Spills happen.
- Kids get sick.
- Dogs have accidents.
- Mud gets tracked inside.
- Food slides off plates.
- Glasses get knocked over.
Yep, carpet stains happen.
Thankfully, I have an easy DIY carpet cleaner spray that makes quick work of stains.
- all natural
- powerful stain remover
- breaks through dirt and grime
- deodorizer (gets the stink out and leaves carpet smelling fresh and clean)
- gentle on carpet
What you need to make DIY carpet cleaner
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white vinegar
Vinegar is a fantastic natural cleaner. It disinfects, deodorizes, and helps treat carpet stains.
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water
Water dissolves the borax and dilutes the carpet cleaner.
To help extend the shelf life of your carpet cleaning spray, use distilled or filtered water that’s been boiled and cooled.
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borax
Made from an all natural mineral, borax is a powerful natural cleaner that helps remove stains.
It’s also known for its ability to brighten whites and colors in laundry. Plus, it is great at neutralizing odors.
Not only do I use borax in this natural carpet cleaner, I also use it in my powder laundry soap (recipe here) and homemade scouring powder (recipe here) for getting sinks and bathtubs sparkling clean and shiny.
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tea tree essential oil (optional)
Tea tree essential oil (also known as melaleuca) is a great deodorizer.
It also has powerful antifungal properties which help prevent mold and mildew from growing in your carpet.
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lemon essential oil (optional)
Lemon EO is a powerful, natural cleaner.
Plus it helps counteract the strong vinegar smell in the cleaner, leaving your carpet smelling fresh and clean.
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spray bottle
use a 16 oz or larger spray bottle made of glass, stainless steel, or essential-oil-safe plastic like PET (plastic #1) or HDPE (plastic #2). Here’s a link to where I get my spray bottles: plastic spray bottle and glass spray bottle
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label
click here for your free printable label
How to make carpet cleaner spray
step 1:Â use a funnel to add 2 teaspoons of borax to 16 ounce or larger spray bottle
tip: Choose a spray bottle that’s made from materials safe to use with diluted essential oils. Glass, stainless steel, and certain types of plastic (plastic #1 HDPE or plastic #2 PET) work well.
step 2:Â add 1 cup white vinegar
step 3:Â add 1 cup distilled water
tip: If you don’t have distilled water, you can substitute boiled and cooled filtered tap water.
step 4:Â add the following essential oils (optional)
10 drops tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
step 5:Â put on spray top and shake well.
step 6:Â add a label (click here for a free printable label)
tip: You can print this label on full-sheet label paper, or do what I do and print the label on regular printer paper and attach it to the spray bottle with packing tape. It’s cheap and easy to do. Plus, I find that the labels stay on better using packing tape than with regular label paper, and the packing tape protects the label really well, which keeps the labels looking great for a long time.
How to use
- Treat the affected area immediately. The longer the stain sits there, the harder it will be to remove.
- If there is food or other solid debris, remove as much of the solid material as you can before applying any water or cleaner.
- If it’s a liquid spill, blot up as much liquid as you can before you apply any carpet cleaner. This is really important. You do not want to spread the stain. Blot liquid up by laying a clean cloth over the stain and pressing a clean cloth into the liquid uses your fingertips. Blot the liquid up; do not rub. Rubbing will only spread the stain and make your job more difficult.
- Shake carpet cleaner vigorously for several seconds to make sure that everything is mixed well.
- Spray cleaner either directly on the carpet or on a clean white cloth. Only spray enough carpet cleaner for the carpet to be damp, but not soaking wet. Too much cleaner can actually spread the stain, and you don’t want that.
- Allow the cleaner to work its magic on the stain. 5-10 minutes should do it.
- Once the carpet cleaner has had a chance to work its magic on the stain, place clean white cloth on carpet and blot. Keep rotating the cloth to a clean section of the cloth. Press down with the cloth and then lift directly back up. Do not rub the stain because doing so can spread the stain around and/or grind it more deeply into the carpet fibers.
- Repeat if necessary.
- Once stain is removed, blot carpet with another clean white cloth dipped in water. This neutralizes the solution and stops the cleaning action of the carpet cleaner.
- Blot with dry cloth, and then allow to air dry.
tip: As with any cleaner, spot test in an inconspicuous area before using to make sure that it works well for your carpet. Apply cleaner to a hidden spot, let it sit on carpet for 10-15 minutes, blot up, check carpet for color fastness. Check again after 24 hours.
tip: Carpets made from wool, silk, and other natural fibers, can be very delicate. Always follow your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, especially if your carpet is under warranty. Not following their instructions can void your warranty.
Where to get supplies?
This website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.Â
- white vinegar — I get my white vinegar for cleaning at Costco. They have giant bottles of it for just a few dollars.
- distilled water — Find in the water aisle of your grocery
- borax — You can find borax in the laundry aisle of most grocery stores, Wa
-  store, Target, or Walmart.lmart, and Target. Or find it online here.
- spray bottle — use a 16 oz or larger spray bottle made of glass, stainless steel, or essential-oil-safe plastic like PET (plastic #1) or HDPE (plastic #2). Here’s a link to where I get my spray bottles: plastic spray bottle and glass spray bottle
- label — click here for your free printable label
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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link. Â
