No matter how careful we are, or how hard we might try, we are bound to have a few scary stain moments on our favourite carpets and rugs.
Whether it’s children dragging their muddy boots across the carpet after football practice, grease stains from a dropped meal or an accidental glass spillage after one too many red wines in the lounge room, our carpets will inevitably look a little worse for wear at some point.
The good news is that several excellent homemade carpet cleaner recipes are easy to make and use, and won’t break the bank!
Using our guide, we are confident you’ll find the most effective home remedy carpet stain remover for your carpets, no matter the fabric or stain type.
How To Remove Carpet Stains (with These Clever Tips & Easy DIY Cleaners)
Roll up your sleeves, let’s get going!
A Few Quick Tips Before You Start:
- Be quick – It’s much easier to remove stains if you act quickly before the stain has had a chance to set into the fabric.
- Know your fabric type – make sure you’ve checked your cleaning codes first so you don’t damage your carpet, or make the carpet stain worse.
- Blot, don’t rub – If you rub the stain, often you will rub the stain further into the fabric of the carpet. It’s much better to gently blot away the stains.
- Always perform a spot test – Before using a homemade carpet cleaner, make sure you test it on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first. You wouldn’t want to accidentally remove the colour from your carpet along with the stain.
- Don’t use too much cleaning solution – We know you’re excited about your new homemade carpet stain remover. But before you go and make the stain worse by saturating the entire area, remember that less is more. Too much cleaning solution can make it difficult to remove the stain.
- Don’t forget to check the manufacturer’s instructions on the label – Often a rug manufacturer will provide general cleaning advice for your particular fabric and what cleaning solutions to use (or avoid).
So, How Do I Clean Carpet Stains?
The burning question.
Firstly, determine whether your carpet or rug is made from synthetic fibres, such as polyester, or natural fibres like wool or cotton.
Each material will have its own general cleaning recommendations; for example, cleaning code S stipulates that only chemical dry cleaning solvents can be used, and water-based cleaners cannot be applied. It’s best to know what materials your carpets and rugs are made from beforehand. You don’t want to be scrambling to find out as the coffee soaks in!
Secondly, you need to identify the type of stain you’re dealing with. Just like fabrics, different stains require different cleaning methods. It’s much easier to remove a stain if you know what caused it.
Our Top 5 Home Remedy Carpet Stain Removers!
Without further delay, here are our favourite carpet cleaning solutions! However, we always emphasise that you should check your materials’ cleaning codes before using any type of cleaner.
1.) Carpet Cleaning & Deodorising With White Vinegar
A spray bottle filled with white vinegar, diluted with water, should be in everyone’s cleaning cupboard, especially since it is entirely natural and non-toxic! Simply dilute one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water, pour it into a spray bottle, and voilà! Instant carpet cleaner and deodoriser.
Spray onto the affected area until it is lightly moist, then let the vinegar sit for 5 to 10 minutes before blotting dry with a paper towel or clean microfiber cloth. If you’re using it as a deodoriser, you don’t need to wipe it away at all.
Ideal for removing general light stains such as food or dirt, and also keeps your carpet smelling fresh and clean!
2.) Clean Greasy Carpet Stains Using Detergent
A gentle dishwasher detergent solution can be sufficient for removing water-soluble stains and some types of greasy food stains. All you need to do is mix some detergent in a container of warm water and gently work it into the affected area of the carpet using a sponge or a white cloth.
Once you have applied detergent to the entire stain, blot away the excess moisture with some paper towels. Wait until it is completely dry before vacuuming any remaining residue. Remember not to go overboard; a good rule of thumb is about one teaspoon of dish soap per litre of water.
Make sure to use a clear detergent, as the dyes used for colouring could potentially stain your fabric.
Click here for our proven homemade dishwasher detergent recipe.
3.) Using Baking Soda As A Spot Stain Remover
You can create a very simple stain removal cream by mixing baking soda and white vinegar. Simply mix equal parts of baking soda and white vinegar to form a thick paste. Dilute the paste with warm water until it reaches the right consistency, which should be slightly runny.
Use a sponge or soft-bristled brush to gently work into the carpet fibres in a circular motion. You’re aiming to lift the stain, not push ground-in dirt further in. Let it sit for a while and vacuum the area thoroughly once it has completely dried. You’ll be amazed at the results!
Did you know baking soda is the only ingredient you need to make one of our favourite cleaning products? Check it out here.
4.) Soaking Up Carpet Stains With Baking Powder and Corn Flour
This is a very simple powder to keep handy, and it works effectively to stop spreading when sprinkled over fresh stains. Mix about two teaspoons of baking powder with one cup of cornflour. The starches in the fine cornflour will penetrate your carpet fibres to soak up the spill, while the baking powder neutralises any nasty odours.
Sprinkle the cleaning powder over the fresh spill and leave it for at least fifteen minutes. The longer you leave it, the more time it has to lift stubborn carpet stains before they set. Vacuum up the excess powder and repeat if necessary.
5.) Cleaning Light Carpet Stains With Soda Water
Plain old soda water is a great fix for water-soluble stains. After soaking a clean cloth with soda water, gently dab at the stain with a fresh section of the cloth each time.
