Homemade Defoamer

You can make defoamer at home when cleaning your carpets.

Defoamer is a chemical used in carpet cleaners to prevent the soap from causing too much foam as you apply it to the carpeting. Many cleaning compounds cause foam as a side effect when mixed with water. To give your carpet a proper cleaning and to avoid damaging the fabric, you need to avoid creating foam. There are many defoamers on the market, but you can also make your own inexpensively.

Instructions

1. Add a small amount of salt to the dirty water tank of the carpet cleaner to help break down bubbles.

2. Mix in a small amount of soap such as laundry soap or dishwashing liquid into the same tank. This will help eliminate foam as the carpet cleaner sucks dirt out of the carpeting and prevent the tank from overflowing.

3. Clean out the tank after you finish to prevent buildup from forming on the tank walls. Cold water and a sponge should be enough to remove any residue.

Tips & Warnings

• Using white vinegar in your carpet cleaner instead of carpet soap will eliminate the need for a defoamer and will also get many stains out of your carpeting. The vinegar scent will dissipate from the carpeting in minutes once it is dry.

References

• The Dollar Stretcher: Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solutions
• Easy Carpet Shampoo: Carpet Shampoo

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish