Homemade Carpet Pretreater

Pretreating the carpet before cleaning will reduce the amount of work you will have to do with your cleaning machine. A good pretreater will lift the dirt in the carpet pile and loosen stains for easier cleaning. By using vinegar, which is a natural cleaning product and deodorizer, you can make a nontoxic and gentle pretreater spray for your carpets, rugs and stair runners.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Mix 3 tbsp. white vinegar with 24 oz. of warm water in a clean hand spray bottle.

2. Spray the carpet all over with the vinegar mixture and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. Spray carpet stains with an extra amount of solution, but do not oversoak.

3. Clean the carpet with your cleaning machine as directed by the manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a stain protector on the carpet after cleaning. A stain protector will prevent spills from soaking into the carpet backing.

• Always use a blotting motion on stubborn carpet stains. Rubbing may damage the fibers and spread the stain.

References

• Going-Green Challenge: Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaner
• Stain Expert: Environment-Friendly Methods of Stain Removal
• Mrs. Clean USA: Removing Carpet Stain Tips

Resources

• Cleaning Tips: Carpet Odor Removal