This homemade carpet cleaner solution cleans carpet stains left from food, accidents, pets, and life’s little messes. And with a cost of $1 per gallon to make, this secret formula is gonna save you a TON of money!
This is the original homemade carpet cleaning solution recipe – all others out there are just simple copycats.
This formula was created by my amazing sister – who tried & tested out many different products on her carpets and came up with this recipe. She’s the best.
This one is guaranteed to become your favorite and you’ll make this diy carpet cleaner recipe over and over again, year after year like I do.
Watch My Video: How To Make Homemade Carpet Cleaner Solution
But Does It Really Work?
I have four messy kids and a big dog. My carpets are downright gross much of the time. I am also one of the worlds biggest cheapskates and hate having to rent one of those Rug Doctor machines for shampooing AND pay $20 or more for carpet cleaning solution.
But I’m telling you, this carpet cleaner solution diy recipe is tough on stains. And when I say tough…I mean crazy TOUGH on stains! This stuff is even stronger than those store-bought expensive ones.
Its cleans clean carpet stains left from food, spills, pets, and life’s little accidents. And yes, it will get rid of pet odors too, and leave your house smelling amazingly awesome. It’s a Rug Doctor copycat recipe, only better.
Here is a dark stain that was in my son’s room. Now you see the spot.
Then you don’t. Boom!
Best ever homemade carpet stain remover.
I love the way this cleaner works. And when you add in that teeny bit of Downy fabric softener it leaves your carpets sooo soft too.
How Much Does This Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution Cost To Make?
It’s ridiculous how much money the store-bought carpet cleaning solutions cost. I mean, $20-$30 per bottle of concentrate? And sometimes you need several of those bottles if you’re shampooing your whole house. It’s too much.
This ultra concentrated carpet cleaning diy solution with Oxiclean (or Dollar Store knock-off), liquid Tide laundry detergent, LA’s Totally Awesome cleaner, and Downy fabric softener only costs $1 per gallon to make vs $20 for 1/2 gallon of Rug Doctor solution.
You will save so much money using this DIY carpet shampoo recipe instead. Plus these ingredients can easily be found at your local Dollar Stores.
PRICE BREAKDOWN:
For my homemade carpet shampoo recipe I spent:
$0.97 for the Tide packet (of which I used maybe 1/2 of, so $.50)
$3.97 for the Downy (of which I used $0.15 worth)
$1.00 for the Awesome cleaner (of which I used $0.15 if that)
$1.00 for the Oxiclean cleaner (of which I used .20 if that)
==> Grand total $1.00 for a GALLON of concentrated mix solution for carpet cleaning machines.
The Rug Doctor concentrated formula runs around $19.59 for a 1/2 gallon.
Yeah, that is some serious SAVINGS folks!!! Wow.
It’s Super Concentrated
This diy carpet shampoo recipe makes a CONCENTRATED MIX just like the fancy $20 Bissell solution where you only add in like 1/4 cup of the solution to a gallon of water.
You will mix together your ingredients and add them to a gallon of hot water. THIS becomes the concentrated solution.
Even though it seems like a small amount of ingredients, a little goes a long way. So add in only a little bit of this solution each time you add water to your carpet cleaning machine. Or better yet just follow the instructions per your machine. I’ve used this carpet cleaner solution for my Bissell machine with no problems.
OTHER GREAT DIY CLEANING RECIPES
- All Natural Carpet Cleaning Solution Using Vinegar
- DIY Carpet Cleaner Powder Dry Shampoo
- Homemade Armor All Car Cleaning Spray
- DIY Liquid Hand Soap recipe
- Make Your Own Swiffer Wet Pads
- Homemade Laundry Detergent
SUBSTITUTIONS & FAQ
WILL THIS SOLUTION WORK ON ANY CARPET CLEANER MACHINES?
