Follow me over to the blog for more homemade goodness . . .If you rent a steam or hot water extraction carpet cleaner you may be tempted to buy the expensive branded cleaning solutions offered by the rental company but white vinegar also works quite well and for a fraction of the cost. Household weblog Hostess with the Motzes used a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water with a few optional drops of lavender essential oil to counteract the odor of vinegar (liquid fabric softener can also be used for this purpose) in a Rug Doctor cleaner with no problems. At first she was concerned with damaging the cleaner but their website simply states that other products aren't recommended because they don't clean as well as the official commercial product.After caring for my mother-in-law's not-quite-housebroken puppy for a week we had a few stains in the front room of our house that didn't want to come out with regular spray stain removers. We decided to rent a Rug Doctor hot water extraction cleaner since we haven't done a deep cleaning of the carpets since we bought our home.

When you rent one of these machines it is customary to also buy the branded cleaning solutions and most people never think about alternatives mostly for fear of damaging the cleaner. We bought the cleaners that time because we had two coupons that combined to make them free with the rental but next time we rent one of these cleaners you can bet I'll try the vinegar method. Using Vinegar in a Rug Doctor to Clean Carpets | Hostess with the Motzes15 Ways to Fix Everything With Vinegar Despite your best efforts at cleanliness, your carpet will eventually become the victim of drops, spills, accidents, and whatever's on the bottom of your shoes. To learn how professionals handle problem areas and keep carpets looking new, we spoke with cleaning expert Mark Tarbox, the owner of Best Carpet Cleaning Experts in San Antonio, Texas, who has more than 30 years of experience. Blot Stains, Don't Rub ThemBlot Stains, Don't Rub ThemDab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towels, or a sponge.

"The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up," Tarbox says. "Rubbing causes the particles to get ground into the carpet fibers, and this can lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers." Always blot from the outside of the stain inward, as blotting outward can spread the stain. The Club Soda ProcessThe Club Soda ProcessYou may have heard that club soda is effective against beer and wine stains. It's true—if you use it correctly.Blot the area with the soda on a cloth. If that doesn't work, mix one part white vinegar with one part water and pour it into a handheld sprayer. Spray the solution on the entire stained area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to soak in. Then press a clean sponge onto the area to soak up the solution and the stain. Tarbox says you may have to repeat this process to eradicate the stain.Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot with warm water. Use your hand to brush the carpet strands into their natural direction.

Finally, lay white paper towels over the area and weigh them down with something heavy, like a phone book. The towels will absorb the dampness from the carpet. Leave the towels in place until the carpet is dry, usually about one day. 3 Tough Chainsaws, Testedbest way to get rid of vomit smell in carpet How to Fix Washing Machine and Dryer Problemsvacuum cleaner brands and price in chennai What to Do When You Find Old, Disconnected Wiring Behind Your Wallsbest carpet cleaners denver co How to Make Speaker Holes in Your Ceilingbest upright carpet steam cleaner

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Let dry thoroughly, and repeat if needed. VinegarVinegar is the superhero of stain removal. Try these different homemade formulas to remove a variety of common stains: Rub light carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons salt dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the solution dry, then vacuum. For larger or darker stains, add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture and use in the same way. For tough, ground-in dirt and other stains, make a paste of 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and rub it into the stain using a dry cloth. Let it set for two days, then vacuum. For spilled paint, use a solution of 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons laundry detergent, and two cups water, sponge away the paint before it sets in and rinse with cold water. For fruit and fruit juice stains, mix 1 tablespoon laundry detergent with 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar and combine with two cups of water. Work the solution into the stain and blot. For coffee and tea stains, combine equal parts white vinegar and water and blot the stain.

Shaving CreamYour little one is very sorry for spilling a little juice on the carpet, so make it “all better” with some shaving cream on the spot. Blot the stain, pat it with a wet sponge, squirt some shaving cream on it, and then wipe clean with a damp sponge. Shaving cream also works great on grease and oil stains; simply work the cream into the stain, let dry, and rub off with a damp soft cloth. CornstarchOh no, ink on the carpet! In this case a little spilt milk might save you from crying. Mix the milk with cornstarch to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ink stain. Allow the homemade concoction to dry on the carpet for a few hours, then brush off the dried residue and vacuum it up. Cornstarch is also great for soaking up grease and oil stains. Sprinkle the spots liberally, let sit for several hours, and vacuum up. SaltDon't panic if you spill red wine on your white carpet. While the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it to dilute the color. Then clean the spot with a sponge and cold water.

Sprinkle the area with salt and wait about 10 minutes. Now vacuum up the whole mess. For greasy food stains on carpet, mix up 1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol and rub it hard on the grease stain, being careful to rub in the direction of the rug’s natural nap. Ketchup spill on your carpet? Act fast because once this one dries, it will be nearly impossible to get out. Sprinkle salt over the spill, let sit for a few minutes, and vacuum. Sponge up any residue and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is completely gone. BoraxThoroughly dampen the stained area, then rub in some borax. Let the area dry, then vacuum or blot it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and soapy water and let dry. Don’t forget to first test this DIY remover on an inconspicuous corner of the rug or on a carpet scrap before applying it to the stain. WD-40Don’t let ink or other stains ruin your fine carpet. Spray the stain with WD-40, wait a minute or two, and then use your regular carpet cleaner or gently cleanse with a sponge and warm, soapy water.

Continue until the stain is completely gone. Hydrogen PeroxideCan’t tell what that stain is? Still want to remove it? Try this sure-fire homemade remover: Mix a teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a little cream of tartar or a dab of non-gel toothpaste. Rub the paste on the stain with a soft cloth. The stain, whatever it was, should be gone. Baking SodaBaking soda is your best choice to quickly clean vomit or urine stains from your carpet. Wipe up what you can, then pour baking soda over the affected area and pat with a paper towel. Let the homemade mixture dry completely before vacuuming up the residue. Baking soda will clean, sanitize, and deodorize the messy spot. Baking soda can also be used to lift grease stains when combined with equal parts salt. Sprinkle the mixture over the grease spot, and use a stiff brush to work the powdery concoction into the spot. Let sit for 4 or 5 hours and then vacuum up to completely remove the stain. Meat TenderizerScraped knees leave blood stains on your carpet?

Cover the stain with equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer and let this homemade remover stand for 30 minutes. Sponge off with cold water. Club SodaClub soda works wonders on pet urine and other tough stains. Immediately blot up excess urine with paper towels; then soak with club soda; and scrub with diluted carpet shampoo. Club soda also removes spilled coffee and tea stains; simply pour liberally over the stain and blot to dry. Baby WipesUse baby wipes to blot up spills from your rug or carpet; it absorbs both the liquid and the stain. Wipes can also be effectively deployed as a homemade stain remover when attacking various spills and drips on your clothing and upholstered furniture. ToothbrushesRemoving a stain can be a pain, especially one that has soaked deep down into soft fibers. To remove those deep stains, try using a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush, dabbing it gently to work in the stain-removing agent (bleach or vinegar, for example) until the stain is gone.