In a bowl or small bucket, mix one part white vinegar with three parts water. Dip the bristles of the scrub brush into the solution and rub them into the carpet. Massage them into the fibers well (without fully saturating the carpet) and follow up with a cloth to help blot excess moisture.
Take a spray bottle and fill it with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Then simply spray this solution on your carpet and you're ready to go (a light spray is enough, don't soak the carpet). You can also use this method after cleaning the carpet as it will help the results last longer.
You can deep clean your carpets yourself using either wet or dry methods. To begin, make sure that you've already vacuumed and spot-treated your carpet. You can use a carpet cleaner that will scrub the dirt out of the fibers using water and a special solution.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 cup of warm water. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the mixture, applying a little bit at a time and blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears.
Carpet shampooing can be accomplished by hand or steam cleaning using heat, water, and detergent to loosen and remove tough stains, spills, and odors. The fastest and most economical way to clean your carpet is to rent a steam cleaner from a hardware store.
When cleaning your carpet with baking soda, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer the baking soda stays on the rug, the more odor, dirt, and oil it will absorb, for a more thorough clean. Try leaving baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuuming in the morning.
Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.
If your household is prone to spills or accidents that are difficult to clean, a small cleaner may be a worthwhile purchase to have on hand. However, for more general cleaning of your entire carpet surface, it's highly recommended to have a professional come to do it.
TLDR: Baking soda can be used to clean carpet because it is a powerful alkaline solution that when combined with acid produces dioxide gases. These oxidized gases are highly effective at removing stains from carpet and other materials with ease.
Baking soda is the go-to solution for bringing your carpet back to life. Not only does it clean, it also kills bacteria, refreshes the pile and removes odours. Apply plenty of baking soda to completely cover your carpet then use a stiff brush to work it in, rubbing it in different directions.
The short answer is that you should not use vinegar for carpet cleaning. There is truth to the idea you can use vinegar as a natural disinfectant for cleaning but it cannot remove dirt or soil from a surface or from carpet.
While some websites sing the praises of vinegar as an all-purpose cleanser, it simply shouldn't be used on carpet. Here's why … Vinegar is great for countertops, but it's one of the least effective solutions out there for removing dirt from carpet fibers.
This can move along a lot quicker if you use vinegar and baking soda together, but baking soda on the stain by itself on the stain can be effective. Allow the baking soda to neutralise a stain overnight. 8 hours is beneficial but 12 hours is ideal.
If you want to clean your carpet by hand, use a stiff-bristled scrub brush to remove dust and debris. It's best if you can move the carpet outside and hang it over a sturdy support. Start at the top and methodically work your way down the surface of the carpet pile using short, quick strokes.
Steam is perfect for carpets, as it is often capable of delivering results without a reliance on caustic cleaning chemicals. Superheated steam is directed exactly where it is needed. And the latest steam cleaners use the optimum amount of water, ensuring your carpet isn't completely drenched afterwards.
Carpets that still look dirty or have stains reappear after cleaning is a result of something called wicking. This is due to over wetting the carpet, the backing, and pad which causes them to return back to the surface once dry.
Laundry Detergents aren't Formulated for Carpet Cleaning
Of course not! Cleaning solutions are specifically formulated to clean and not damage the machines they're used in and the material they're treating. Laundry soap is designed to be used in washing machines to clean clothing.
Try Baking Soda + Vinegar
Sprinkle a layer of dry baking soda on the stain. Then, mix a cup of white vinegar with a cup of water and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. The vinegar will foam when it hits the baking soda which will clean the stain.
Pour a small amount of vinegar on the stain, followed by a sprinkle of baking soda. The vinegar works to saturate and soften up the offending mark while the baking soda does the lifting and deodorizing. Together, they bubble a little and work as a team to lift the stain to the surface.
You'll probably need to let it sit overnight, but the key is to wait until the vinegar has completely dried. As it dries, the smell of the vinegar should dissipate. Finally, you'll just need to vacuum up the baking soda. If there's more than a little left in the spot, you may want to scoop some of it up first.
The longer you can allow the baking soda to sit, the better it can work to absorb odors—if you can afford to leave it on the carpet for a few hours or even overnight, you'll really reap the benefits. But you can still use the mixture for a quick 15-minute application and enjoy the smell and a little deodorizing boost.
Your carpet will be only slightly damp to the touch after your cleaning. Most carpets typically need 6-10 hours to dry completely. However, it could take up to 24 hours to dry depending on the time of year your carpets are cleaned, and the air circulation, humidity and temperature in your home.