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
Amanda says
Hmm I’m wondering what the effects would be if I used Tide, Downy, white vinegar, and tea tree oil mixture. I really love the idea of all natural but on the flip side of that I want my carpet fluffy and soft for my baby to play on.
uhsarp says
Can I relace Tide with another Washing liquid?
Happy.MoneySaver says
Try it out and see if you like it! 🙂
Dot Poole says
I used the Tide solution and I rent a home that has white carpets ughhhh can you believe someone would put white carpets in a rent home!!! Well anyways WORKS perfect, white carpets clean and soft again, I have 3 big dogs and a toddler still on a bottle and sippy cup and had surface spots every where from this… that has changed now but it cleaned everything up.. cheaper then the solution you have to buy at 15 dollars a bottle and I would have had to buy 3 of them to clean what I had…. Thank you!!!!
Melissa says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. With 3 kids, a big dog and 2 cats my carpet gets dirty fast. I just mixed this solution and used it and it worked great. I put some of the solution in a spray bottle to spray on the really bad spots then used my carpet cleaner. So clean! I will be doing the rest of the carpet tomorrow.
cherie says
I’m looking this up for a friend of mine who has a carpet he needs to clean. As for me—I was smart enough to strip out all the carpeting ! Carpeting is the gross and disgusting…if you could see what is under it and in it…you would be horrified! Carpeting is all chemicals…no matter how much you clean a carpet the chemicals they use are not going to come out…I have all wood floors now. No more allergies- no more lung problems-I don’t break out—all the problems were caused by the carpet!
Get rid of the carpets and you won’t have any problems.
Angela says
Thank you so much for this article! I have three children and two dogs and I know how hard is to keep the home clean and tidy. Thanks again for the great tricks! Regards!
Carolyn says
How much is a “Scoop” of OxiClean? The scoop in my container is rather large (maybe 1/2 cup). Is that how much you used?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I used the scoop that came with it. My scoop measures about 1/4 cup.
Rebekah Beene says
I was excited, but sorry still have the same dark spots. :/
I’m sure it’s because my spots are old?
Angelica S. says
Hello everyone, I am about to use this recipe to clean my carpets. I am actually moving so I wasn’t really thinking about the residuals, so that one poster made me think a little. That being said, I really don’t believe that the author of this page trying to be malicious in posting this recipe. I mean, come on, it’s quite the contrary, she was posting a useful, tried-and-true recipe to clean carpets. It seems that the person posting the warning was also being helpful with the information that she was sharing. But, we all have the ability to do our own research on what we decide to use in our own home. What happened to personal responsibility? I looked up the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and it only stated that if you ingested it you would have “gastrointestinal problems”. The only precautions were in regards to the perfumes: “Perfumes contained within the products covered by this MSDS comply with appropriate IFRA guidance.” On a scale of 0-4 it was listed as a “1” Slightly Harmful.
Here is the link.
http://www.pg.com/productsafety/msds/fabric_and_homecare/detergents/Ultra_Tide_Free_Powder_Granular_MSDS.pdf
Happy cleaning everyone!
Suzanne says
I had just ran out of the expensive solution and was looking for a solution that I could put together and found this one. I did not use the Tide, I used All and let me say that this is the best solution!! Its been 2weeks now and stains that would come back before still have not reappeared! I am so sold!
Thank You for sharing!
Cooper says
Totally understandable to want to save money, but there are some concerns with the recipes listed above. The first is the use of Oxi Clean. Oxi Clean works by the principal of oxidation. Through this, a reaction takes place in which oxygen released causes a chemical reaction. While in most cases the reaction is positive, it can have severe problems. The most common issue is that Oxi can discolor carpet. Oxi has been known to tint carpet with an orange or pink tint. While this doesn’t always happen, if it does, your carpet is ruined. It can also clump up and harden in the carpet as some readers commented. Another issue is with the laundry detergent. These are soap based cleaners. Soaps actually attract dirt. They also leave a residue behind that is hard to rinse out.
The next issue is the suggestion of the use of vinegar. If you are a pet owner, DO NOT use vinegar. because the pH level of vinegar is similar to that of urine, your pet may mistake the vinegar smell as a previous marking and in turn continue to go to the bathroom in that spot. If your cat or dog keeps going in a spot you keep cleaning, it is because the vinegar odor is attracting them to it.
If you really want a good, solid clean that is green safe and won’t harm your carpet or family, go with Genesis 950. It uses water to make stains break down naturally. In doing so, it also deodorizes and kills germs, bacteria and any growth that might be in the padding. It can be a little expensive if you are buying a small size, but the large size is priced ridiculously low when you break it down as far as the amount you get and how you mix it with water. It also can be used to clean everything else in your house. If you are having trouble with cleaning carpets, you might want to give it a try or look into it because it is shocking how well it works.
Shonya says
1. Many have written about toxicity, so I wanted to address that. Many people don’t know that the effects of toxins on the immune system are cumulative. This means that any one substance, like Tide, may have minimal effects on its own, but it will add up with all of the other types of toxins you are exposed to in and out of the home. Some recent research showed that part of the population has genetic defects that make them unable to clear certain types of toxins, making them susceptible to autoimmune diseases and other illnesses from accumulated exposures. A subset of these can’t clear most toxins. These are the people who get sick once their bucket runneth over, and they will suffer from Tide. If you’re one of those, you should worry about managing your exposures from all sources. If not, you can afford to be more cavalier. Your family history should give you a clue. Not surprisingly, this research is largely being ignored by the traditional medical community. (Side note to one commenter who believes that the FDA will protect her: do you actually, really believe this?)
2. Several professional carpet cleaners have commented on this site and almost no one responds or acknowledges their input at all. I understand that people assume they are biased because they are financially invested, but they appear to me to be making an effort to inform people about their area of expertise to help people save their investments in their carpets. I’m not suggesting their viewpoints are the be-all, end-all, but I do want to acknowledge their contribution and thank them for it. Because of their input, I am having trouble making up my mind for my upcoming cleaning!
Marcus says
A point of confusion:
1)The steam cleaner I have has a reservoir for “cleaning solution” (it recommends its own brand). This fits probably 1 quart of solution
2) The cleaner has another reservoir for a gallon of hot water.
3) The steamer instructions says it will mix the cleaning solution with the gallon of hot water.
You recommend diluting the solution, 1/4 cup in a gallon of water before putting into the cleaner.
Does this mean I put the diluted-per-your-instruction solution into the “cleaning solution” reservoir, which will then be diluted again by the steamer? Or do I just dilute the solution like you suggest then dump it into the water reservoir and not use the cleaning solution reservoir altogether?
Thanks for the concoction!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I think you could do it either way. I would probably put 1/4 cup of the cleaning solution in the reservoir and then add the full gallon of water in the gallon spot and let the machine mix it as you clean!
Sheila says
I’ve tried a lot of different solutions to get carpet clean that have worked; however, the stains come back. So, for years I have used Stanley Steamer; however, the stains come back. I have concluded that the dirt is pushed down into the carpet or chairs and just resurfaces in time for another cleaning. The last carpet I purchased was Stainmasters carpet with a guarantee. I have had my stainmaster carpet professionally cleaned and get the same results–it looks clean for a little while then the same stains resurface. My solution is putting in wood and/or laminate flooring and use throw rugs.
Monnie says
Thanks for this! I have an area rug in my family room which I adore and so does, unfortunately, my doggie. I am going to take it out on the deck tomorrow morning and power wash it but wanted something other than the chemically smelling carpet cleaners I can buy at Home Depot.
As an aside…some of the comments made me giggle. LOL! Glad I found your site!
