Effective DIY Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solutions for Any Stain Removal

Spills are just a fact of life. From coffee spills, to marker accidents, to muddy paw prints from your pet, carpets and rugs get messy. So it's a good idea to use rug pads to help with spills and floor protection.

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Luckily, there's a homemade carpet cleaner for almost every mess—and the best part is, you don't need any special store-bought sprays or chemicals. With a few simple ingredients you likely already have, you can easily make your own carpet cleaner to handle any stain. However, investing in a good carpet cleaner is worth it for covering larger areas and entire rooms, and at times, professional help can be a real lifesaver.

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First, identify whether your carpet is synthetic or natural in fiber. From there, use our guide below to pick the right mix of ingredients are for for your you—your stain rug and will carpet be type. stain-free These again homemade in carpet no cleaner time recipes (except for that next mess, of course!). If it cannot be saved, then it may be time to get the new rug!

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Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solutions

To spot clean synthetic rugs, dip a white cloth into the DIY carpet cleaners and gently apply it to the stain. Never pour the solution directly onto the carpet. For natural fiber carpets, place these cleaners (except for the solvent) in spray bottles and lightly mist them onto the stain. Either way, always begin your cleaning process with a good vacuuming!

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Detergent Carpet Cleaner

• For synthetic carpets: Combine ¼ teaspoon of clear liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy, with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
• For natural fiber carpets: Mix 1 teaspoon of clear liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy, with 1 cup of lukewarm water.

Vinegar Carpet Cleaner

• For synthetic carpets: Combine 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• For natural fiber carpets: Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water.

Solvent Carpet Cleaner

Use an oil-based solvent, or alternatively, you can use non-acetone nail polish remover, such as Cutex Quick & Gentle.

Ammonia Carpet Cleaner

• For natural fiber carpets only: Mix 1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia with ½ cup of lukewarm water.

How to Clean Food and Drink Stains from Carpets

• Carpets and rugs made from synthetic fibers

To clean up stains from things like wine, ketchup, chocolate, coffee, tea, beer, milk, tomato sauce, berries, hard candy, juice, soda, Gatorade, and Kool-Aid, here’s what you should do:

1. First, grab a clean white cloth (or a plain white paper towel) and dip it into your homemade detergent solution for synthetic carpets. Gently dab at the stain, then press the cloth onto the spot for a few seconds. Let it sit for about 15 minutes to break down the stain. Afterward, use a dry white cloth to blot up any extra liquid.
2. Now, take a cloth soaked in your vinegar solution for synthetic carpets and gently dab the stain again, pressing the cloth onto the area for a few seconds. Let it sit for another 15 minutes. This step is key because the vinegar helps remove any leftover detergent, which can attract dirt.
3. Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water. Let it sit for an hour or until the carpet is fully dry. If the spill was really bad, after the vinegar step, cover the stain with a thick stack of white paper towels (about half an inch), and place a glass baking dish on top for 15 minutes.

Keep repeating these steps until the stain starts to fade and eventually disappears.

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• Natural fiber rugs and carpets

For treating beer, coffee, or tea stains on natural fiber carpets and rugs, follow these steps:

1. Spray the stain with a homemade detergent solution, then blot it with a dry white cloth.
2. If the stain remains, apply a vinegar solution and blot with a dry cloth.
3. Repeat the detergent solution step, then blot again.
4. If necessary, spray with lukewarm water and blot.
5. Keep repeating steps 1–4 until the stain is gone.

For stains from hard candy, chocolate, berries, juice, wine, soda, or milk, follow the same steps, but before using the vinegar solution, spray with an ammonia solution and blot with a dry cloth.

For ketchup, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, or tomato sauce stains, follow steps 1–5, replacing the vinegar solution in step 2 with the ammonia solution.

How to Eliminate Oil and Grease Stains from Carpets

Use the following steps to treat stains from butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayons, lotion, mascara, lipstick, and nail polish with your homemade carpet stain remover.

