Homemade carpet cleaner

As much as you might try to keep your carpet clean and pristine at all times, accidents will always happen. A dirty footprint here, a spilt drink there… despite our best intentions, our carpets will always suffer from stains eventually. If you have shop-bought carpet cleaner suitable to the specific carpet, then great: follow the manufacturer’s instructions and give your floor a good clean.

If, however, you don’t have any carpet cleaner to hand, it’s easy to make your own with ingredients you probably already have in your home. Before getting started, remove as much of the stain as possible – for example, by blotting up any liquid or moisture or removing any debris.

While this cleaning solution is suitable for most carpets, always do a spot check first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it’s safe on your flooring.

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 tsp washing up liquid
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 250ml lukewarm water
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

And that’s it! You’ll find it easier to apply to the carpet if you have a small spray bottle, similar to those used to mist plants, but you can apply manually if needed. You’ll also need a clean towel or absorbent cloth. Take your spray bottle (if using – if not, use a bowl) and first pour in the washing up liquid. Next, add the vinegar and the lukewarm water. Finally, add the bicarbonate of soda.

At this point, the reaction of the alkaline bicarbonate of soda and the acidic vinegar should cause the mixture to fizz up. Don’t be alarmed – just make sure you’re working over a sink and have the top of the spray bottle to hand to screw back on right away!

Working on a freshly vacuumed carpet, spray the affected area with your cleaning solution. Be generous here and spray as much as you need to in order to cover the entire stain. Blot off the cleaning solution with your clean dry towel or cloth, and you should start noticing a difference in the stained area already. Keep on repeating this, spraying and blotting until the stain is removed.

This solution can also be used on soft furniture to remove stains, but as with the carpet, always do a small spot test first in an inconspicuous area and check the manufacturer’s advice for your carpet or furniture for warnings and guidance before using any cleaning solution or product.