Make Your Own Cheap Carpet Shampooer Cleaning Solution

In this article: Homemade carpet shampoo recipes and solutions for machines that save money and work just as well as the costly commercial stuff.

Perhaps you purchased a carpet cleaning machine or occasionally rent one to clean your carpets but feel the prices of commercial carpet shampoos are outrageous. We agree! So, we reached out to our frugal readers and asked them to share their favorite recipes for homemade carpet cleaners for machines or to recommend an affordable commercial carpet cleaning alternative.

Read on to find an affordable solution for keeping down the cost of cleaning your carpets.

Before Using a Homemade Carpet Cleaner With a Machine

Editor’s note: We have not tested all of these reader suggestions. Please read the following tips before using homemade shampoo in a carpet cleaner machine.

Homemade carpet shampoo for a carpet cleaning machine can be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. However, it’s essential to do it correctly to avoid damaging your carpet or the machine. Here are some tips and considerations:

Understand Your Carpet: Know your carpet’s material and any specific care instructions from the manufacturer. Some carpets may require special care.
Choose Ingredients Wisely: Common ingredients for homemade carpet shampoos include distilled white vinegar, ammonia and mild dish soap. Ensure the ingredients are suitable for your carpet type and won’t damage the fibers.
Test for Colorfastness: Always test your homemade solution on a small, inconspicuous area of your carpet to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration or damage.
Use Warm Water: Warm water can help dissolve the ingredients better and is typically recommended for use in carpet cleaning machines. However, you may want to avoid using hot water (unless you’ve used it on your carpeting before), as it can shrink or damage certain types of carpet fibers.
Avoid Over-Sudsing: Too much soap can leave residue on your carpet, attracting more dirt over time. If you’re using dish soap in your mixture, use it sparingly.
Rinse Thoroughly: After cleaning, it might be beneficial to run the carpet cleaner with just warm water to rinse any residual cleaning solution out of the carpet.
Dry Properly: Ensure adequate ventilation and use fans or a dehumidifier to speed up the drying process. Excessive moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth.
Consider Machine Compatibility: Verify that your homemade shampoo is suitable for use in your specific model of carpet cleaner. Some machines may require specific types of detergents to function correctly and avoid damage.
Storage and Shelf Life: Homemade carpet shampoos may not have preservatives, meaning they could spoil or lose effectiveness over time. Make in small batches and store in a cool, dry place, clearly labeled with the date made.

A Simple Vinegar Carpet Cleaner

I’ve used just about every kind of carpet cleaner solution in my steam cleaner, but none of them compares to one simple, cheap solution: vinegar mixed with water.

I use a solution of about 1 to 10 and am amazed at the results every time. It gets rid of spots that come back to the surface and cleans my steam cleaner at the same time. The vinegar smell does stay around until the carpet is completely dry. Afterward, I usually spray the carpet down with some no-vacuuming foam while it is still wet and light some candles.

I have three messy children and vinegar works great for me!
Bethany

An Ammonia Carpet Cleaning Solution

I use ammonia instead of the commercial carpet cleaner, using the same amount that the instructions say to use of the cleaner.

Keep the windows open until the carpet dries. I use the lemon-scented kind to help with the smell a little bit, but the odor does go away once the carpet is dry.

It does a fabulous job on the carpet, much better than the recommended cleaner. Pretreat especially dirty areas with straight ammonia for even better results. As always, test in an inconspicuous spot first. And be aware that pets could be confused by the ammonia odor and you might end up with a urination problem. However, I have two cats, and I have never had this problem.
Debbie

Sign Up for Savings!

Subscribe to get money-saving tips just like these by email that can help you stretch and grow your dollars.

Twice each week, you'll receive tips that can help you free up and keep more of your hard-earned money, even on the tightest of budgets.

We respect your privacy. We hate spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Simply Simple Green

I have cleaned my carpets many, many times with those rental machines and I always use Simple Green. It works wonderfully and will make your carpet absolutely new-looking. It removes so many tough stains.

You can find it at most home improvement-type stores.
A

Related: 11 Ways To Save at Home Depot

A Solution for High-Traffic Areas

If you clean your carpets regularly (twice a year), the cost of purchasing a carpet cleaner versus renting is warranted. If you really want to cut costs, don’t mind using elbow grease, and want much cleaner carpets, try a mixture of ammonia and water, using a scrub brush. Using a terry cloth, rinse with vinegar and water. This is an excellent way to clean high-traffic areas and area rugs.
Becky

Windex as a Carpet Shampoo for Machines

A friend of mine who does professional carpet cleaning told me to use equal amounts of Windex and hot water. I use it in my Bissell carpet cleaner with great results!

My 5-year-old carpet is pale beige and still looks brand new, even with six kids!
Brenda

A Carpet Cleaning Recipe Using Dishwashing Liquid

Add about 3 teaspoons of clear dishwashing liquid (non-moisturizing), 1/4 cup of ammonia, and 1/4 cup of vinegar to a few gallons of water. I’ve also used 1/2 cup of vinegar to a few gallons of water. Everything comes out great!
Crystal

An Odor-Killing Solution for Carpets

I have used grocery store rental carpet machines before and developed my own “recipe.”

Use one scoop of Oxiclean, one cup of Febreze OR one cup of vinegar, and the recommended hot water. The formula not only cleans but also kills all odors. I used this formula on a very used couch that smelled of dirty dogs so bad that I would not even bring it into my home, and the outcome was wonderful.

Do not worry about using vinegar. Once the vinegar dries, the smell is gone.
Debra in Texas

Tide as a Homemade Carpet Cleaner for Machines

My sister works for a carpet cleaning company that does commercial buildings. She recommended that I use Tide laundry soap diluted with water in the machine.

I did and it worked better than the expensive carpet shampoo. It cleaned better, and it did not foam up, so there was no need for a defoamer solution. It smelled really nice and it did not leave a residue on my carpet.
Kandi in Newnan, GA

Just Clean With Water

I recently read a tip that came from a school custodian. He said to just clean carpets with hot water, no detergent, as the soap only helps collect and hold in more dirt.
Janice

Another Vote for Hot Water

Yes, the solution for the carpet cleaning machines can be very expensive! But we use the cheapest home carpet cleaning solution — hot water! I had a friend who told me that shampoo is often not needed. The last time I rented the machine, I just used very hot water (the hotter, the better) to clean the carpet.

For stubborn or set-in stains, I use club soda. Just pour generously on the stain and blot up with a dry towel or cloth. It has worked for me every time!
Jo Anne

A Commercial Carpet Cleaning Alternative

My favorite carpet cleaner (and I’ve used it many times over many years) is hot water and Oxiclean (or one of those types of cleaners). It does the best job and does not leave a residue or ruin your Scotchgard. It is the perfect commercial carpet cleaning alternative.
A