• Cleaning Synthetic Fiber Carpets and Rugs

1. Apply a small amount of your homemade carpet cleaner to a white cloth. Gently blot the stain, then hold the cloth against the spot for a few seconds.
2. Blot the area with a white cloth dampened with lukewarm water to rinse.
3. Allow the carpet to dry for an hour or until fully dry. If the stain is fading, continue the process until it's completely gone.

• Carpets and Rugs Made of Natural Fibers

1. Dab a small amount of solvent onto a white cloth, then blot the stain.
2. Spray the stain with a detergent solution, then blot with a clean, dry white cloth.
3. Spray the area with lukewarm water, and blot again with a dry cloth.
4. Allow the carpet to dry for an hour or until completely dry. If the stain lightens, repeat these steps until it's fully removed.

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How to Remove Dirt and Mud From Carpets

• Carpets and rugs made from synthetic fibers

1. Vacuum up any dry dirt to remove as much as possible.
2. Soak a white cloth in the detergent solution for synthetic fiber carpets, dab the stain repeatedly, then press the cloth onto the spot for a few seconds. Wait for 15 minutes, then blot up any excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
3. Dip another clean white cloth in lukewarm water, dab the area repeatedly, and press it onto the stain for a few seconds.

• Natural fiber rugs and carpets

1. Vacuum up any dry dirt to remove as much as possible.
2. Spray the stain with the detergent solution for natural fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with the vinegar solution for natural fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Reapply the detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
5. Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

How to Remove Chewing Gum and Wax Stains from Carpets

• Synthetic and Natural Fiber Carpets and Rugs

1. Gently rub the affected area with a Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes until the chewing gum or wax stain hardens. Use a blunt object, like a spatula, to break it apart, then vacuum up the pieces.
2. Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot the stain.
3. Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water.

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How to Get Gravy and Mayonnaise Out of Carpets

• Synthetic Fiber Carpets and Rugs

Dab a small amount of solvent onto a white cloth and blot the stain. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes. Repeat if needed.

To rinse, blot with a white cloth soaked in lukewarm water. Wait 15 minutes, then absorb the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.

• Natural Fiber Carpets and Rugs
• Gravy Stain:

1. Apply a detergent solution designed for natural fiber carpets to the stain, then blot with a dry white cloth.
2. Use an ammonia solution to spray the stain, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with a vinegar solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Reapply the detergent solution and blot with a dry white cloth.
5. Spray the stain with water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

• Mayonnaise Stain:

1. Spray the stain with a detergent solution for natural fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
2. Apply an ammonia solution to the stain, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with a vinegar solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Reapply the detergent solution and blot with a dry white cloth.

How to Get Ink and Marker Stains Out of Carpets

• Synthetic Fiber Carpets and Rugs
• Ballpoint Ink:

Dab a small amount of solvent on a white cloth and blot the stain. Let it dry for 15 minutes, then repeat if needed.

Blot with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water to rinse.

• Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:

Dab a small amount of solvent on a white cloth and blot the stain. Let it dry for 15 minutes.

Apply detergent solution to a white cloth, dab the stain, and press the cloth for a few seconds. Let it dry for 15 minutes, then soak up excess liquid with a dry cloth.

Blot with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water to rinse.

• Natural Fiber Carpets and Rugs
• Ballpoint Ink:

1. Spray with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
2. Spray with ammonia solution, then blot.
3. Spray with vinegar solution, then blot.
4. Reapply detergent solution, then blot.
5. Spray with water, then blot.

• Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:

1. Dab a small amount of solvent on a white cloth and blot.
2. Spray with detergent solution and blot with a dry cloth.
3. Spray with water, then blot.

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How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors

• Synthetic Fiber Carpets and Rugs

1. Dab detergent solution on the stain with a white cloth, then press for a few seconds.
2. Wait 15 minutes, then blot with a dry cloth.
3. Repeat with vinegar solution and wait another 15 minutes.
4. Let the carpet dry for an hour. If the stain fades, repeat steps 1-3 until it's gone.

• Natural Fiber Carpets and Rugs

1. Spray with detergent solution and blot with a dry cloth.
2. Spray with ammonia solution, then blot.
3. Spray with vinegar solution, then blot.
4. Reapply detergent solution and blot.
5. Spray with lukewarm water and blot.

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