The Best Homemade Carpet Cleaner Solution (2023 Recipe) -CarpetGurus (2023)

If you have been spending a lot of money on maintaining your carpet to be spotless, now is the time to pat yourself on the back! I have tried many cheap carpet cleaning products and so-called “professional” machines, and I realized they are a waste of time and money.

In contrast, my homemade secret carpet cleaning solution recipe for carpet cleaning machines and carpet extractors has way more advantages than all the commercial cleaning products.

CLICK HERE to see my full review of the TOP 5 commercially available carpet cleaning solution products!

It takes no time for me to find out that some of the carpet cleaning products I have used before containing chemicals that irritate my eyes and skin so much. Since then, I started to look for something more eco-friendly, but I really had a hard time looking for the right product.

The unknown chemical names on the long ingredient lists of those products stopped me from buying them. That was when I decided to shift to a homemade solution. I only use branded carpet cleaning solution products for the toughest stains.

For families with kids, this solution will be perfect since we know how children like to crawl on the carpet. Sensitive skins of children get the most allergic reactions from those chemicals in the cleaning products.

More than just the health concern, this homemade carpet cleaner also keeps the environment clean. As there are no harmful chemicals, it leaves no bad smells after applying on the carpet.

Unlike the chemical-containing products, it removes all the stains yet keeps the rug’s soft and smooth texture. It doesn’t require any scrubbing which can damage the carpet.

If you are ready to go for your own independent homemade carpet cleaning solution, there it goes. Try out my secret recipe below today!

Ingredients

• 1 Gallon of Hot Water (using filtered cold water is fine if you have a carpet extractor with a built-in heater)

• 1 ½ Tablespoons of Distilled White Vinegar

• ¼ Cup of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

• 1 Tablespoon of Dawn (or any other dish soap)

• 5-6 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (optional, only for the fragrance)

Recipe

1. First, fill hot water in the water tank of your carpet cleaning machine. The hotter the water is, the better. Be cautious when handling the container filled with hot water. Remember to save some space in the tank for other ingredients.

2. Add one tablespoon of Dawn dish soap (Or any other brand which doesn’t contain bleach). Don’t add the soap before filling the water as it will overflow the tank with soap bubbles if you add the water later. Do not add more soap than the recommended amount. Important to note that more soap doesn’t mean cleaner!

Then, add one and a half tablespoons of vinegar and a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide. Look for the 3% hydrogen peroxide in your nearest grocery store or drug store for just a couple of dollars. If you want a refreshing citrus smell that will stay for hours on your carpet, add 5 drops of lemon essential oil. Stir and mix all the ingredients slowly in a consistent circular motion.

3. Yes, that’s it! Simple right? It is not as complicated as we thought. What I like the most about this homemade solution is that I don’t need to get out of my house. All the ingredients we need are usually right in the kitchen.

For the more economical people, this is such a great solution because the money to buy those commercial cleaning products can be saved. When we are buying them, we are actually just paying for their advertisement fee anyway.

So, what is the point? Not only money, but it also saves us time because it takes only a few minutes to make our personal carpet cleaning solution. Now you can clean all stains in your home with a carpet cleaner, and your carpet will be transformed as new!

That being said, it might not be all that feasible for the very busy working people or people not comfortable with DIY. While my recipe will help you to remove most kinds of stains, there may be some really tough stain that calls for something much more powerful.

So here are my personal favorite Top 5 Best Carpet Cleaning Solution Products that I have tested and used over the years in conjunction with my secret recipe carpet cleaning solution. They are also found to be safe to skin and ideal for the most stubborn stains!

Happy cleaning everyone!


1. Hoover Paws & Claws Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo (AH30933) Review

My playful children always spilled juices and dropped food like gummy bear candies and chocolate on the carpets that my carpets used to look like old rugs filled with dark marks. I tried to clean up these stains with several cheap carpet cleaning products but the original color was never coming back.

What’s more, I really hated the unpleasant smell they left on my carpets. But Hoover Paws & Claws Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoohas made my day! And it could very well be the best carpet stain remover for old stains.

Unlike those products, this one doesn’t produce any chemical smell at all! It really does what it says. In fact, its mild linen fragrance makes my living room even fresh.

