How To Get Flour Out Of Carpet: The Two-Step Method

Flour is a fine powder that can save your surface from a greasy spill. It is commonly used on the carpet since it’s quite effective, however, a large amount of flour can pose a problem.

The fineness of flour makes it a little difficult to clean, but I have a two-step method that will get it out of your carpet fibers. It does involve vacuuming but in the right way!

How To Clean Up Flour On Carpet

Anyone could be the cause of this problem, however, there’s no time to point fingers! Fortunately, flour is not toxic, so your carpet will not be damaged. My two-step method will help you clean the flour without causing another mess.

Step 1 — Remove The Excess

If you spilled flour in one spot, it would be simpler to clean. Try and prevent other people from walking in the area for a while until you’re done so that you can avoid the flour being tracked in other areas.

Use a spoon and paper to scoop out excess flour. Try and get as much as possible. Then take a brush or broom to clean the residual powder. If you are dealing with a large area of flour, you should use a stiff brush and sweep from one side into a dustpan.

Do this until there’s no more flour left in the carpet.

Step 2 — Vacuum

Now it’s time to vacuum. You CANNOT use the vacuum if you haven’t done step 1. A large quantity of flour in your vacuum can damage the filter and ruin the suction power. This can cause it to work slower or not at all.

Vacuum your carpet after removing the excess. If you still see some particles sticking to the carpet, use a brush to bring them to the surface and vacuum again. Repeat the process until you are sure that there’s no flour left.

💡 It’s best to put the vacuum on the lowest setting if possible.

What About Wet Flour?

If you were trying a new recipe and mistakenly knocked a bowl over with wet flour, it’s no worry! There’s a way to get that out, too.

Scrub the area with a stiff brush, then vacuum afterward. Repeat until every bit of flour has been removed. This may take a few tries.

Use a cool, damp cloth to blot on the stain. Don’t use water directly, as the stain might become too gummy and sticky. Mix some dishwashing soap with cool water and put it on the area. Press the damp cloth to absorb the water and stain.

Repeat this approach until you’re satisfied that all stains are out.

If the stain dried up, you’ll have to do a baking soda paste treatment.

To do this, you have to make a paste with about 6 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/3 cup of warm water. Smear some of the paste on the stain and let it work its magic. The baking soda will lift the stain right out of the fibers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I vacuum up flour?

When you spill flour all over, your first instinct is to start vacuuming, and quick! But the fine powder can clog your vacuum filters and damage your machine. You should use a broom and dustpan instead and a wet paper towel to mop the rest. Then you can vacuum as the final step.

How do you remove dried flour paste?

Scrape the paste using a dull knife. Spray down the paste with water to soften it up, then dip a sponge in a mixture of dishwashing soap and water. Wipe the paste with this sponge to remove the remaining flour paste.

Can I use expired flour to clean the carpet?

Yes, you can still use expired flour for oily and greasy stains that may be on your carpet. But it’s not safe to eat, so make sure to keep it separately!

How do you get flour out of carpet without a vacuum?

You can use a carpet sweeper if you have one. After that, use a brush to get the remaining particles of flour. However, this method may only work for small messes.