I’ve personally used this recipe with Rug Doctor rental machines, my SpotBot hand held machine, and with my upright Bissell carpet cleaner machine. Never had any issues. And I’ve had my machine for over 6 years, with no problems. It really is the best carpet cleaning solution for machines of all types.
That being said I suggest you read your instruction booklet that comes with your carpet cleaning machine for warranty information. Some machines warranties are no longer valid if you don’t use a certain type of cleaner with the product.
WILL THIS WORK ON UPHOLESTRY? RUGS? IN MY CAR?
I have used this solution on my carpets, rugs, in the interior of my cars and even on couches. It works great and gets out the stains, which makes this mama very very happy. It’s powerful enough to remove stains yet gentle on fabrics.
AND of course, always test a small area of carpet or fabric for colorfastness before you do the whole project.
CARPET CLEANING SOLUTION SUBSTITUTIONS
I get a lot of questions about substitutions for this recipe. Especially for the LA’s Totally Awesome Cleaner, which some people can’t find or is not available in their stores.
But before I go any further, I will say that this homemade carpet cleaner solution recipe is the BEST and most perfect way to make it. If you sub other ingredients I can’t for sure say your solution would work as well or remove stains as well.
- Liquid Tide Laundry Detergent – You can substitute the liquid inside of the Tide pods, just poke a hole in it and measure the 2 tbsp. You can also substitute other liquid laundry detergents if desired.
- LA’s Totally Awesome Cleaner – this USA made product is so amazing and can usually be found at dollar stores. I haven’t tested it myself yet, however the Mean Green cleaner might be a good substitute.
- Oxiclean – substitute the generic dollar store brand for the more expensive name brand.
- Downy Liquid Fabric Softener – You can use any fabric softener you prefer as a substitute.
Now if you need to have an all-natural homemade carpet cleaner for shampooer recipe that is non-toxic, organic, scent-free or dye-free I have another recipe using vinegar to clean carpets. It’s not quite as tough on stains, but is a great alternative.
DOES DIY CARPET CLEANING SOLUTION EXPIRE?
If I have any solution leftover after shampooing, I just add it to an empty gallon container, label it and store with my other cleaners.
Store it in a cool and dry place and it will stay good for 6 months or longer.
WILL THIS WORK ON PET URINE & ODORS?
Yes, this recipe is the best carpet cleaning solution for pets! It’s worked it magic on my pet odors from urine, pet stains and years of accidents. You may need to shampoo it a few times depending on how bad it is, but it’s worked amazingly well on all my pet accidents.
HOW DO I USE THIS TO PRE-TREAT STAINS?
I like to pre-treat my stains by using a 50-50 mix of the concentrated solution and water. You can add it to a spray bottle or just use your fingers to dab a bit of it on the stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes then shampoo over it. Repeat if necessary.
FINAL CARPET RINSE OR NO?
After shampooing your carpets with this homemade carpet cleaner solution should you then do a pass over your carpets with water only?
This is a personal preference as most die-hard carpet cleaners out there say that if any cleaning product is left on our carpets, it will attract more dirt and you’ll end up with dirty carpets. So if you’d like to take that extra step, feel free.
I personally like the smell and softness the downy fabric softener leaves behind and my carpets haven’t had stains come back in the same places. The solution is so diluted down that I’m not worried about it. So I don’t do the extra rinse personally myself.
But it’s totally up to you to do what you feel is best here.
DISCLAIMERS
Disclaimer: make sure and read your instruction booklet that comes with your carpet cleaning machine for warranty information. Some machines warranties are no longer valid if you don’t use a certain type of cleaner with the product. AND of course, always test a small area of carpet for colorfastness before you do the whole floor.
Homemade Carpet Cleaner Solution
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp liquid Tide laundry detergent
- 1/4 cup LA's Totally Awesome cleaner
- 1 scoop Oxiclean (3 tbsp)
- 1 teaspoon Downy fabric softener optional
- 1 gallon hot water
Instructions
MAKING THE SOLUTION
- In a small bowl, combine the liquid Tide, Awesome cleaner, Oxiclean and Downy if using. Stir together with spoon until well combined.
