This page contains the following solutions.
I have been using Mean Green to shampoo my carpets for years. I use about 1/2 cup per gallon of water and it doesn't clog up your pump like pine oil will.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How can you make homemade carpet cleaner for an automatic cleaner machine?
By gary from High Point, NC
Hello, I have a steam machine and I always try to avoid buying the cleaner that seems so costly to me so I use my laundry soap. I do use way less than I use for laundry, and it works well for me. Liquid detergent is much better than powder, if I use powder I mix it with hot water and pour it through a fine mesh strainer. I prefer Tide brand for it's cleaning power, but I imagine your normal soap would work. Note: Like always test a small area first to be sure you aren't going to ruin your carpets. but I have always used this. I do not know if this is hard on the machine or not, But I really don't use enough to make the carpet or machine sudsy.
I used to have terrible pet stains on my carpet with the accompanying smells. I used very hot water, a cap full of vinegar & some Oxyclean. I didn't strain & my carpet cleaner was used hard. I"d recommend straining for good measure. I did a Google search for the vinegar idea & just beefed it up with Oxyclean.
I also used plain hot water then poured soda water (2-liter bottles ) directly on the carpet. But the carpet was already ruined (sickly dog & an older dog) so I tried a lot of things to get rid of the smell. It's best to use enzyme cleaner on pet stains instead of spreading the urine with a carpet cleaner. Mine were too far gone. I lost the dogs & got new floors.
Good luck.
When my husband knocked over a paint can on the carpet and got paint on it, I did what my former landlord did. When someone would move out of his rentals, he would put like one part Purple Power to 3 parts water in his shampooer to clean his carpets and it works great!
Depending on if it is your machine or a rental. A rental you must use their products. Or if the machine clogs, you are responsible. My own carpet shampooer does not heat the water, so I put the hot water in the tank. My cleaner is not in the clean water but additional trigger sprays that.
Clear non sudsing ammonia is good BUT then be careful what else you add to it. I also like to freshen up the floor with a little vinegar water.
Do not use anything that creates a suds action. That takes forever to get out of the carpet.
What is the portion of water and ammonia to use in the Hoover rug shampooer? Which cleans better ammonia or white vinegar? Thanks very much!
By Carol from Bel Air, MD
White vinegar is one of the best cleaners ever made. Dilute with one part vinegar tp eight parts water. Apply to area and blot with wet cotton towel. NCC
I would use the white vinegar. No ammonia fumes and a natural deodorizer.
Clear ammonia has been used by professional cleaners. Do not mix products. Personally I use vinegar--white distilled, in my machine. 1/2 cup to 2 gallons of hot water. If my dog does an accident, I take a gal of hot water and 1/4 cup vinegar, swish and dump on spot. Then use the shampooer within 10 minutes to clean it. I found that I take the 2 gallon container on my shampooer and for rinsing the carpets add 1 ounce of Febreeze or other brand.
I have become a big fan of using vinegar and baking soda to spot clean my carpet. It works wonderfully. Can anyone tell me how I can use my carpet cleaner to do the whole room without chemicals?
By Karen
Hi Karen
This this is the solution my husband uses in our carpet cleaning machine.
1/2 cup powdered Tide
4 caps Lysol general cleaner
2 caps bleach
We have used it for years and works very well.
I just bought a new carpet shampooer and need some recipes for good carpet cleaner. I have multiple pets and stains. It is old carpet, very used, when we bought our double wide.
By katznana
I used original Oxyclean with a bit of Dawn Powerclean dish soap on my carpet. I thought " No way the carpets ruined. But to my surprise it cleaned my carpet like new. My doorway to my bedroom was black tracks from my wheelchair. I also used a steamer on the hard spots. I used a Rug Doctor Machine & it worked amazingly.
I have a Bissell pro-heat 2x and I need the measures for the borax and vinegar combo to use in the solution tank. The cleaning formula is way too expensive and the carpet seems to attract dirt quicker. Is that because I've steamed up the Scotch Guard? My neighbor has used this site for help and recommends you.
Actually Bissell cleaners are equipped with Scotchgard, and it keeps your warranty on Scotchguarded carpets in tact!
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Do you have an idea for a homemade carpet cleanser for my steam cleaner?
