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Store-bought carpet cleaner is filled with potentially harmful chemicals, which you want to avoid at all costs, particularly if you have children or animals. It’s expensive, too and many products also cause stains or discoloration. Yet stale carpets have a distinctively unpleasant odor, and, let’s face it, our carpets get seriously abused. The pets and the rest of the family track in all kinds of dirt and grime every day. Plus there’s the spills and oopsies that result in all kinds of stains and smells that the vacuum just can’t handle. So what’s the answer? Simple – make your own. It’s cheap, fast, easy, and uses no harmful chemicals. This DIY carpet cleaner also doesn’t leave that unpleasantly cloying smell of many chemical products.
DIY Carpet Cleaner Ingredients:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1.5 cups of water
- 2 tsps of salt
- 15 to 20 drops of a clear essential oil of your choice.
The Recipe:
- Get a large, clean spray bottle (we like this one, it has an adjustable nozzle and is BPA free) and mark it clearly. Because, although this mixture is natural, you really don’t want to spray it on your plants. Pour the water and vinegar into the bottle.
- Add your choice of essential oils to the bottle, followed by the salt.
- Replace the top of the bottle, screw tightly, and shake to combine thoroughly.
How to Use Your DIY Carpet Cleaner
- Firstly, you can use this as a quick stain remover or you can spray large areas for general carpet cleaning.
- If you’re dealing with a wet stain, firstly use kitchen towel to blot up as much of the offending liquid as you can. Remember – never rub if it’s wet – blot only. If the substance is solid, pick up as much as you can before you begin.
- Spray the mixture on the carpet liberally. You want to get plenty of coverage. If you’re doing the whole carpet, start in the corner opposite the door and work your way backwards. Remember to give the spray bottle a good shake periodically as you go to ensure the mixture stays thoroughly combined.
- Allow the carpet to dry, then simply vacuum. And voila! Clean, fragrant carpets.
TIP:
If you need to remove tough odors, use eucalyptus essential oil (this one is our choice, it’s organic and 100% natural), which easily combats lingering odors such as stale tobacco and urine.
TIP:
For those of you who need to stop your dog or cat urinating in the same spot over and over, choose a citrus essential oil (we like this set of five different citrus oils), as these scents naturally repel cats and dogs from urinating.
TIP:
Go with clear essential oils, as some oils that have a natural color leave a slight discoloration behind.
And that’s it. Simple, fast, effective, and really doesn’t cost much. This DIY carpet cleaner leaves behind a light, pleasant fragrance and really remove stains. Check out our quick and easy natural carpet deodorizer recipe for those times when you just want to freshen rather than clean.
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