- Add mixture to a gallon of hot water, stirring gently so you don't make bubbles. Stir slowly and gently until all Oxiclean particles are completely dissolved.
- Use immediately in your carpet cleaner machines or pour into a gallon-sized container with a lid. Label outside of container: Concentrated Carpet Cleaner.
HOW TO USE SOLUTION
- Before you begin carpet shampooing, make sure that your carpet has been thoroughly vacuumed.
- It's a good idea to test this homemade carpet cleaner on a less visible area of flooring to make sure it's safe for your carpet and wait at least 24 hours for the test spot to dry to see the results.
- Read the directions that came with your carpet cleaning machine for how much cleaner to add as some reservoirs are smaller than others. For typical carpet shampoo machines, fill your reservoir with hot water. Then pour 1/4 cup of this concentrated solution into your water filled reservoir. (**The ratio I use is about a gallon of hot water to 1/4 cup of this concentrated cleaning solution.)
- Then you can run the machine over your entire carpet, making sure to show special attention to stains or spots. Wait least 24 hours for the carpet to dry and you're done!
Notes
Add leftover concentrated solution it to an empty gallon container, label it and store it in a cool and dry place. It will stay good for 6 months or possibly even longer. PRE-TREATING STAINS
Make a stain pre-treat mixture by using a 50-50 mix of the concentrated solution and water. You can add it to a spray bottle or just use your fingers to dab a bit of it on the stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes then shampoo over it. Repeat if necessary. FINAL CARPET RINSE NEEDED?
This is a personal preference as most die-hard carpet cleaners out there say that if any cleaning product is left on our carpets, it will attract more dirt and you’ll end up with dirty carpets. So if you’d like to take that extra step, feel free. I personally like the smell and softness the downy fabric softener leaves behind and my carpets haven’t had stains come back in the same places. The solution is so diluted down that I’m not worried about it. So I don’t do the extra rinse personally myself. But it’s totally up to you to do what you feel is best here. Disclaimer: make sure and read your instruction booklet that comes with your carpet cleaning machine for warranty information. Some machines warranties are no longer valid if you don’t use a certain type of cleaner with the product. AND of course, always test a small area of carpet for colorfastness before you do the whole floor.
Happy cleaning everyone! And happy saving money too.
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Jamie says
This worked wonders in our Hoover Dual Power Pro! I was skeptical because it seemed so diluted but it worked great. We are renters in an unit with older carpet and vinegar/ Eco friendly options just plain didn’t produce results.
I found the Awesome cleaner, generic Oxyclean, and generic fabric softener at Dollar Tree. I was able to find 10 oz bottles of Tide for $2.39 at Target which are a better deal than the single serving sizes like you see at laundromats. $5.39 will produce at least 15 gallons of cleaner with extra supplies to spare! We paid $20 for a 1/2 gallon of cleaner when we bought our machine. That would be $600 for the same amount of store bought cleaner!
Christine says
Is a scoop of oxyclean more like a tablespoon? I have a scoop that’s about a half cup in my big oxyclean box. I’m assuming that’s too much. Can you specify the scoop measurement please? Also, to make it less smelly I’m thinking of using a no scent tide and fabric softener. Has anyone else tried this? I’m assuming they have the same cleaning (or softening) power. I’d also like to add pureayre enzyme cleaner to it. Any thoughts?
Karrie says
Yes, I would say about a tablespoon. No scent tide and fabric softener would work just as well, just not have a smell! 🙂
Cheryl says
I used this idea, but used Downy, Wisk, hydrogen peroxide, Mr Clean muscle, and vinegar then topped off with HOT water (I didn’t have many of the original recipe ingredients). It worked very well on some old set in stains from having teenagers, a toddler, potty training, 3 dogs, and dog messes (throw up and urine) My carpet looks great. House smells like vinegar, but once it wears off it will be fantastic. I previously used a recipe containing mouthwash, vinegar, and peroxide. But adding the other ingredients worked much better! Thanks for the tip.Will be using next on my throw rug!
