How do you clean carpet with home supplies?

You can effectively clean your carpet using common household supplies through a simple method involving baking soda, vinegar, and water.

Steps to Clean Your Carpet with Home Supplies

Here's a breakdown of how to clean your carpet using readily available home supplies:

1. Prepare your supplies: Gather the following:

   • Baking soda
   • White vinegar
   • Water
   • Spray bottle
   • Cleaning rags or cloths

2. Apply baking soda: Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the stained or dirty area of your carpet. The baking soda will help absorb odors and loosen dirt.

3. Mix your solution: Combine equal parts of white vinegar and water in your spray bottle. For example, you can use 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, but this can be increased based on area being cleaned.

4. Spray the area: Lightly spray the vinegar and water solution directly onto the baking soda-covered area. You should see a fizzing reaction as the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. This is normal and helps to lift the stain.

5. Wait for the Fizzing: Allow the fizzing to subside, this will take a few minutes. The bubbling helps dislodge dirt.

6. Blot the mixture: Use a clean cleaning rag or cloth to gently pat the area. Be sure to blot the area, do not rub. Rubbing may cause damage to your carpet fibers. Blot until most of the moisture has been absorbed.

7. Repeat if necessary: For particularly stubborn stains or soiled areas, you may need to repeat the process. Apply more baking soda, spray with the vinegar and water mix, and blot again.

8. Let it dry: Once you have finished blotting, allow the carpet to air dry completely. Avoid walking on the treated area until it's dry.

Additional Tips for Carpet Cleaning

• Test in a Hidden Area: Before applying the mixture to a large area, always test it on a small, hidden spot of your carpet to make sure it doesn't cause discoloration.
• Be Gentle: Avoid scrubbing the carpet vigorously as this could damage the fibers.
• Vacuum Thoroughly: After the carpet is dry, vacuum the area to remove any remaining baking soda residue.
• Use Cold Water: Using cold water will help prevent any stain from setting.
• Blot from the outside in: When blotting use an outside-in technique. This will help prevent the stain from spreading.
• Clean Spills Promptly: Clean up spills as soon as possible, as old stains can be harder to remove.

By following these steps using everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar, and water, you can keep your carpets looking clean and fresh.