How to Clean Carpets with Household Products

Don't waste time and money using store-bought carpet cleaners. Make this easy and effective all-purpose carpet cleaner with items you have in your home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray Bottles
• Stiff-bristled Cleaning Brushes
• Kitchen Sponges
• Medium-bristle Brush
• 1/4 c. nonbleach, nonalkaline mild detergent

1. 

   Combine 1/4 c. mild liquid dish detergent (containing no bleach or alkaline) and 1 gal. warm water.

2. Mix thoroughly.

3. Select a spot in the carpet that is out of plain view, and test the solution for carpet discoloration.

4. 

   Lightly spray solution on carpet in small, workable areas (preferably 2 to 3 square feet), or dip sponge in solution, wring lightly so that the sponge is not dripping and sponge solution onto carpet.

5. Use a medium-bristle brush to scrub solution into fibers.

6. Dip a clean sponge into clean water, wring lightly and go over worked area to remove excess solution.

7. Repeat until no soap comes off onto sponge.

8. Move onto next area, and repeat steps.

9. 

   Blot all areas dry with a white, clean, lint-free towel.

10. Use a toothbrush for stubborn stains.

11. When dry, use a stiff-bristled brush to raise the nap and fluff carpet.

Tips & Warnings

• When cleaning spots, brush from the outside of the stain to the inside so as not to spread the stain.
• For wool carpets, use 1/4 c. wool-care detergent (for washing machines or washing by hand) instead of mild detergent.

[zerorezdfw]

on 9/25/2009 Be careful "scrubbing" the carpet. It will do damage to the fibers that can't be fixed. In carpet cleaning you would typically tamp or bounce a brush on the top of the carpet in order agitate. Be sure to remove all the residue or the spot will reappear. If it does reappear, just rinse again with clean water...don't add more cleaning solution. Check out http://www.zerorezdallas.com

[payless70]

on 1/26/2009 The professionals at Payless Carpet Cleaners provide information and tips in regards to removing stains from carpets. Refer to http://www.payless-carpet-cleaners.com or if located in the South Florida region contact by telephone at [phone] or [phone].

[johnhilbrand]

on 3/10/2008 most carpet spots are just sticky residue or sweet spills and don't need soap just water rinseing and blotting to get all the residue out so they don't darken from trafic. Soaps that won't rinse out are sometimes neutralized with slightly acidic spotters. Harder spots depend on source, most human spots (protein) require alkaline spotters and this method will work although I find people using weak solutions agressively cause undue wear. Most vegetable and urine need acidic spotters, vinegar has a 2.6 ph and might be to low a ph for some carpets. because either too high a ph or low can brown out a carpet. so use chemicals designed for the purpose follow directions, and regardless of proceedure pretest first. for more information see my web http://www.hilbrandscarpetcare.com

[Cleanfreak]

on 10/29/2007 Simple Green took wet nail polish out of my carpet like magic.

[dianejada]

on 9/14/2007 I have a dog and need to spot clean an area rug (she eats her dog biscuits on this rug). What is pet safe for cleaning?