Janis Craft says
This solution took pet stains out of my carpet and wow!!! looks and smells so much better.
Cindy says
Just some information I received from a service. I have a 12 yr old maltipoo and she became blind from diabetes and urinates frequently in the house now. She use to bark to go out but not anymore. I would shampoo up the urine as soon as I noticed her doing it but could not get rid of the smell and was getting worse no matter how much I shampooed. I have since learned to NEVER EVER clean up urine with HOT water especially if it is a spot that you didn’t notice and it has been sitting. The hot water causes the urine smell to infuse into the carpet fibers. So glad I learned this.
Derek says
Hot water doesnt cause the urine smell to infuse into the carpet fibers. The more water you add, the farther the urine will travel into your carpet though. Where a small urine stain used to be in your carpet fibers, adding too much water could cause it to travel down into your backing and pad and spread into a large spot. The only way to deal with pet urine is to buy a strong enzyme product and to completely saturate your urine spots. (To the point you can stand on the spot and you see liquid forcing its way to the surface), then to rinse it out completely with highly pressurized hot water. If the carpet is too saturated with urine, sometimes you even have to lift the carpet and pad to get to the problem areas.. It’s not a cheap fix, but it is the only way to fully get rid of your problem.
-Professional Carpet Cleaner
Julie Slayton says
Oh boy Kerri!!! You poor thing! I’m sure you’re reading these comments and just saying – “Ladies, ladies, ladies….I’m just posting an alternative to expensive carpet cleaning solution!” Goodness! It’s like being in a hen house! One lady offers some advice; another lady insults her; another lady says she’s spouting off; WHO CARES! Try the carpet cleaning solution – don’t try the carpet cleaning solution! But anyway, thanks for the post. I was looking for something to use because I ran out of my expensive brand and I wanted to finish up the house. Now….on to the next argument… And if there are more than two women reading, there will be a “next argument”! 🙂
Cathy says
Do you think that this would be safe on a dark colored carpet??
Happy.MoneySaver says
I think it works pretty well on most carpets but I would test it on a corner or in a closet first to make sure!
reyne mahon says
I tried this today and it works GREAT!! I used Arm &Hammer laundry detergent instead of tide and it was amazing. I have 4 kids and 2 large dogs and the carpet was a mess 🙂 not anymore! It works better than any cleaner I have used before! Thanks so much for posting!
Annette says
Thanks. Arm & Hammer is what I buy as well and I was going to try that first. I live alone so my carpets don’t get that dirty but they do need cleaning once in a while.
Leslie says
So, I just made this. I added the hot water very slowly, avoiding bubbles. Then, it happened. Apparently the oxyclean (Tide brand oxi) reacted to something! As I’m writing this, the foam is still “erupting” (okay, oozing, but that doesn’t sound as cool!) out of the milk jug, with no end in sight! I’m thinking perhaps this scoop size is bigger than the scoop you used. I could use this for a school volcano project! I hope when it wears itself out, there will still be some ‘oomph’ left to the oxy portion of the program! Lol
Cory Waltmathe says
Wow! This is what I’m looking for. A homemade cleaning solution for carpets that doesn’t involve vinegar. The result looks pretty amazing based on your photo. You can definitely save time and money when you use these techniques. Thanks for sharing your secret!
Susan says
I use Genesis 950 for my carpets and my cleaning. It is the best cleaning product I have ever used. I completely get the homemade remedies and I had tried many of them but for set in stains, and to really clean deep I love the 950. It is expensive if you buy the small sizes, but being frugal, I get the 2.5 gallon because the price breakdown for large sizes is great. It is a concentrate too, so I pay for the solution and nothing watered down. Then when I clean with it, I can choose how much I want to use with water based on the stains. On top of that, it’s green.
