Spills on the carpet from a cup of coffee can happen anytime. In fact, carpets or rugs can become dirty due to many reasons. And to give them a good shape, cleaning is necessary.
So, do I need to buy carpet cleaners, or homemade solutions are safe?
What is the best homemade carpet cleaning solution?
Fortunately, carpet cleaners are not an expensive item. You also can make homemade carpet cleaner using different ingredients.
Depending on your carpet type (synthetic or natural fibers), you have to determine which carpet cleaner will deliver the best performance.
As a DIY enthusiast, I prefer using homemade carpet cleaners.
Let me share a few solutions for the ideal homemade carpet cleaner.
What is the Best Solution for Synthetic Carpets?
Take a soft and fresh cloth, dip it into the below solutions and rub on the stain. Never pour the solutions on the stained area.
Detergent Solution: Prepare a mixture of lukewarm water (1 cup) and ¼ teaspoon of translucent liquid dishwashing detergent. It is an effective carpet cleaning solution.
Vinegar Solution: Take water – 2 cups and white vinegar – 1 cup. Mix it well into a pot.
Solvent Solution: Substitute nail polish remover or gentle non-acetone polish remover will help you clean synthetic carpets successfully.
What is the Cleaning Solution for Natural Fiber Carpets?
Fill up a bottle with the below solutions (except solvent solution) and spray on the affected area lightly.
Detergent Solution: Prepare a mixture of lukewarm water (1 cup) and 1 teaspoon of translucent liquid dishwashing detergent. It is an effective carpet cleaning solution.
Vinegar Solution: Take water – 1/4 cup and white vinegar – 1/4 cup. Mix it well into a bottle.
Ammonia Solution: Mix clear homemade ammonia – 1 tablespoon and lukewarm water – ¼ cup into a bottle.
Solvent Solution: Substitute nail polish remover or gentle non-acetone polish remover will help you clean natural-fiber carpet successfully.
What is the Process of Removing Food and Drink Stains from Carpet?
From Carpets and Rugs Made of Synthetic Fibers
If you find stains of wine, chocolate, ketchup, sauce, milk, and beer, follow the below instructions.
1. Take a paper towel or soft cloth and soak it into the homemade detergent solution. Then place it on the stained area and wait for 15 minutes. The stain will break down when you do so. After 15 minutes, use a dry fresh towel to soak up the additional liquid.
2. Submerge a paper towel or non-printed cloth into the vinegar solution. Press it on the affected area and wait for 15 minutes. Don’t avoid this step because the dirt will get removed once you do so.
3. Wipe off with a cloth dunked in mildly warm water. Let it rest for the next 60 minutes, or let the wet area dry thoroughly. If the spill is too bad, after step 2, place a ½” stack of thick paper towel on the stain. Next, on the top, lay a glass baking dish and wait for 15 minutes.
4. Repeat the steps until you see the stain.
From Carpets and Rugs Made of Natural-fiber
Tea, beer, and coffee stains can easily be removed from natural-fibers carpets and rugs following the below steps.
1. Fill up the detergent solution into a bottle and spray it onto the spot. Then press a dry white cloth to absorb the area.
2. Spray the vinegar solution onto the spot. Then press a dry white cloth to absorb the area.
3. Spray the detergent solution onto the spot. Then press a dry white cloth to absorb the area.
4. Spray the lukewarm water solution onto the spot. Then press a dry white cloth to absorb the area.
5. Continue all the above steps as necessary if the stain is not removed.
When the stain is due to hard candy, soda, berries, milk, wine:
Above all, steps need to be followed. Only spray the ammonia solution and press a dry white cloth to absorb the area. You will need to apply this solution before you apply step # 2.
If your carpet has tomato ketchup or sauce, Gatorade stains:
All the above steps will let you clean the carpet or rug. Only you have to alternate step # 2 with an ammonia solution.
What is the Process of Removing Oil and Grease Stains from Carpet?
When you find lotion, mascara, crayon, cooking oil, butter, grease, eggnog, nail polish, lipstick stains on your carpet, follow the below instruction depending on the carpet type.
From Carpets and Rugs Made of Synthetic Fibers
1. Use a fresh and soft cloth to take a little amount of carpet cleaning solvent and apply it to the stain.
2. With lukewarm water, rinse the area thoroughly.
3. Give the area a rest for 1 hour. Let it dry completely. After drying, check if any stain has. If you find a stain on the same area, repeat the same process.
From Carpets and Rugs Made of Natural Fibers
1. Use a fresh and soft cloth to take a little amount of carpet cleaning solvent and apply it to the stain.
2. Spray the detergent solution on the area and use a dry, soft white cloth to absorb the area.
3. Spray lukewarm water on the area and use a dry, soft white cloth to absorb the area.
4. Give the area a rest for 1 hour. Let it dry completely. After drying, check if any stain has. If you find a stain on the same area, repeat the same process.
What to avoid when Cleaning a Carpet or Rug?
Preparing homemade carpet cleaning solutions is easy, but there are certain things that you can use when cleaning a carpet or rug. You should avoid using the below things.
Abrasive Item
Although most people think that scrubbing using the abrasive item as hard as possible will let you clean the carpet or rug effectively, the bad news is that it is an entire misconception. Your carpet or rugs can get damaged if you use abrasive tools to clean them.
Bleach
Do you own a coloured carpet or rug? Never plan to use bleach to clean it. Your carpet will get discoloured, and fibers will get ruined.
Too much Water
Don’t use too much water when cleaning your carpet or rug. The carpet may shrink if the carpet pad absorbs water. At the same time, drying the carpet will be challenging, and you will most likely be welcoming mold if you do so.
Carpet cleaning is not a difficult task, and often it will require deep cleaning. You can use a readymade carpet cleaner for machine, but you have to make sure the products are safe to use before using them.
Following the above techniques, you can effectively clean a carpet. All the above carpet cleaning homemade solutions are safe to use. Also, avoid using the discussed items. Carpets or rugs beautify a room, and keeping them clean is necessary.