Easy DIY Carpet Cleaning Solution
I have been needing to clean all of the carpets upstairs for a while. It’s one of those things that isn’t that big of a deal when you actually start doing it.
I have been dreading it because I don’t like the cleaner that the user’s manual suggests for my machine.
It just doesn’t work and isn’t worth the money. Of course, the book has to make you feel like if you put anything else in your carpet cleaning machine other than what they suggest, it will blow up on contact.
I decided that I was going to take a leap of faith and find something different, something cheaper and dang it, I want a cleaner that smells better! That’s why I chose this easy DIY carpet cleaning solution.
I also want it to be able to clean the high traffic areas. I tried many different concoctions before this particular mixture worked for me. So let’s get into it! I had a couple of the items on hand.
Note:
You do not have to have a carpet cleaning machine to use this easy DIY carpet cleaning solution. You can use a sponge mop. Be sure not to soak the carpet down to the padding.
Things you will need:
- 1 cup peroxide
- 1/8 cup Dawn dishwashing detergent (I had Ajax on hand, so I used that)
- 1 tbsp Oxi Clean
- 1/2 cup liquid fabric softener
- Gallon container
Mix the solution
After you mix your solution, make sure to test an inconspicuous spot on your carpet such as by the drapes or under the couch to make sure that the peroxide doesn’t discolor it.
Pour some on a cloth, blot it on the carpet and wait for 30 minutes. Let’s get started on using this carpet cleaning solution!
Here’s the best part! It’s so easy! Grab your gallon container, I used an old tea pitcher. You will need a funnel If you are using a glass or gallon jug.
All you do is pour everything into your gallon container and fill it the rest of the way up with warm water.
Use the right container
Give it a good shake or a stir, depending on what kind of container you are using. I highly recommend using a glass jug with a lid.
I started out with a tea pitcher because I thought I was going to be pouring all of the solution into my carpet cleaning machine.
You only use a little bit of the mixture in your cleaner. The mixture will last longer in a glass container.
Make sure that you follow the directions that came with your carpet cleaning machine. Measure 1/2 cup of the solution and pour it into your machine.
Clean the carpet per the instructions in your cleaner’s user manual. That’s it! It’s that easy!
It’s ok if you do not have a carpet cleaning machine. You can add 1/4 cup of the solution to a spray bottle, spray the carpet a small section at a time and use a sponge mop to work it in. I opened windows to speed the drying time.
This carpet cleaning solution is fantastic!
The solution took out old stains that I have been unable to remove in the past. All of the carpet upstairs looks so bright and clean.
The solution that I mixed up had a really nice smell. It wasn’t overpowering at all.
I used the orange-scented Ajax dish detergent instead of Dawn. I already had a big bottle on hand and wasn’t going to buy more.
The orange scent of the dish detergent mixed with the April freshness of the Downy created an awesome smell. Once all of the carpets were dry they smelled like candy.
Here are examples of how great the solution cleans:
I used a tea-stained plastic pitcher to mix everything up in. I left the pitcher on the kitchen counter while I was cleaning.
When I poured the solution into a milk jug I noticed that it had taken every bit of the tea stains out of the pitcher.
I thought the stains were stuck in there forever because I scrubbed it as hard as I could in the past and couldn’t get it to come off.
My pitcher looks new again! It also brightened up my stainless steel sinks! I will definitely be trying this out on other things!
I hope you give this DIY carpet cleaning solution a try. It will be worth it!
