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Carpet cleaner is one of those things that we never seem to have on hand when we need it, which is why it’s so valuable to know how to make a homemade carpet cleaner. After all, the worst time to be running to the store to shell out money for store-bought cleaners is after a wine spill or pet accident, when the mess is actively soaking in and you need to act fast. Having a great DIY carpet cleaning solution on hand for times like those can mean the difference between a 10-minute disruption to your day, or a permanent stain that makes you a little disgruntled every time you look at it.
Even if you’re not the world’s most avid cleaner, adding a homemade carpet cleaner to your clean-up rotation will make life easier, keep your spaces looking neat for longer, help you live more sustainably, and save you money.
Worth noting: not all carpets are the same, and that’s why we love this homemade carpet cleaner. It’s pretty mild and the ingredients are inexpensive. (Plus, it spot-cleans upholstered furniture, erases stains from area rugs, and touches up soiled drapes.) But even so, make sure to spot-test it before applying it to a big or visible area of your carpet, just in case it affects the color or fabric. After a spot check turns up clear, you’re ready to tackle bigger stains. Follow these steps for our tried-and-true DIY carpet cleaning solution.
Homemade Carpet Cleaner Ingredients
- Small spray bottle
- 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Clean absorbent towel (white or un-dyed is best to avoid color transfer)
- Clean sponge
DIY Carpet Cleaner Directions
- Gather the ingredients to make your carpet cleaner.
- Prep the stain by vacuuming over the stained area of your carpet, and then wiping it gently with the abrasive side of a sponge.
- Now, mix your cleaner. Add the dishwashing liquid to the spray bottle along with vinegar, and then top with the warm water.
- Working over a sink, with the top of the spray bottle close at hand, add the baking soda. Be aware that the vinegar and the baking soda will bubble up when you mix them together! You want that; the bubbles can help agitate stain particles so they lift away more easily. So once you add the baking soda, work quickly. Screw on the top of the spray bottle, and immediately spray the soiled area generously with the carpet cleaner.
- As the bubbling begins to subside, gently rub and dab the treated stain with the towel. You should start to see cleaning results right away.
- Continue dabbing and wiping with the towel to absorb the water and completely remove the stain.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano, Mirel Zaman
Sarah Lipoff is a former digital asset manager at PS.
Lauren Harano is a contributor for PS and was formerly an editor for PS Living, Beauty, and Shop. She has a passion for skin care, murder mysteries, and online shopping. Aside from PS, her work can be found in the pages of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen as well as online at InStyle, Esquire, NBC, and various food and travel sites.
Mirel Zaman is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.