Embellishing your place with several colourful and beautiful rugs is extremely enticing. However, these lovely items are often at risk of getting stained. That’s when your DIY carpet cleaner becomes useful!

Homemade solutions for cleaning carpets are essential in every British home. Sometimes, you don’t have time to rush to any store nearby to buy a carpet cleaner when yours runs out.

Continue reading to learn about the best homemade carpet cleaners and their preparation methods.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution

This handy solution is the go-to generic option for cleaning almost any type of stain and works on most types of carpets.

Of course, you can call in a carpet cleaner to remove these pesky stains when you’re short on time.

Alternatively, you can make this homemade carpet cleaner recipe yourself with a little amount of effort.

Here’s all you need to know about this solution:

Ingredients

As the name suggests, you can make this DIY carpet shampoo using baking soda to cover the stained area and a tablespoon of vinegar. You can add double the amount of vinegar if you’re looking to cover a large spot.

Instructions

Just scatter the baking soda over the stained region, and distribute it evenly on the affected surface.

Next, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the baking soda gradually until it starts to fizz. Once you get this cue, massage the mixture into the stain using a brush with strong bristles.

Let it dry for 4 to 6 hours. Once that is done, vacuum the area.

Why It Works

A baking soda-based natural carpet cleaner has excellent stain-dissolving properties that work well with vinegar. The latter reacts to the alkaline baking soda, creating foam that lifts the most difficult stains.

Lemon Juice and Salt Cleaner

This homemade rug cleaner can help out in a pinch. In addition, you can easily make it with just two ingredients from your kitchen.

Here is what you need:

Ingredients

Search for an area with a lot of sun rays. Next, prepare water and salt in equal parts, and enough lemon juice to cover the stained area.

Instructions

Start by wetting the stain with water. Then, squeeze the lemon piece over it. If you have lemon juice in a container instead, pour it over the stain till it’s fully covered.

You can now apply the dry salt and gently rub the mixture together to help the abrasive quality of salt remove the stain. Rinse and add more lemon juice as needed.

Expose the treated region to the sun until it’s fully dry. Finally, wash this area with a normal detergent to remove the lemon juice residue.

Why It Works

This homemade carpet cleaner solution works wonders on bright or white carpets, as lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent. This makes it ideal for removing stubborn stains from bright rugs and fabrics in general.

In addition to the lemon’s acidity breaking down stains, the salt’s abrasive properties work with the lemon juice to remove stain particles from the rug’s material. Moreover, sun rays also work as a natural bleach.

Castile Soap and Water Solution

Another wonderful natural rug cleaner option is to use a castile liquid detergent and incorporate it into your carpet shampoo.

Ingredients

All you need are equal parts hot water and liquid castile soap. The size of the stained area will, of course, determine how much you require. A washcloth is also required for scrubbing.

Instructions

Apply hot water directly to the stained area. Next, dab a few drops of castile soap solution onto the afflicted area. If more castile soap needs to be applied to the stain, do so based on how persistent it is.

Work the discolouration gently with a washcloth until it goes away completely. Next, use a dry cloth to wipe the area to remove any remaining water.

Why It Works

Castile soap is a well-known powerful detergent and a wonderful, yet safe option, especially if your rugs are vulnerable to harsh chemicals.

This is because it’s composed of vegetable oils rather than animal fats, and it functions as a homemade rug shampoo that is strong enough to remove debris and dirt.

This solution is safe for pets and children alike, so you won’t have to prevent your little ones from walking over a recently cleaned rug.

Dry Steam Cleaning

The aforementioned solutions are usable in steam cleaners. You can rent one with ease from a nearby hardware or convenience store. If you have one ready at home, then you’re in luck!

This is perfect for those who get tired of blobbing and scrubbing. Additionally, it’s best for those who struggle with back pains and aren’t able to properly clean their rugs.

Ingredients

The most effective homemade solution for a carpet cleaner in this case is a mixture of water and vinegar.

Add two parts of each, but take into consideration the carpet material as this will affect the ratios you add to your machine.

Mix a ratio of two parts water and one part vinegar if you’re cleaning a carpet made of a synthetic material. On the other hand, if your rug is made of natural fibres, mix one part vinegar and one part water only.

Instructions

The first thing is to mix the appropriate ratios into the container depending on your rug material. Next, add your vinegar mixture or any homemade carpet shampoo to the steam cleaner.

Follow the instructions on the machine to clean your rug. Lastly, leave the carpet to air dry.

Why It Works

Dry steam cleaning is highly effective in removing stains that are embedded deeply in carpet fibres. Moreover, steam is by default released at high temperatures, which aids in disinfecting the afflicted areas.

Steam cleaners are also easy for people of all ages to use.

Salt and Water

A salt and water solution for cleaning carpets helps with stains that haven’t fully set yet. Salt helps with absorbing the particles when they’re fresh.

Like baking soda, salt is easy to vacuum when you’re done, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning afterwards.

Ingredients

All you need is enough salt to cover the stain, water, a dry cloth, a damp cloth, and a brush with thick bristles.

Instructions

Use a cloth to blot the area and remove excess moisture. Next, spray a thin layer of salt over the affected area, and leave it to sit for five minutes.

Add cold water to the stained carpet, and use a brush to scrub the affected area. Last but not least, use a damp cloth to finish up the cleaning.

Salt will mostly remove moderate stains, but if the stain persists, a homemade solution consisting of baking soda or vinegar will remove the residue.

Why It Works

Similar to baking soda, salt has abrasive properties. So, you can scrub it into stains with a brush to remove most of the damage.

This carpet cleaner recipe works only when you apply it to a fresh stain. Dry stains won’t respond well to this solution.

Tips for Carpet Cleaning

Here are some tips to help you out before you get started with these recipes:

Do an Area Test

Some carpet shampoos with bleaching properties shouldn’t be used on darker carpets, while ingredients such as vinegar are harsher on synthetic carpets.

To avoid incidents involving using the wrong carpet cleaner, do an area test first before proceeding.

Act Fast

Some stains are easier to remove than others when dealt with swiftly. So, act fast and use your carpet cleaner as soon as possible.

Blob, Don’t Rub

Contrary to popular opinion, blobbing helps remove stains much easier than rubbing.

The latter can spread the stain to a wider area, making your job of removing stains a lot harder.

Make One for Pets

It’s better to have homemade carpet cleaners for pets to remove any unsightly pet-related stains that normal detergents won’t get rid of as easily.

Vinegar and baking soda work wonders for pet stains and odour removal. Just ensure that you’re using the right cleaning methods like blobbing.

Conclusion About Homemade Carpet Cleaners

When you run out of carpet cleaners and don’t know what you can use, these 5 homemade ones will do the trick.

Before you use these recipes, check your rug material and colour to make the right, informative decision. In no time, you’ll be able to remove stubborn stains and make your rugs as good as new!