Tracy says
I have a Hoover Floor Mate Spin Scrub for my hard wood floors. I don’t have any carpet in my house. I absolutely love my floor cleaner. It gets my floors spotless without breaking my back. The only downfall is the cleaning solution is expensive, especially when I use it at least 2-3 times a week. I was wondering if I could use this solution instead or if anyone had any other ideas for my cleaner and floors.
Haylie says
I’m trying it out, so far it cleans great but I don’t smell the downy at all 🙁
angie merkle says
“So you are willing to pay $11 every time you clean your carpets?”
Daniel^^^……YES I absolutely am! $11 for a big enough bottle that lets me clean 5 huge rooms, an 18 ft long hallway and about 5 large rugs that will not fit in my washing machine. $11 to me once a month to do all that is a drop in the bucket compared to the expense of a brand-new carpet shampooer. I would happily pay the $11 a month for the commercially made cleaners rather than risking the “homemade” concoctions” that contain vinegar, or fabric softener, or liquid laundry detergent or oxy-clean powder. I’ve been there, done that…and it ruined my previous shampooer after only 5-6 uses. Vinegar is highly acidic and over time, eats away at all the rubber seals and insides of tubing. Also, no matter how much you rinse and rinse and rinse everything out, all the fabric softener, the laundry detergent and the oxyclean powder leaves lots of residue and will plug up your tubing and all the holes your soap and water gets dispensed out of. My husband and I AND the vac shop repair guys were LITERALLY digging the “hard as cement” oxyclean out of the tubing with wire. (And NO I didn’t use more than what was specified in the recipe.) I will stick to my “custom-scented by me” company-recommended cleaning solution. The repair guys said the same thing..it’s recommended for a reason in the manual. And not just for reasons everyone thinks. Because it’s considered safer for the machine. Another thing the repairman told me is that if you do use something other than the cleaning solutions recommended for your machine and something happens to it, your warranty is no longer valid.
Bianca says
I got so excited about finding this recipe that I didn’t read all the way through and used the cleaner straight… oops! I poured the whole gallon in there. I have to say though, it cleaned my white carpet like a dream! lol I need to get the foam out of the carpet machine before returning it, but fortunately this mishap was more of a win than a fail for my white carpet! 🙂
Nancy says
I have never seen the AWESOME cleaner. What is it? What is it used for otherwise?
Is there a substitute if i can’t find it?
Happy.MoneySaver says
Awesome is a a cleaner with no acid, ammonia or bleach! You can buy it here and look at reviews. http://amzn.to/1tK1QnP
Mary says
I would be very careful using hydrogen peroxide on a carpet. I used Woolite pet stain + odor remover + oxy and wound up creating bleached spots all over my rug. Luckily my rug is very light beige or this would have been a disaster. I believe the “oxy” is basically hydrogen peroxide .
