Carpet cleaning doesn’t have to be an expensive task.
You likely have all the necessary ingredients in your pantry already.
Luckily…
Homemade carpet cleaning solutions are a cheap alternative to professional cleaning, and they’re just as effective.
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What is The Best Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution?
Not everyone has a cupboard stocked with brand-name cleaning solutions, and that’s okay. Some of the best carpet cleaners are homemade and can easily be made by mixing just a couple of ingredients.
Here are 5 of the most reliable homemade solutions.
- Baking Soda + Vinegar — One of the most popular homemade carpet cleaning solutions is baking soda and vinegar for spot-treating. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, pour about 1 tablespoon of vinegar on top, massage the solution, and let it sit for 4 to 6 hours.
- Salt + Water — For recent stains that you want to take care of quickly, salt is a useful solution. Salt can absorb certain stains before they are set. Simply blot the stain, sprinkle some salt on it, pour cold water on top of it, then scrub it with a soft brush before blotting dry.
- Detergent — If you’re treating synthetic carpets, you can combine ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. If your carpets are made of natural fiber, you can up the detergent to 1 teaspoon.
- Ammonia — Note that this mixture is only suitable for natural fiber carpets. Mix 1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia with about ½ a cup of lukewarm water.
- Club Soda — You can spritz club soda on your carpet for an easy-to-use cleanser. After doing that, use a paper towel or cloth to blot the stain and lift it out.
Cheapest Ways to Deep Clean a Carpet
Deep cleaning your carpets is nobody’s favorite chore, but it’s one that has to be done. Luckily, it’s possible to clean your carpets at home without any fancy or professional services or equipment.
Your carpets may require more than just spot cleaning. If that’s the case, get ready to get out the natural ingredients you already have around the kitchen.
- Vacuum the entire area. Remove any debris or dust before you begin deep cleaning the surface of your carpet.
- Get your homemade solution ready. Choose from one of the 5 solutions above and combine with warm water if necessary.
- Gently scrub the stain. Use warm water and a toothbrush — or any type of soft brush —to scrub the affected area. Don’t get the area too wet, just wet enough to effectively scrub.
- Air dry the carpet. Use any fans you already own, or open up windows in the room, to help air dry your carpet.
- Vacuum again. Once the area is completely dry, you can vacuum it once more and then move any furniture back to its place.
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets
The frequency that you need to clean your carpets depends on a few factors.
Do you own pets?
Does anyone in the household have allergies?
Do you vacuum regularly?
Do you have children?
What color are your carpets?
If your floor is more prone to messes or is highly trafficked, then you’re going to need to clean it more often. You should be vacuuming on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, but deep cleaning can occur less frequently.
Light-colored carpets need to be cleaned more frequently since their color can more easily showcase any stains or dirt. Aim to clean them every 6 to 12 months depending on their appearance.
Any allergies should also encourage you to clean more regularly. Carpets can collect dust and allergens that float through the air and cause build-up.
It’s recommended that you clean your carpets every 2 months if this is the case.
If your household is generally clean and there aren’t any pets or little children running around, you won’t need to be cleaning as regularly. A good, deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months should keep things looking nice and clean.
How Long Does it Take a Carpet to Dry After Cleaning?
Even if your carpet doesn’t feel that damp, odds are it still needs a few more hours to be fully dry.
The length of time that takes depends on how dirty the carpet was, what time of year it is, and the humidity and air circulation in the room.
You can expect your carpets to be fully dry after 6 to 12 hours. However, you can speed up the process with a number of easy tricks.
- Open all the windows in the room
- Turn on a dehumidifier
- Turn on the air conditioning
- Turn on any ceiling or standing fans
If you clean your carpets more regularly, you won’t have to use as much water each time. This will also allow your carpets to dry faster, and you’ll be keeping your house and your flooring cleaner in the meantime.