Home Carpet Cleaning Solutions
Face it: spills happen.
Between kids, pets, and everything in between, our carpets take a beating. If you are like me, then you hate those commercial carpet cleaners that leave your house stinking for hours after a spill is cleaned up. Plus, many of these cleaners can damage or discolor sofas, carpets, or curtains.
However, for spills and stains I find that a more direct cleaner is necessary. That’s why I had to come up with a better homemade carpet cleaner spray that would work on tough messes and dirty carpets.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Everything you will need for this recipe can probably be found in your pantry. It’s very cheap to make, but really does the trick!
White vinegar – White vinegar is known to remove tough stains, especially those from pets. It has some great deodorizing properties and will tackle any tough stain. Water is needed to dilute the vinegar because it can be quite potent. Vinegar is safe to use on most fabrics and is effective against many stains. If you are interested in learning more, check out this post on White Vinegar for Cleaning and So Much More.
Salt – The salt in this recipe is used to bind up stains. If you have a REALLY tough stain, like red wine or cranberry juice, you can pour some salt on top of the stain first to absorb the liquid. Allow it to dry for 10-15 minutes (or until it appears that the salt has absorbed all the liquid) and vacuum. Then use the carpet cleaner spray.
Lavender essential oil – Lavender EO gives this spray even more deodorizing properties and helps tackle bacteria and viruses lurking in your carpets. It is one of the most versatile essential oils and is safe to use around children and pets. Check out some other deodorizing essential oils here.
Preparing Stains
For fresh liquid stains remember that it is best to always blot up excess liquid first. This prevents the stain from setting. Remember never to rub liquid stains. Once I’m sure I’ve blotted up as much liquid as I can, I will use the DIY Carpet Cleaner Spray.
For solid stains, I always pick up as much as possible before using the DIY Carpet Cleaner Spray.
Directions
- Combine vinegar and water in a large spray bottle.
- Add in salt and lavender essential oil.
- Cap and shake.
- Spray on carpets liberally, shaking bottle frequently between sprays.
- Allow carpets to dry.
- Vacuum treated areas.
Note: For tougher stains, spray mixture directly on stain. Let dry and vacuum. Repeat if necessary.
That’s it! I’ve used this recipe on anything from baby food to hair balls (glamorous, I know!). It always seems to leave my carpets in like-new condition. My favorite part – making this cleaner is much cheaper than purchasing one.
Notes on Essential Oils
If you are not a fan of lavender, I’ve included a list of substitute essential oil blends. You can find them on this recipe: Natural DIY Carpet Deodorizer Recipe.
Please note that some essential oils are will have color tints (especially sweet orange essential oil), so make sure you choose a clear essential oil to include in your carpet spray so color is not transferred to carpets.
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