Derek says
As a professional carpet cleaner, I can assure you this solution will do more harm than good in the long run. Not only will you almost certainly void the warranty on your carpet, using anything on your carpet with “Oxy” in the product title is a mistake. Oxygenized cleaners will make a spot look incredibly good, but not because it is cleaning the spot, it is becuase the oxygen inside of the cleaner is actually causing color fade. Thats not even taking into consideration all of the different chemicals than can react together from the plethora of products you are having us mix together. I once mixed two soaps MADE for cleaning carpets together and it ended up foaming up so much my entire truck mount clogged with foam. You dont have a clean spot, you have a spot that the color has faded or been removed entirely. They are also very strong cleaners that tend to break down carpet fibers, so you could end up with “Bald spots” eventually. If you rent, I can understand not caring much, but if you bought your carpet (which is not cheap by any means) then I dont understand how not spending 20-30 dollars saves you a bit of money when you just ruined your carpet worth far more than you could ever save in a lifetime making these solutions yourself. You dont even need to hire a professional carpet cleaner to clean your carpets well. BUY solution, chemists create these products specifically for carpet. Spray your carpets, rinse thoroughly with JUST water. If you put soap into your carpet cleaner, you arent cleaning your carpets. You are spraying soap and water down, then sucking 75% of it back in within seconds. You are leaving them a soapy mess, and soap attracts dirt. Spray your cleaner on the carpet before hand, and let it dwell for 5-10 minutes. That step is the most important in the process, it is like pre-soaking dishes with tough grime. Put JUST water in your machine to rinse out the soap unless you enjoy cleaning your carpets every few months. If you go cheap, expect cheap results or worse, you ruining your carpet.
Amy says
Hi Karrie,
I have a furniture attachment on my cleaner, have you by any chance tried this on furniture?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I haven’t. I would say try it on a part of the couch that can’t be seen first just to make sure! 🙂
Brandi says
So this makes a gallon. Do I use the whole gallon or is it like buying a gall from the store where you only use so much of it to mix in with the water? Know what I mean?
Happy.MoneySaver says
No, don’t use the whole gallon! This is the concentrated mix and should last a while. Follow the detailed instructions from your carpet cleaner machine. Example – For my machine I use 1/4 cup of soap to a gallon of water and that fills up my carpet cleaner machine!
Dale says
This solution worked well for me, but I had to use an alternative ingredient. I don’t know where you are suppose to buy a tiny bit of Tide liquid detergent. The people who use a website like this wouldint use Tide as there regular detergent, knowing how expensive it is. Even a small bottle I saw was 5.00 so spending that would defeat the purpose of making my own carpet cleaner. I did look in two self-Laundromats for travel size packets, but all the machines offered powder detergent. Finally I found one place that had a small packet of liquid detergent for 1.00 but it was Wisk, so I used it in my concoction and it worked fine. No problem finding the awesome cleaner for 1.00, and the dollar store oxi-clean powder. The only thing I had for fabric softner was snuggle, so in the pot it went. I actually used three plastic scoops of the Oxi-clean, because that stuff is mild enough to use with laundry or anything. So I dumped everything in a plastic milk gallon, added Hot water, put the lid on and shook it all up till I saw the Oxi -clean powder was dissolved. Now my family room carpet had not been done for about two years, and we have two kids under 10 and a foxhound so the carpet looked like my backyard, but without the leaves and grass. I rented the rug doctor, put in the concoction and let it rip. Our light cream Berber carpet came up like new! I have to admit, the rug doctor machine is a LOT of work pulling it in reverse which is when it sucks the fluid out. I am a big guy and it gave me a serious workout to just take care of my 12×12 family room, but I went over the carpet about three times and all is well. I did two rooms in my house and used much more concentrated concoction to water mix ratio then needed. The whole gallon is gone since I changed the rug doctor fluid that looked as black as coffee about six or seven times, but it cost me so little that I’m fine with it. Thanks for the recipe!
Jennifer says
Hi,
I am interested in knowing if the Tide Solution gets really soapy? I use like resolve or other carpet cleaning solution in my carpet cleaner and it suds up so bad and does NOT take it long before I have to empty the container.
Happy.MoneySaver says
I haven’t had a problem with it soaping up!
Jennifer says
Thank you