If you want your rugs to smell like the ones in those 5-star hotels, then this is a must-buy! It did such a good job removing all the marks that my carpets got back its original light color back.

I was even able to remove the oil grease stain on my sofa three years ago. The huge gray spot disappeared as if it was never there.

I do believe it is worth buying this product. I would rather spend a bit more for much higher quality than buying ineffective cheaper cleaning products just to save a bit of money. The outcome is incomparable.

Plus it is time-saving and to me, there are no negative consequences. Since then, I have put the Hoover Paws & Claws Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampooon the top of my carpet cleaning product list and have recommended all my friends to try it. Of course, they were very satisfied with the results too!

Pros

• 64-ounce bottle of cleaning solution that lasts for months

• Use for a wide variety of purposes including vomit, stains, blood, pet accidents

• Suitable for most carpet cleaning machines; not tied to Hoover brand carpet cleaners.

• Stainguard technology helps protect your carpet from future stains

Cons

• None

2. BISSELL 2X Professional Pet Urine Eliminator Full Size Machine Formula, 48 ounces (67A5) Review

I was not aware of BISSELL 2X Professional Pet Urine Eliminator until I got my dog. As a new pet owner, I had no idea how to potty train a dog. No surprise and the very next day, I was standing right on a urine spot on my carpet.

My instinct was to wash out the urine with detergent but the yellowish spot and the stinky smell didn’t go away. With a friend’s suggestion to use the Bissell Pet Urine Eliminator, I decided to give it a try.

Most, if not all carpet cleaner manufacturers recommend their own brand carpet cleaning solution to be used together with their own machines. Yes, it is true that you may void the warranty if other brand cleaning solutions damage the cleaning machine. However, as long as you purchase a product from a respectable brand like Bissell, you do not need to worry too much about it.

Enough said, does the Bissell 2X formula work? It did! No more yellowish marks and no more horrible urine odor. Plus, it also made my carpet look shiny.

So I started using it on any other stains my dog had created before. According to my experience with usual stain removers, I was worried my dark blue color carpet would turn into light blue spots. But this product just took away the stains and left the color intact. What was more surprising was that after using the Pet Urine Eliminator, it was much easier to clean up the later messes my dog created in the same place again.

Seeing these amazing results, I began using this product in other places in my room where there is a possibility my dog could make a mess. Big thanks to my friend for the advice to use the BISSELL 2X Professional Pet Urine Eliminator Full Size Machine Formula!

Pros

• Specialized in Pet’s urine stains and odors

• Has unique property in its ingredient to discourage pets from urinating in the same spot

• Made with biodegradable detergents making it very environment-friendly

• Allow you to use Bissell cleaning solution with carpet cleaner from other brands like Hoover and Rug Doctor.

Cons

• Smell may not be for everyone

3. Hoover CLEANPLUS 2X 64oz Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer (AH30330) Review

A while ago, I moved into a new house. All the furniture and the room itself looked gray and messy. The carpet that covered up the whole kitchen, while pretty high quality, was upsetting to see; grease, coffee spills and footprints built-up over time. It is too wasteful to replace it with new sheets of carpet, so I decide to clean it out.

My trusted Hoover Platinum Pet Plus Carpet and Upholstery Detergent have run out, so I went to Hoover’s website and found a similar product – the Hoover CLEANPLUS 2X 64oz Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer. It boasted impressive features and performance for its price. As I also have a kitten, I always worry chemicals will make my little furry friend sick.

After using Hoover Brand for quite a while, I am confident to continue using it because of its non-toxic formula. I put the cleaning solution in my carpet cleaning machine and went around the room, to every dusty and greasy corner.

My carpet cleaner was quite old and didn’t work on every cleaning product but with this one, it works really well. No sticky residue was left inside the solution container that would cause damage to my machine.

I was amazed to see how the room changed into a new look! Brighter and shinier! The strong moldy smell was replaced by the pleasant floral fragrance of the cleaning solution.

This product is very handy and I use it for my car’s interior too. I don’t even keep an air freshener. It takes away not only the stains but also the lingering odor.

Also, it shines the car seats and keeps its floor spotless. My 12-year-old car still managed to look great! Hoover CLEANPLUS made my life much easier.

