Last Updated on June 18, 2020 by MakeThingsReal
Carpet cleaning is one of those chores that we would rather not think of, and when we do think of it, we outsource it. If you have toddlers or babies, chances are you have to clean your carpet as often as you can, every day if possible as toddlers make a lot of mess. Fortunately, there exists a thing called a carpet floor cleaner.
Even if you don’t have babies, you probably have the occasional soiree or get together with a couple of friends in your home, and somehow, someone always manages to spill their food or drink.
You may even be the one responsible for the dirty carpet, maybe when you track in mud on a rainy day or when your pet leaves muddy footprints on the carpet.
Outsourcing your chores may give you some relief, very few like to clean after all, but your wallet may not be relieved and sooner or later, you will discover that it is eating into your finances.
However, there is no reason to give into despair just yet, you can clean your carpet all by yourself in very little time, and it will be just as clean and sparkly as though you have outsourced it.
All the things you need to clean your carpet are probably in your pantry already, so there is no need to go on a shopping spree for expensive cleaning products.
There are many cleaning recipes you can use for a sparkly clean carpet, some of them are even versatile enough that you can use them to clean furniture or drapes. But before you start cleaning, make sure you do a little spot test to check that your DIY cleaning product won’t ruin your carpet. Here’s a recipe for a general carpet spot-cleaning.
Your raw materials are:
One clean sponge
One cup of warm water
One teaspoon of baking soda
One tablespoon of white vinegar
One teaspoon of dishwashing soap
One clean towel
One spray bottle
The mixture
You may feel a little like you are in a chemistry class when you start mixing but its all part of the fun. Baking soda, being a base and vinegar, an acid is quite the duo when you mix them up, they create carbon dioxide which makes for a good cleaning.
Combine your dishwashing soap with the vinegar and the cup of warm water in your spray bottle. Make sure you are working over a sink, when you are ready, add the baking soda and quickly screw the spray bottle.
Cleaning up
Before you start scrubbing away at the carpet, vacuum the area you want to clean and gently wipe it with the rough side of the sponge.
Spray the area with your carpet floor cleaner and rub or dab it lightly with the clean, absorbent towel.
You will see the results almost immediately. Continue to dab the area and wipe it with the towel so that it absorbs the water until the stain is completely gone.
Before you begin to clean your carpet, it’s a good idea to know what material your carpet is made of so that it is much easier to care for it. There are many different recipes for the different types of carpets, and there are general cleaning recipes that work for all kinds of carpets. If you plan to utilize a carpet floor cleaner, you can add these solutions to your machine for better results.
Synthetic carpets
Most carpet materials are usually synthetic or human-made fibers. They are common because they are strong, durable, stain resistant and affordable. It is also quite easy to maintain synthetic carpet fibers, so you don’t have to worry too much about cleaning this carpet by yourself.
The only raw materials you will need to clean your synthetic carpet are half a bowl of white vinegar and some water.
Mix the raw materials in a bucket and add the cleaning solution to your carpet floor cleaner, follow the instructions set out in the instruction manual and clean away. Keep an absorbent towel close by in case you get the carpet wet and be careful not to get it too wet, so the carpet does not shrink.
Light colored carpets
Lighter colored carpets are a bit more challenging to maintain, and they tend to stain easily. The raw materials you will need for a light colored carpet are; one cup 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, one tablespoon dishwashing liquid, one and a half cups of hot water and your favorite essential oil. This recipe contains hydrogen peroxide to help battle tough stains; you should avoid using this solution for darker carpets as it will bleach the carpet, before you apply the solution, always spot check on a small part of the carpet.
Mix your dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide, and a few drops of the essential oil in a bowl and stir till they are combined. Pour the solution into the carpet floor cleaner along with the hot water and use the carpet cleaner according to instructions.
There are more recipes you can use with your carpet floor cleaner especially if you use a steam cleaner. If you feel that the professional carpet cleaning solutions the manufacturer recommends, damage your carpet, you can make use of some of these recipes.
For an excellent homemade carpet cleaning solution, use two tablespoons of ammonia, one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, two cups of rubbing alcohol and some drops of your favorite essential oil. These ingredients are cheap and won’t leave any harmful residue on your carpet. Mix the raw materials in a container and add some warm water.
Pour the solution into the reservoir of the steam cleaner and clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You may also use this recipe for your floors and bathroom; it is versatile, cheap and safe.