Tina says
As I read through this post about the Best Ever Homemade carpet cleaner, I shook my head in amazement on the ingredients used to clean carpets, remove stains, etc. Having spent most of my career (40+) in design related to floor coverings, selling synthetics, as well as natural fibers (wool, wool/silk blend, sisal, seagrass, etc), and for the past decade being owner of a carpet cleaning business with my husband, who is the certified, trained technician, with niche certifications from Wools of New Zealand and WoolSafeUS, in cleaning wool carpets and rugs, I, too, like to use more “natural” homemade ingredients for cleaning the home, like window cleaning, natural laundry soap, etc. But, when it comes to carpets, one of the major expenses of home furnishings, you really need to read what the manufacturers (Mohawk, Shaw, Beaulieu, etc) recommends for cleaning, and the fiber manufacturers (DuPont Stainmaster, Anso, etc) recommend, or even CRI, Carpet and Rug Institute’s recommendations for cleaning. Wool manufacturers will have different recommendations, so best to check their sites. The number one caveat to be aware of, if your synthetic carpet is under 18 months old, is that you WILL void your manufacturer warranties for stain and wear if you do not have your carpets professionally hot water extraction cleaned every 18 months, at a minimum! Second, every stain will require different methods of spot cleaning. One solution will not clean every stain! Manufacturers, CRI, and other sources have spot cleaning tips and solutions to use for different spots. Any organic stains, i.e., urine, feces, vomit, etc, need to be cleaned with an enzymatic type cleaner, since enzymes “eat” bacteria produced by such stains. We always recommend to our clients, when we can’t get to them right away, to remove any solids, use a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water to neutralize odors and stains, saturating the spot thoroughly, let it sit for a few minutes, then BLOT, do not rub, scrub, brush, until stain is removed, cover with a thick layer of towels and put a heavy weight on the spot (a stack of books), and let sit several hours or overnight. Hydrogen peroxide is appropriate to use for certain spots, in small amounts. Using solutions that include detergents, like Dawn, need to be thoroughly rinsed with a neutralizing rinse to prevent residue that can cause dark stains to appear after a short time. It’s usually not the spot, but the detergent residue left on fibers that literally clean the dirt off your shoes, feet, paws, or general soil circulated through your home by air conditioners, (also a reason for the dark edges around the perimeters of a room, next to the walls. A good carpet cleaner, worth his salt, will clean carpets first with a pre-spray of a solution to break down the soil and grease that accumulates due to normal living environments. That is followed by, very importantly, a pH neutralizing rinse that is then suctioned out removing both the soils and the detergent solution. This leaves a carpet that is soft, thoroughly cleaned, and residue free, without affecting the stain resistant features that you pay dearly for when you purchase new carpets. Years before we even started our carpet cleaning business, and stain resistant fibers were fairly new in the market, I shuddered when I learned people were buying their own carpet cleaners, because I saw more than a few who ruined carpets with their own machines, either through over cleaning, or using high pH cleaners with no way to rinse that out. IF YOU MUST use your own machine, a product I would recommend, have used for almost 30 years, and even use in our business, AND we do not get any remuneration for recommending it, is a product called TECH, found at many home improvement stores, hardware stores, etc. It is a plant based, non toxic cleaning solution that works wonders on carpets, clothes, etc. I always have this product on hand for all types of spot removal.
I realize everyone likes to save money wherever they can, but this is one that I would carefully research before jumping on the bandwagon. Do your research, and not from Wikipedia, but from reputable sources.
Kay B says
I’m glad the fabric softener is ‘optional’. Though it may smell pretty, it has chemicals that can be flammable. Look at any fabric softener bottle, and you’ll see the warning in fine print. And it’s one of the reasons I stopped using fabric softener in my laundry. So, if you used fabric softener on your carpet and happen to drop any spark from a candle, cigarette, etc, it catch fire in the carpet a bit easier.
Denise says
Thanks so much for this homemade rug cleaner recipe! I decided to give it a try, whipped up a batch, and have used it once on my living room carpet. The living room carpet that has endured an occasional dog accident, that is, so I was up against a lot of smells. After just one application, my carpet smells much better and looks 100% cleaner. I’ve tried many other expensive cleaners and suggestions, but only to still look at a dirty, smelly rug in the past. Definitely a thumbs-up from me and, again, thanks a million! Finally something that works without having to pay through the nose for it!! I just whipped up a batch for a work friend, and I’m sure she’ll like it as much as I do!
Val says
I have all the ingredients to make the cleaner. I just need to rent the machine. My question is can I spot clean or use some of the solution for smaller rugs that I can do by hand with a brush or is this solution only to be used with machines that will suck up the water? After reading so many disturbing comments I want to be safe, yet I need my carpets cleaned and I can’t get my hands on a machine just yet. Any suggestions???
Happy.MoneySaver says
You know I have only used this in my machine and not used it as a spot cleaner. Try it out and see how it works!