Pros

• Smells great

• Usable on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and car interiors

• Biodegradable and non-toxic

• Works with all types of carpet cleaning machines

Cons

• Does not do well for removing vomit stains.

4. Bissell Deep Clean Pro 2X Deep Cleaning Concentrated Formula, 48 ounces (78H6B) Review

One day, I was shocked when I found out muddy footprints on my mattress. I left my boy home alone and he enjoyed jumping onto my bed after playing out in the rain. After trying several different cleaning detergents and worked to remove the mess, I ended up making more mess spreading the mud all over the mattress.

One last cleaning product I bought was Bissell Deep Clean Pro 2X Deep Cleaning Concentrated Formula, and I tried it without much expectation. As the printed label says the cleaner was mainly for carpet, I wasn’t sure if it would also work on the mattress. Guess what? All the mud was wiped out completely! Not a single spot was left.

The previous products I used were not strong enough to clean the stains so I had to scrub them that it left some scratches on my mattress. I regret I didn’t try the Bissell Deep Clean Pro 2X first.

At first, I was worried if this product will be ok to use with my carpet cleaning machine because my machine was very picky. But, it worked perfectly. I threw away all the other cleaning products I had bought. No other product can be more helpful and with the higher concentration, I can use a lesser volume of the solution.

Pros

• Protect your carpet with Scotchgard Protector from future stains and soil

• Safe to use for all major brand’s deep cleaning machines

• Biodegradable and does not contain phosphates, dyes, optical brighteners, or heavy metals that are harmful to the environment

Cons

• Slightly more expensive

5. Sunny & Honey Professional Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator, 32 FL OZ Review

The Sunny & Honey Professional Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator is targeted at removing tough pet stains and odor. Without a doubt, this carpet cleaner spray works perfectly on them. Other areas suitable to use on include blood and vomit stains.

Here’s what surprised me. One of my car seats was smeared with my three-year-old son’s poop. The remained brown spot looked quite ugly on my light colored seats. I tried casually washing it but the mark just faded, not completely gone. The air fresheners in the car don’t cover the bad smell too.

When I saw the Sunny & Honey Professional Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator, I figured this was just what I needed. As I always took my son on my car, I didn’t want to use harsh chemical cleaning products that could harm the baby’s soft and sensitive skin.

I tried DIY cleaning products, but it consumed too much of my time due to my busy work schedule. But this product, as it was described, was harmless to my child and very easy to use. The fresh scent it left conceals the odor and now I can confidently close the windows and drive.

Being a believer, I used it on the cradle, the sofa, and even on the wooden dining table. The leather sofa was sparkly, the cradle spotless and the oil grease on the table disappeared. It would be a mistake to use other strong chemical products on these household furniture. But S&H was extremely useful and safe to use!

Pros

• Spray bottle is convenient

• Tested to be pet and children-safe with Sunny & Honey patented Natural Enzyme Formula

• Clean up pet’s urine, feces, vomit, drool, and more

• Use in everywhere around your house like carpet, hardwood, leather, car interior

Cons

• Expensive

• Odd fragrance that may be unpleasant to some people

The DIY carpet cleaning solution recipe mentioned above is an excellent alternative for store-bought carpet cleaner spray. and is worth it to produce in large volume for your carpet cleaning machines.

But what if you want a one-off cleaning job like a coffee or fruit juice spill? You don’t need to rush to Walmart though because the carpet stain remover you are looking for may be inside your home.

Here are the 10 common homemade carpet cleaners you probably already have in your house.

#1 Beer

One of the most burdensome stains that your carpet might obtain is coffee. Coffee stains make your carpet gross and filthy. The distinct yellowish-brown color of coffee stain can be disgracefully mistaken as your pet stool.

Yet, there’s no need to be much worried about that. Go get one can of beer from your fridge, then drop a bit on the stained spot on your carpet.

Beer does not work like magic because you need to rub the liquid into the surface of your carpet in a circular motion.

If the stain still appears, repeat the process and never give up. The mark will entirely go away after more repetition.

And don’t forget to treat yourself to the remaining of the beer for your diligence.

