How to Clean Carpets With Vinegar & Windex

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Windex

  • Vinegar

  • Steam cleaner

  • Windex Multi-Surface Spray or Wipes with Vinegar

  • Scrub brush

  • Terry cloth

Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

Cleaning your carpets with a mixture of vinegar and Windex can produce cleaning results close to what you get from a professional carpet cleaning service. When mixing cleaners it is important to never mix chlorine with vinegar or Windex to avoid creating harmful fumes. It is a good rule of thumb to keep the windows open when you are mixing cleaners because the fumes can be overwhelming.

Advertisement

Cleaning a Large Carpet Area

Step 1

Mix 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup Windex in hot water.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Pour this mixture into your steam cleaner, or rent a cleaner if you need to do a very large carpeted area.

Step 3

Clean the entire carpet with the steam cleaner.

Step 4

Leave the windows open and let the carpet dry.

Spot Cleaning Your Carpet

Step 1

Purchase Windex Multi-Surface Wipes or Spray with Vinegar.

Advertisement

Step 2

Spray or wipe the soiled carpet area. If the area is very soiled you can leave the wipe on the soiled area or saturate the area with the spray.

Step 3

Use a scrub brush, if needed, to distribute the vinegar and Windex solution into the fibers of the carpet.

Advertisement

Step 4

Blot the saturated area with a terry cloth towel until the excess moisture has been removed and the stain is gone.

Step 5

If needed, repeat steps to remove other stains from your carpet.

Tip

Windex and vinegar used to only be used for windows but now it is being used for cleaning a variety of surfaces in your home. Take a look at the Windex Products FAQs in the "Resources" section.

Warning

Open windows when mixing cleaners and cleaning carpets to avoid inhaling fumes.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references & resources