How to Make Your Own Carpet Cleaner

The more you entertain, the more likely it is that you’ll have to deal with stains. A spilled glass of wine, a smudge of dirt—it’s frustrating to see stubborn stains on an otherwise clean carpet. But stains aren’t the only problem. You also need to worry about the effects of long-term wear and tear. Over time, it’s inevitable that carpeting will start to lose its brand-new sheen.

Before you spend money on a heavy-duty over-the-counter rug shampoo, try whipping up your own homemade carpet cleaner and giving dingy areas (and errant stains) a good scrub. We’ve got the perfect recipe—all you need to do is set aside a weekend to concentrate on getting your carpeting truly clean.

DIY Recipe for Carpet Cleaning Shampoo

Step 1: Boil the water and prepare the other ingredients.

Pour 1 gallon of water in the pot and bring it to a boil on the stove. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, put on your rubber gloves and, in a bucket or large mixing bowl, combine the following:

2 tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent
1/4 cup of all-purpose cleaner (e.g., Formula 409)
1 scoop of OxiClean stain remover
1 teaspoon of fabric softener (optional)

Step 2: Combine all ingredients.

After the ingredients in the bowl have dissolved, pour in the hot water. (The OxiClean is typically in powder form, which means you may need to stir the mixture a bit before everything dissolves.) Pour the water slowly so you don’t create too many bubbles, which can lead to air pockets in the carpet cleaning mixture.

Step 3: Fill the carpet cleaner’s solution tank.

Transfer the homemade carpet cleaning solution to the carpet cleaning machine’s solution tank, following the instructions for the appliance. Keep in mind that the cleaning solution you’ve made already contains a fair amount of water, so you can use it at full strength in the machine.

Step 4: Test the carpet cleaning solution on a small area.

Before you start dispensing your homemade carpet cleaner everywhere, test it on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to make sure that neither the solution nor the machine damages the carpeting. Wait 24 hours for the test spot to dry to see the results.

Step 5: Finish cleaning the carpet.

After you’ve checked the efficacy of the machine, run it over your entire carpet with the machine, paying special attention to stains and areas that look particularly dingy. Be careful not to use too much homemade carpet cleaner, because soapy residue can harm the carpet and too much moisture can lead to mildew. Just as you did with the test spot, wait at least 24 hours for your carpeting to dry, and then you’re done!

 

Your Complete Guide to Spring Cleaning

‘Tis the season for a refresh. Start here with our checklists, tutorials, and cleaning product recommendations to get your home and property in shape for Spring.

Get Started