The Best Method of Using a Wet/Dry Vacuum for a Carpet

Remove all objects and furniture from the section of carpet you wish to clean with your wet/dry vacuum. This will eliminate the chance of accidentally wetting anything that is not suppose to get wet, as well as give you space to see exactly what you are doing.

Squirt any stains on your carpet with a stain remover at least 15 minutes before you are ready to begin cleaning the carpet.

Plug your wet/dry vacuum into the nearest grounded outlet.

Turn the vacuum on by pressing the "on/off" switch. Refer to your owner's manual if you are having trouble locating this switch.

Vacuum up the dry mess first by pushing the vacuum forward over one section, and then bringing it back down over the section. Repeat going in sections until the entire area is clean.

Turn the wet/dry vacuum off, and dispose of the collected dirt.

Scrub the stained area with a mixture of 1 qt. warm water and 1 tsp. carpet cleaner. The wet/dry vacuum works best when it is removing these liquids from the carpet. It doesn't do a good job of scrubbing away stains.

Secure any attachments to the wet/dry vacuum that are needed to remove the liquids in the carpet. Each wet/dry vacuum is different, so you will need to consult with your owner's manual. Usually, a different filter must be used when picking up wet material.

Turn the vacuum's "on/off" switch to the on position. Slowly push the vacuum over the liquid in the carpet while holding the suction button. This draws the liquid into the water tank. Bring the vacuum back down over the area, and repeat two or three more times to get all of the liquid out. If the stained area is large, you will have to work in sections like you did with the dirt and dust.

Turn the wet/dry vacuum off before unplugging it from the grounded outlet.