DIY recipe for carpet cleaning shampoo
Step 1: Boil water and prepare other ingredients.
Pour 1 gallon of water into a pot and bring it to a boil on the stove. While you wait for the water to boil, put on your rubber gloves and, in a bucket or large mixing bowl, combine the following:
2 tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent
1/4 cup all-purpose cleaner (eg, Formula 409)
1 scoop of OxiClean Stain Remover
1 tablespoon fabric softener (optional)
Step 2: Combine all the ingredients.
After the ingredients are dissolved in the bowl, pour in hot water. (OxiClean is usually in powder form, which means you may need to stir the mixture a bit before it all dissolves.) Pour the water slowly so you don’t create too many bubbles, which can lead to air pockets in the carpet cleaning mixture.
Step 3: Fill the carpet cleaner’s solution tank.
Transfer the homemade carpet cleaning solution to the solution tank of the carpet cleaning machine, following the instructions for the device. Keep in mind that the cleaning solution you make already contains the right amount of water, so you can use it in the machine at full strength.
Step 4: Test the carpet cleaning solution on a small area.
Before you start distributing your homemade carpet cleaner everywhere, test it on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to make sure the solution or machine won’t damage the carpeting. Wait 24 hours for the test spot to dry to see results.
Step 5: Finish cleaning the carpet.
After you have tested the efficiency of the machine, run it through your entire carpet, Pay special attention to stains and areas that appear particularly dirty. Be careful not to use too much homemade carpet cleaner, as soap residue can damage the carpet and excess moisture can cause mildew. Just like you did with the test spot, wait at least 24 hours for your carpet to dry, and then you’re done!
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