DIY Homemade Carpet Cleaning Recipe: Affordable and Effective Solution for Clean Carpets
Carpet cleaning can be an expensive chore, especially with the high cost of store-bought solutions. But did you know you can create an effective, budget-friendly homemade carpet cleaning recipe? With just a few simple ingredients, you can keep your carpets fresh and clean without breaking the bank.
If it’s been so long that you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your carpet and it’s now in an embarrassingly dirty and smelly state, just using hot water won’t cut it. You need a high-quality, commercial-grade carpet shampoo for your cleaning machine. Or even better, why not make it yourself?
A homemade carpet cleaning solution can be just as effective, if not more so, and is a lot more budget-friendly. Just remember, you’ll need to rinse, rinse, and rinse again. It’s crucial to extract every bit of soap or detergent that gets into the carpet fibers to avoid residue buildup. Any leftover residue will act like a magnet, attracting new dirt, dust, and grime.
This homemade cleaning solution is perfect for use in your Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine or any other carpet cleaning machine. By combining everyday household items like Febreze, OxiClean, and white vinegar, you create a powerful cleaner that tackles tough stains and odors. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also avoid the harsh chemicals often found in commercial products, making it a safer choice for your home and family.
Ingredients for Your DIY Carpet Cleaning Solution
By combining these simple yet powerful ingredients, you create a carpet cleaning solution that is both effective and economical. This mix tackles dirt, stains, and odors head-on, ensuring your carpets are left looking and smelling fantastic without the hefty price tag of commercial cleaners.
OxiClean Color Boost Laundry Brightener and Stain Remover
OxiClean is renowned for its effectiveness in lifting tough stains and brightening fabrics. Specifically formulated as a liquid, it contains hydrogen peroxide as its active ingredient, which is gentle yet powerful in breaking down stubborn dirt and stains embedded deep within carpet fibers.
It’s crucial to use the Color Boost Laundry Brightener and Stain Remover liquid rather than the powdered detergent variant. The liquid formulation ensures that you avoid excessive suds, which can be difficult to rinse out completely from carpets. Excess suds can leave behind residue that attracts dirt and affects the texture and appearance of your carpets over time.
To clarify further, the powdered OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover contains disodium carbonate (soda ash) as its primary ingredient, which is more abrasive and may impact the color or dye of carpet fibers. Therefore, for optimal results and to preserve the integrity of your carpets, we recommend sticking with the liquid form of OxiClean Color Boost Laundry Brightener and Stain Remover.
Febreze Extra Strength Fabric Refresher
Febreze is renowned for its ability to eliminate odors, not just mask them. Using the unscented version ensures that your carpets are free from unpleasant smells without any overpowering fragrance left behind. This ingredient is essential for tackling deep-seated odors and keeping your home smelling fresh and clean.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that effectively breaks down dirt and grime. It also has antibacterial properties, making it great for sanitizing your carpets. Additionally, vinegar helps to neutralize odors and dissolve residues that might be left behind by other cleaning agents. Its acidic nature ensures that your carpets are not only clean but also free from lingering bacteria and germs.
Hot Water
Hot water is key to activating the ingredients in your homemade solution and helping them penetrate deeply into the carpet fibers. The heat assists in loosening dirt and grime, making it easier for the cleaning agents to lift and remove these particles. Using the hottest water you can safely manage will enhance the overall effectiveness of your cleaning solution.
The clean water reservoir capacity on the Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine is one gallon. So, if you were to make up one batch outside of the machine, that would set the ratio. If you want to make a smaller amount, pull out your best math skills!
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Homemade Carpet Cleaning Recipe
Ready to get started? First, gather your ingredients by measuring out 1 cup each of OxiClean, Febreze, and white vinegar. Pour these into a quart-size container (or something similar) and give it a good mix until well combined. Next, pour 1 cup of this mixture into your carpet cleaner’s reservoir. Finally, carefully fill the reservoir to the fill line with hot water—use the hottest water you can get from your tap, or heat it on the stovetop for an extra kick. And that’s it! You’re all set to tackle those tough carpet stains and odors with your homemade cleaning solution.
How to Use Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution in a Carpet Cleaning Machine
I rely on this homemade solution for those challenging situations, especially in high-traffic areas like EC Central. Start by giving your carpet a thorough vacuum and spot clean any obvious stains. Then, fill your Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine with the homemade cleaning mixture and clean your carpet as usual. Once you’ve given it a good clean, fill the Hoover with clear hot water and go over the carpets again to rinse. This helps ensure all the cleaning solution is removed. While this recipe should be safe for all carpets, it’s always a good idea to test it in an inconspicuous spot (like a closet) first.
