The Best Homemade Carpet Cleaners for Removing Stains—and How to Make Them

Juice, java and general grime are no match for these homemade carpet cleaner solutions

Carpet can provide a soft spot for your feet to land, help dampen noises throughout a house and generally make a space feel cozier. But it can start to look dingy over time because of high traffic, accidental spills, pets and more. If you’re following a regular cleaning schedule, you likely vacuum your carpets weekly (if not daily). But every three to six months, it’s time to really scrub those floors. That doesn’t mean you have to book it to the home center to buy commercial-grade carpet shampoo and rent a heavy-duty cleaning machine (though you can if you really feel the need). You can start by making a homemade carpet cleaner that will tackle spots and stains.

If you haven’t done a deep-clean in a while, get ready for some seriously satisfying results. I’ve spent nearly 15 years as a cleaning editor, testing out all the professional tips, tricks and tools that I write about in my own home. And I don’t know about you, but seeing a bucket of dirty water next to floor coverings that look brand-new gives me major motivation to continue my deep-cleaning streak and tackle other areas of the house.

To learn how to remove stains from carpets with DIY cleaners, I talked to three people who clean for a living to find out their go-to strategies. Here are cleaning pros’ top tips for getting those floor fibers spotless.

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About the experts

  • Becky Rapinchuk is a natural cleaning expert, the owner of Clean Mama and the author of four cleaning books, including Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home and Clean Mama’s Guide to a Peaceful Home.
  • Richard Turner is the director of technical services and programs at the Carpet and Rug Institute.
  • Tendy Takaidza is a former housekeeper and founder of the Clean Loft.

Reviewed for accuracy by: Mary Marlowe Leverette, a highly regarded fabric-care, stain-removal and housekeeping expert with more than 40 years of experience.

How to make a homemade carpet cleaner

Cleaning supplies and carpet sanitizing concept with a pair of yellow rubber gloves and a bottle of carpet cleaner with a spray head next to a dried big brown coffee stainMoussa81/Getty Images

To get the most effective results, it’s important to know what it is you’re trying to clean up. Removing chocolate stains from a rug isn’t the same as getting paint out of a carpet. And you’ll need to act quickly. Before applying any solution, blot up excess liquid with a dry cloth.

If time has passed or you just want to tackle general grime on your carpet, here are some DIY carpet-cleaning solutions to make with items you probably already have in your pantry or medicine cabinet.

Whichever carpet-stain remover you choose, do a spot test first, says fabric-care, stain-removal and housekeeping expert Mary Marlowe Leverette. Some dyes are not stable, and the ingredients of the cleaner can change the color of the fibers. She recommends dampening a cloth with the cleaner and rubbing it on the carpet in an inconspicuous spot. Wait for the area to dry, then check the color of the carpet.

Homemade dish soap carpet cleaner

For beverage spills or animal stains, a simple soapy-water solution might be just the trick. Tendy Takaidza, a former housekeeper and founder of the Clean Loft YouTube channel, stresses that you should use only clear dish soap in a homemade carpet cleaner—a colored soap could potentially discolor the carpet fibers.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Clear dish soap
  • 2 white cloths
  • Spray bottle

Directions

  1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon dish soap with 1 cup lukewarm water.
  2. Dip a white cloth into the solution and dab it onto the discolored carpet.
  3. Follow with a dry cloth to blot dry.
  4. If discoloration remains, repeat the process.
  5. Once the stain has disappeared, use a spray bottle of water to mist the fibers and flush out any remaining soap residue. Follow with a dry cloth.

Homemade vinegar carpet cleaner

With years of experience in the carpet industry, Richard Turner, the director of technical services and programs at the Carpet and Rug Institute, offers some key carpet-cleaning advice: Don’t get your carpets too wet. They could delaminate, which means the layers separate from one another. For that reason, he recommends applying most DIY cleaning solutions to the surface with a spray bottle.

Supplies you’ll need

  • 2 spray bottles
  • White vinegar
  • Clear dish soap
  • 2 white cloths

Directions

  1. In a spray bottle, combine 1 cup of white vinegar with 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon of clear dish soap.
  2. Apply the solution to the surface and let it penetrate for a few minutes.
  3. Blot with a dry cloth.
  4. If discoloration remains, repeat the process.
  5. Once the stain has disappeared, use another spray bottle filled with plain water to mist the fibers and flush out any remaining residue.
  6. Follow with a dry cloth.

Homemade hydrogen peroxide carpet cleaner

Nail polish stain cleaning with special chemical liquid. Carpet cleaning.FotoDuets/Getty Images

For everyday spills, like coffee stains, Takaidza likes to use a hydrogen peroxide solution.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Clear dish soap
  • Spray bottle
  • White cloth

Directions

  1. Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 teaspoon of clear dish soap in a spray bottle.
  2. Spray the solution onto the stain and wait about three to five minutes.
  3. Blot with a white cloth.
  4. If discoloration remains, repeat the process.

Homemade ammonia carpet cleaner

Ammonia is a commonly used ingredient for all types of cleaning challenges. And dingy carpets are no exception. Just know that you should never mix ammonia with bleach, as the combination could be toxic.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Ammonia
  • 2 white cloths

Directions

  1. Combine 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with 1 cup of water.
  2. Dip a white cloth into the solution and blot the soiled carpet.
  3. Follow with a dry cloth to absorb moisture.
  4. If discoloration remains, repeat the process.

Homemade baking soda carpet cleaner

For a targeted spot treatment, natural cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk, owner of Clean Mama and the author of Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home, likes a one-two punch of vinegar and baking soda. The vinegar adds moisture that the baking soda then reacts with to lift the stain and deodorize the carpet.