#2 Vinegar

Vinegar is a potent stain remover that can release you from the burden of that evident stain on your favorite carpet.

For all of us, this would be very easy to find.

Just look inside your kitchen and grab that bottle of your aqueous solution.

Yet, this condiment can’t beat that pesky stain alone. For it to work as a superhero, what you need to do is a sidekick partner to mix it with.

Here are some of the solutions you can make with vinegar including its appropriate uses.

1. For lighter Stains

• 2 tbsp salt
• ½ cup of white vinegar
• Dissolve together

Application:

Rub in the surface of the material then let dry. Finally, vacuum the surface.

Note: For Darker and Larger Stain, just add 2 tbsp of borax for greater cleaning power.

2. For Stains caused by Dirt

• 1 tbsp Vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• Make a paste

Application:

Rub in the surface of the material using dry cloth let it dry for 2 days. Next, vacuum the surface.

#3 Shaving Cream

Have that juice stains on your carpet from last night’s party? No need to worry because your trusty smooth shaving cream can help with that.

It contains active cleaning ingredients like oily lanolin, soap, and stearic acid.

You’ll be needing a wet sponge in here to pat that stain. Apply some shaving foam on the area then wipe it with the sponge. Shaving cream works best on oil and grease stains.

#4 Corn Starch

Best for ink stains. Cornstarch can erase that almost impossible to remove ink stain in your carpet, almost like magic!

Ink applied on fabric is very nasty. There is a way that you can entirely remove it, and that is with the help of the powdery cornstarch hiding in your kitchen cabinet.

How? Make a paste with cornstarch and milk. Put some of the mixes on the area where the ink stain resides. Afterward, let the paste dry for the next few hours then brush it off and finish it with some vacuum cleaning.

#5 Salt

Salt is the most natural carpet stain remover you undoubtedly have in your house. This seasoning you use the most in cooking is also the most underrated.

Yes, it is. Salt can help you more with that persistent stain you are stressed with than with a piece of tissue paper. Increase the potency of your homemade rug stain remover with a bit of salt.

What to do?

1. Red wine stains

• While the stain is still wet, counter it with little white wine to lessen the stain color.
• Pat the area with a sponge wet with cold water.
• Put some salt in the material then let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Vacuum the area.

#6 Baking Soda

Yes! This fantastic powder with a wide range of benefits is also great for cleaning that gross vomit stain on your carpet.

Baking soda is a swift solution to make your stained rug looks new again.

To achieve a complete revival for your carpet, pour an ample amount of baking soda on the material then pat it by using a paper towel. In a few minutes let the powder dry then vacuum it.

Utilizing baking soda as a carpet stain remover can help you not just to clean the stain, but also sanitize and eliminate nasty smell on your carpet.

#7 Club Soda

How does your favorite carbonated drink help you with that urine stain of your pet that is very evident on your carpet?

Club soda is very useful in eliminating tough stains too. Don’t make that mess stay there for a long time, dry it with some paper towel immediately then drip some club soda on it.

Dry it with a towel again then use a carpet shampoo dissolved in water to scrub the whole area.

#8 Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are not just for babies! This works wonders on all drips and spills on your home. Blot the spot with baby wipes then see that stain go away. Wet wipes are very effective in eliminating stains even those in your upholstered furniture.

#9 Ice Cubes

Chill that spill. You may think that the chewing gum on your carpet needs a lot of effort to remove. Yet, ice cubes are only a few steps away from you.

Chill that gum on with a couple of ice cubes packed inside a plastic bag then scrape it with a butter knife afterward. If trichloroethylene or alternatives are available, put some of this dry-cleaning liquid on the area then poof. It’s done.

#10 Paint Remover

Effective in removing that ink and paint stain, paint remover can erase those hassles in your carpet. Gently pat some of this liquid on the stained spot then see those blemish fade.

Cleaning stains on the carpet is a rigorous task, especially if you pick the wrong solution to eliminate those obvious stains. However, we assumed that you’re already relieved by now because the best carpet stain remover you probably already have in your house are revealed.


See also what are the best carpet extractors and carpet cleaners for commercial, home, portable, and automobile to use together with either my homemade secret recipe or the carpet cleaning solutions products mentioned above!