How to Steam Clean Carpets With Homemade Solutions
The carpet cleaning solutions available in stores are often quite expensive. Many are also loaded with chemicals that you may wish to avoid using on your rugs. Here are some easy homemade solutions you can use the next time you want to steam clean your carpets. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar (for non-foaming solution) 10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil (for non-foaming solution) 15 drops Lemongrass essential oil (for non-foaming solution) ½ cup Baking soda or borax (for both solutions) ½ cup Natural dish soap or laundry soap (for foaming solution)
Instructions
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Before steam cleaning, vacuum your carpet thoroughly in two directions. Pick up fine particles such as dust mites and their waste by using a bagless vacuum equiped with a HEPA filter.
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Fill your carpet cleaning machine with hot water. Dust mites are killed at temperatures above 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater is on a lower setting for safety purposes, heat the water on the stove.
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To make a foaming carpet cleaning solution, add a ½ cup of natural dish soap or natural laundry detergent such as Seventh Generation to the resevoir. Mix a ½ cup of baking soda or borax into the solution.
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To make a non-foaming carpet cleaning solution, use 1 cup of vinegar, 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil and a ½ cup of baking soda or borax to the resevoir.
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Wash the carpet in two opposite directions for maximum cleaning. Wash stained areas more than once with the machine. Pre-treating the carpet often leaves the previously stained area a lighter color than the rest of the carpet.
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Use a ceiling fan or another method of ventilation to increase air circulation in the room. This will speed drying.
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Tips & Warnings
When using the non-foaming solution, you can use different essential oils based on your personal preferences.
Always wash carpets when the humidity is low. Mold and dust mites thrive in damp environments, so be sure you have adequate air circulation and low humidity to speed the amount of time needed to thoroughly dry the carpet.