Supplies you’ll need

  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • White cloth

Directions

  1. Dampen the discoloration with white vinegar.
  2. Sprinkle baking soda on top. As the two ingredients combine, they will bubble up and start to lift and absorb the stain.
  3. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
  4. Blot with a damp white cloth.
  5. Once the carpet is dry, vacuum up the remaining baking soda.

How to make a homemade carpet deodorizer

Woman hand pouring corn starch cornflour powder on long hair fur carpet for cleaning and stain removal. Natural home cleaners concept.Helin Loik-Tomson/Getty Images

Once you’ve used your homemade carpet cleaner to get your floors looking good as new, follow with a DIY deodorizer to remove any lingering smells and freshen your space even more. Making your own carpet deodorizer is surprisingly quick and ultra-economical. You can store your homemade cleaner under your sink to use whenever you need to freshen up your carpets and rugs, upholstery, mattresses, dog beds and more.

Supplies you’ll need

  • Essential oil (any scent)
  • Baking soda
  • Container with a shaker top

Directions

  1. Add about six drops of essential oil (any scent you prefer) to 1 cup of baking soda and stir to combine.
  2. Pour the mixture into a container with a shaker top.
  3. Sprinkle the mixture onto any plush surface that needs deodorizing.
  4. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or up to an hour), then vacuum.

Here’s what happened when I tried this DIY carpet deodorizer

I’ve got a 13-year-old hound dog who spends much of the day on his bed and, truth be told, it can start to stink. I put this DIY deodorizer to the test there so I could share my results.

It couldn’t be simpler to make. I mixed up the fragrant powder in a mason jar and punched a few holes in the lid with a screwdriver. I sprinkled it onto Grant’s bed and let it sit for 30 minutes (while he looked at me wondering when he could hop back on and go to sleep).

The homemade cleaner definitely helped get rid of that dog smell. After vacuuming, the bed had a fresher scent than before. Next time, I might add a few extra drops of essential oils for added oomph.

How to make a homemade carpet-cleaning solution for machines

Vacuum Cleaner On CarpetAndreyPopov/Getty Images

Whether you’re removing stains or simply freshening up your carpets after a few months, the key to success is making sure you remove as much moisture as you can after cleaning. That’s where a carpet-cleaning machine can really come in handy. Its powerful suction will pull a ton of moisture from your floors in a short amount of time. If you choose to go that route, you can still whip up a homemade carpet cleaner rather than using the chemical-heavy store-bought options.

Leverette suggests checking the user guide or website of the carpet cleaner, especially if the appliance is rented, before using a homemade cleaning-solution in the appliance. It may void the warranty. Once you’ve done that, follow the simple steps below.

Supplies you’ll need

  • White vinegar
  • Carpet-cleaning machine

Directions

  1. Add a mixture of equal parts hot water and white vinegar directly to the machine’s tank.
  2. Use the machine as directed, no rinsing necessary.

FAQs

Do you have to rinse your carpets with water after?

“Many spot-removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil,” explains Turner. So you may need to “rinse” the treated area several times to remove any remaining solution. You don’t want to oversaturate your carpet, however, so Turner recommends putting lukewarm water into a spray bottle and misting the area a few times, blotting up the liquid with a dry cloth between spritzes.

You do not need to rinse after using vinegar, notes Rapinchuk. While it may leave a temporary “pickle smell” in your home, it will dissipate as the vinegar dries.

Do DIY carpet cleaners expire?

DIY carpet cleaners don’t expire, per se, but since the above solutions are so simple and many require lukewarm water as a base, it’s best to make them on an as-needed basis. Plus, Takaidza points out, homemade solutions don’t have preservatives in them like their store-bought counterparts do.

What is the best homemade carpet-cleaning solution?

The best homemade carpet cleaner is the one you have handy! All our cleaning pros stressed that speed in responding to a spill is your best defense against discoloration and will prevent a more stubborn stain down the line.

Whether you’re cleaning your carpet by hand or using a carpet-cleaning machine, be sure to test whatever solution you select on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it doesn’t discolor your carpet’s fibers.

Will a homemade carpet cleaner work on upholstery?

Rapinchuk says most homemade carpet cleaners will also work on upholstery. As with carpets, it’s important to do a spot test of your solution in an unnoticeable spot first to make sure no discoloration occurs.

What can I use to wash my carpet at home?

You can wash your carpet at home with water and a rag or mix in an additional ingredient or two (try the experts’ suggestions above) for added oomph.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Stephanie Sisco tapped her experience as a longtime home and cleaning editor. Then fabric-care and stain-removal expert Mary Marlowe Leverette gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. For this piece, we relied on reputable primary sources, including longtime housecleaners and a leader in the carpet- and rug-cleaning industry. We verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Becky Rapinchuk, natural cleaning expert, owner of Clean Mama and the author of four books, including Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home and Clean Mama’s Guide to a Peaceful Home; email interview, Jan. 10, 2024
  • Richard Turner, director of technical services and programs at The Carpet and Rug Institute; email interview, Jan. 10, 2024
  • Tendy Takaidza, former housekeeper and founder of The Clean Loft; phone interview, Jan. 11, 2024
  • Mary Marlowe Leverette, fabric-care, stain-removal and housekeeping expert with more than 40 years of experience; article review, Jan. 17, 2024

Stephanie Sisco
Stephanie is a lifestyle expert and former home director at Real Simple magazine. As a mother of two young boys, she sincerely recognizes the need for quality cleaning and organizing advice, and that's where she lends her expertise for Readers Digest. She is also writing a decorating book, which will be on shelves in 2024.