Benefits of Using DIY Carpet Cleaning Solutions
There are so many perks to using a homemade carpet cleaning solution! First and foremost, it shouldn’t leave any residue on your carpet fibers (though I always rinse because I’m a bit paranoid about making sure every last bit is removed). No residue means your carpets won’t attract dirt and grime right after you’ve cleaned them, keeping them fresher for longer.
Additionally, using common household ingredients like OxiClean, Febreze, and white vinegar means you know exactly what’s going into your cleaning mix—no hidden chemicals or harsh additives. This makes it a safer option for your family and pets.
Cost Comparison: Store-Bought vs. Homemade Carpet Cleaning Recipe
Let’s talk savings! Commercial carpet cleaning solutions can really add up, often costing upwards of $0.45 cents per ounce. In comparison, this homemade carpet cleaning recipe will only set you back about $0.19 cents per ounce. That’s a significant difference in cost, especially when you’re cleaning larger areas or tackling frequent stains.
By making your own solution with everyday household items like OxiClean, Febreze, and white vinegar, you’re not only saving money but also ensuring you have a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on effectiveness. It’s a smart way to keep your carpets clean without breaking the bank.
DIY Homemade Carpet Cleaning Recipe
Materials
- 1 cup OxiClean Color Boost Laundry Brightener and Stain Remover
- 1 cup Febreze Unscented Fabric Refresher/Odor Eliminator
- 1 cup white vinegar
- hot water, to fill machine
Instructions
How to Mix Up Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution:
- In a quart-size container or similar, combine 1 cup each of OxiClean, Febreze, and white vinegar. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Pour 1 cup of this mixture into the reservoir of your carpet cleaning machine.
- Carefully fill the reservoir with hot water up to the fill line. Use the hottest water available from your tap, or heat it on the stovetop for optimal cleaning power.
How to Use the Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution:
- Begin by thoroughly vacuuming your carpet to remove loose dirt and debris. Spot clean any visible stains.
- Fill your carpet cleaning machine's reservoir with the homemade cleaning mixture.
- Follow your carpet cleaner’s instructions to clean the carpet as usual, ensuring thorough coverage.
- Once cleaning is complete, refill the carpet cleaning machine with clear hot water and go over the carpets again to rinse out any remaining solution.
Notes
Question: What’s your go-to cleaning hack for keeping carpets fresh? Share your best tips below.
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Amazon doesn’t have the Febreze, can you sub another version of the Febreze?
Yes! I have updated the post with Febreze FABRIC Extra Strength Refresher, a very reasonable, excellent substitute. Febreze is forever shuffling its line of products! I am confident this while slightly different, will work perfectly well in the recipe.
I love this Simple carpet shampoo.
I have a Hoover Power Scrub carpet washer. And this carpet shampoo works GREAT!
Much Better then the Store shampoo!
Thank you so very much Mary for posting this webpage!
I’m not sure why you want to do that, Sheri. Those blades are made of iron, and iron rusts. I don’t think it’s a problem. Just looked at mine using a flashlight and I do see rust, and I’m leaving it be.
Mary,
I can’t wait to try this, but I will need to for just a bit. My friend owns a commercial grade carpet cleaner and she is going to let me borrow it in a couple of weeks. I am going to use your recipe to get my carpets smelling fresh and clean again. Having pets can do really make them look dingy.
What do you suggest as a spot cleaner?
Let me refer to posts that address both DIY recipes as well as the very best commercial product:
DIY Homemade Carpet Cleaning Recipe: Affordable and Effective Solution for Clean Carpets
The Complete Homeowner’s Guide to Cleaning and Restoring Old, Stained Carpet
Hope that helps!
This sounds like a great recipe. Can it also be used in a Kirby?
Sorry I can’t help you there! I have never owner or used a Kirby (and I assume you mean carpet cleaning machine, not the Kirby vacuum).
Thank you for this recipe, i’ve been postponing cleaning carpets because of the cost and ineffectiveness of store bought cleansers.
I appreciate your boldness in including the lyrics for How Deep the Father’s Love For Us. The world would be a much better place if Jesus was Lord of every heart and home.
We have carpet we purchased last year and it was treated with ScotchGard. Will this solution remove the ScotchGard? Am a bit hesitant, but want to clean my carpet!
I don’t know. But would you rather have treated dirty carpet, or clean carpet you can retreat? Just a thought … I will do some research and report back here with what I find.
Mary,
Have you ever used Nok-Out in your shampooer?
Yes I have, but not with hot water. Nok Out should never be heated.
Why not use Nok-Out instead of Febreze?
Nok-Out should not be heated, and this solution works best with very hot water.