Keep the cloth damp and continue gently working on the stain until it disappears. It may seem slow, but be patient—the results will be worth the wait. Remember to dry the area thoroughly when you’re finished to prevent the musty smell associated with wet carpets.
If you’re more of a visual learner, this quick video below demonstrates the power of vinegar and baking soda as a home remedy for carpet stains.
Further Options For Dealing With Stubborn Stains
If you’ve tried everything on this list and on every other list, and still have some stubborn stains that won’t budge (e.g., paint stains), rest assured that there are many commercial carpet cleaners that can effectively remove stains from a wide range of fabrics and textiles. These are especially useful for old stains that you might not have noticed until you moved the sofa.
Just ensure you select a high-quality product, as it will be gentler on your fabric by avoiding cheap and harsh chemicals, and generally more effective at removing carpet stains. Also, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Like with homemade carpet cleaners, always test commercial cleaning solutions for colourfastness on a hidden area of your carpet or rug.
It’s essential to remember that some commercial cleaners may not be suitable for natural fibre carpets. It’s important to note that some commercial cleaners may not be ideal for natural fibre carpets.
Can I Steam Clean My Carpet?
Using a steam cleaner on your carpet is a good option for stubborn stains or when cleaning an older carpet or rug that needs a deep clean (or if you’re using carpet dye).
A steam cleaner removes dirt from your carpet by using heated water that turns into vapour (i.e. steam) when it contacts the flooring surface.
The heat loosens soil particles that are usually trapped in the fibres of your carpet or rug. It then removes all water droplets from your flooring surface with a vacuum, providing one of the deepest and most hygienic cleans possible.
How To Eliminate Pet Odors From My Carpet Or Rug?
All pet owners can attest that, as much as we love them, they often leave the rug with a bit of a smell—especially if a ‘pet accident’ has happened. You might also find yourself dealing with fleas in your carpet!
The homemade cleaners we’ve listed above can often do a good job, but sometimes it’s a much bigger problem to handle. If this is your situation, using a carpet cleaning machine is the most effective way to remove pet stains and odours. Use a pet rug cleaner with a dedicated pet cleaning solution. They often feature a rotating bristle head to lift pet hair and deeply ingrained dirt before shampooing.
These can often be hired from your local hire shop or hardware store like Bunnings. Given the chemicals often used to deal with pet odors, it’s probably a good idea to leave this one to the professionals.
A Quick Reference Guide For What To Use On Each Stain Type:
Wine or Juice
- There’s no need to panic if you spill a glass of orange juice (or wine) on your carpet next time. If you act quickly, usually all you need is your trusty spray bottle of Club Soda. After blotting up any excess liquid with paper towels, simply give the affected area a quick squirt of soda and dab dry with a clean microfiber cloth. (Note: this works well for both red wine and white wine.)
Chocolate
- If the chocolate has melted into the carpet fibres, place a few ice cubes into a ziplock bag, and cool the chocolate until it hardens. Using a butter knife, carefully scrape away as much of the hardened chocolate as possible before vacuuming the area to pick up any loose flakes. After vacuuming, treat the stain with your homemade dishwashing liquid cleaning solution.
Candle wax
- After the wax has dried, break it into pieces and remove as much as possible from the carpet. Once you’ve taken out the main amount of wax, place a piece of baking paper over the stain and use your clothes iron to apply heat. The wax will stick to the baking paper as it cools, allowing you to gently peel it off the carpet.
Coffee or Tea
- Got stubborn coffee stains on your rug? Just use a bit of our baking soda and vinegar-based cleaner, applying it with a clean brush into the fibres around the stain. Once you’ve worked the stain in well, blot dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Rinse and repeat until the stain disappears!
Fatty butter or gravy stains
- Sprinkle the grease stain generously with baking soda and leave it overnight if possible. In the morning, vacuum up the excess powder and gently clean the area with a damp cloth dipped in a vinegar solution or dish soap to tackle any stubborn fat stains.
Dirty footprints
- Whatever you do, don’t wet the dirt! Getting dirt wet creates mud, which is much harder to remove from the carpet. Vacuum up any excess dirt before it gets rubbed in further, then work a clean brush in circles over the stain, trying to lift the dirt to the top of the carpet fibres. Vacuum again, and most of the dirt should be gone. If a little stain remains, use the baking soda and vinegar solution.
Every parent’s worst nightmare; blood stains…
- As much as we hope it won’t happen, one day you’ll probably find yourself dealing with the outcome of a bloody nose or cut lip on your carpet. After making sure your patient is all patched up, it’s time to tackle the stain before it sets too deeply. Cold water or club soda is usually all you’ll need if you act quickly. Simply spray on and blot until the stain disappears completely. It may require a bit more effort (depending on the injury), so if a small red stain remains, try using the baking soda spot stain removal paste.
That’s A Wrap!
Needing to clean your carpet or favourite rug from time to time is just a fact of life, and probably means you have a fun and lively life!
As you can see, using a handful of ingredients you likely already have lying around the home, you can easily create a variety of safe and effective carpet cleaners for all stain and fabric types.
We hope this guide has helped you in your hunt to remove carpet stains you may have thought were permanent and given you the confidence to tackle any other odours or marks that life throws your way!
If you enjoyed this story, check out our guide on how often to shampoo your carpet.
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