The first step is to determine whether your carpet is made of synthetic or natural fibers. Then follow our guide below to find out which combination of ingredients is best for your type of stain and your type of carpet. Follow these recipes for homemade carpet cleaners exactly and your rug will be on its way to being stain-free once again. (Until the next mess, at least.)
DIY Carpet Cleaning Solutions
To spot clean synthetic rugs, dip a white cloth into these DIY carpet cleaners and apply to the stain. Never pour the solutions directly onto carpeting. Put these natural fiber carpet cleaning solutions (except the solvent) in spray bottles and mist them lightly onto the stain. For natural fiber carpets: Mix one teaspoon of translucent liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy, into 1 cup of lukewarm water. For natural fiber carpets: Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water.
Natural fiber carpets and rugs
Follow the instructions below to treat beer, coffee, and tea stans with your DIY carpet stain remover: For hard candy, chocolate, berries, juice, wine, soda, and milk stains: Follow steps 1 through 5 (above), but before applying the vinegar solution in step 2, spray the stain with the ammonia solution for natural fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth. For ketchup, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and tomato sauce stains: Follow steps 1 trhough 5 (above), but substitute the ammonia solution for the vinegar one in step 2.
How to Remove Oil and Grease Stains From Carpets
Follow the instructions below to treat butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayons, lotion, mascara, lipstick, and nail polish stains with your homemade carpet stain remover.
Synthetic fiber carpets and rugs
Natural fiber carpets and rugs
How to Remove Dirt and Mud From Carpets
Synthetic fiber carpets and rugs
Natural fiber carpets and rugs
How to Remove Chewing Gum and Wax From Carpets
Synthetic fiber and natural fiber carpets and rugs
How to Remove Gravy and Mayonnaise From Carpets
Synthetic fiber carpets and rugs
Natural fiber carpets and rugs
Gravy: Mayonnaise:
How to Remove Ink and Marker From Carpets
Synthetic fiber carpets and rugs
Ballpoint Ink: Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:
Natural fiber carpets and rugs
Ballpoint Ink: Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:
