Cleaning the carpets at home is not the easiest task one can face. They cannot simply be thrown into the laundry machine and a different approach should be taken whenever spills and stains occur. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. Carpets suffer a lot on a daily basis, whenever you walk over them with your dirty shoes, spill foods, and drinks, or anything else that may prevent them from looking neat and clean.
In this article, we will talk about different homemade carpet cleaning solutions you can make at home using common household items. In order to choose the best carpet cleaner, you should strictly pay attention to the type of stain you are about to deal with, as well as the type of fabric of your carpet. Choose carefully and work with caution. Never rub the stain and make sure you treat it as soon as it occurs.
- Beer – Beer is the perfect solution when it comes to removing tea and coffee stains from your carpet. Even though coffee stains may seem impossible to get rid of, you can actually easily do that by pouring some beer over them. Rub it gently into the stained area and repeat until the coffee/tea stain is gone.
- Ammonia – Household ammonia is great for stain removal. Use a solution of 1 cup of ammonia and 2 litres of water. Sponge the stain with the mixture and allow it to dry. Repeat the process if the stain remains.
- Vinegar – Vinegar is a superhero when it comes to stain removal. Here is how to use it for various stains:
- Light carpet stains can be removed with a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt diluted in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Allow the solution to dry before vacuuming.
- Make a mixture of 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch and wipe it into the stain with a dry cloth to remove difficult, ground-in dirt and other stains. Allow it to settle for two days before vacuuming.
- Use a solution of 1-1/2 teaspoons vinegar, 1-1/2 teaspoons laundry detergent, and two cups of water to clean up spilled paint. Sponge away the paint before it dries and rinse it with cold water.
- To remove stains from fruit and fruit juice, combine 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent with 1-1/2 tablespoons of white vinegar in two cups of water. Blot the solution into the carpet/upholstery fabric.
- To remove coffee and tea stains, mix equal parts white vinegar and water to blot the stain.
- Shaving foam – If you accidentally spilled some juice or something else that left a mild stain on your carpet, grab your shaving foam and put some on the stained area. Before you do that, blot the area with a wet sponge to dampen it, then squirt some of the foam/cream. When done. Wipe it away with a damp cloth. To treat greasy stains, rub some of the shaving product into the carpet fibres, let it dry completely, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
- Cornstarch and milk – If you spilled some ink on the carpet in your office or living room, do not worry. Mix milk and cornstarch into a paste and apply it to the stained area. Let the solution dry, then brush it off and vacuum your carpet to lift and restore the fibres. If you are attempting to clean a greasy stain, sprinkle it with cornstarch and let the powder absorb the oil. Repeat until the greasy stain is gone.
- Salt – This is one of the best multipurpose household carpet cleaning ingredients.
- To clean red wine stains, pour some white wine over the stained area while the stain is still wet. That way you will dilute the colour. Then clean the area with a sponge and some cold water and sprinkle some salt on top of the stain. Let that sit for about 10 minutes, then vacuum the mess.
- To remove greasy food stains from your carpet, use 1 part salt and 4 parts rubbing alcohol and rub firmly on the grease spot, being careful to rub in the direction of the rug’s natural nap.
- If you spilled ketchup on your carpet, act quickly because after it dries, it will be nearly impossible to remove. Sprinkle salt over the spill, wait a few minutes, then vacuum. Remove any residue with a sponge and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is fully removed.
- WD-40 – For ink and other tough stains, spray a bit of WD-40, wait a few minutes, then use your regular laundry detergent or a bit of dishwashing liquid, hot water, and a sponge to thoroughly clean any residue. Make sure you rinse the stained area with a sponge or a clean cloth dipped in plain water to get rid of any soapy residue – it may attract more soil in the future.