Let it sit for 20–30 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly.
‘To wash a small or medium rug yourself, wash gently in cold water using a mild detergent, then air dry completely to prevent trapped moisture or mildew.’
What to Shop
As nice as glass canisters look in a pantry, you don’t need to pour out this 2.7 lb bag of baking powder, as it is resealable. This will help keep pests and moisture out.
Add a few drops to the baking powder you will spritz on your carpet or rug. This will add a fresh scent to your floors without it being overpowering. If you have cats or dogs, be mindful that some essential oils are toxic to them, and even more so if undiluted.
I have tried the whole range and love this for its gentle fragrancing, easy stain removal and handy brush ca top. When you’re done, dab residue with damp cloth and allow to dry.
I found a trio of boot trays very effective last winter in preventing mud from getting everywhere once we entered our small entryway. I am using them again in 2025. This pack of three has a durable material and a backing to stop it slipping or skidding, 15" x 30"
Often recommended by our cleaning experts, this little powerhouse of a deep cleaner is suitable for carpets, rugs, upholstery and can also make light work of stains in your car. It’s compact but has a large tank capacity, meaning less fill ups or storage space.
If you have some home maintenance, building work or servicing going on, you can use this self-adhesive carpet protector film to remove the issue altogether. It's waterproof so muddy prints won't seep through. Then when the work is done, peel and throw.
Next, delve into our fall decluttering list and essential maintenance tasks for spring to help you keep up with essential tasks this hosting season and beyond.
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