Clean Carpet With Vinegar: 101 Guide

Do you have plain white vinegar in your home? I bet you do. This cooking ingredient is capable of so much more than just cooking. You can use this around your home as a non-toxic cleaning tool for your sinks, carpets, microwave, toilet, and counter-tops.

Vinegar has a very acidic pH of about 2.4 – a neutral pH is 7. The acidity creates a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial substance that can break through most dirt and grim that need loosened on the surfaces in your home. It can also reduce the smell of foul odors.

Maybe you’re wondering if you can use vinegar on carpet. White vinegar is pet safe and eco-friendly, so you can use it around your home without worrying about breathing in harsh chemicals. On top of being a wonderful way to clean your carpets and remove stains, vinegar is also relatively inexpensive to purchase.

Let’s go over the nitty gritty on removing carpet stains and odors with vinegar. Read this carpet cleaning guide!

Using Vinegar to Clean Carpet

The first thing you will need to do for carpet cleaning is perform a color safeness test on a small portion of your carpet. You might want to do this in an inconspicuous area, just to be safe. Apply the vinegar to a towel and apply it to your chosen area of carpet. Clean this up by blotting the area, and then check back in a day to see if any carpet color or texture changes occurred.

Stain Removal

Carpet Cleaning made easy – how? By using a pure 100% white vinegar solution you can remove stains from dirt tracked in from outdoors, food or drink spills, or even cleaning up pet accidents. Fresh stains can easily be tackled with this simple ingredient that most people already have in their homes.

Trust me, it is simple.

Remove any solid material on the carpet before applying the vinegar. In order to avoid a water-logged mess, blot up any excess liquid as well. Now, after prepping the area, spray your 100% vinegar solution directly onto the spot. Let it soak for a few minutes and blot up with an unused cloth. If you are trying to tackle a stubborn stain, repeat as needed.

This method works best for fresh stains since it has not had an opportunity to set deep into the carpet fibers.

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Deodorizing

If you have pets or children, then having a budget friendly method of deodorizing your carpets is a must have. In a spray bottle, combine 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 2 cups of warm water. Spray a fine layer of this mixture onto the carpet and allow it to dry completely.

The vinegar smell will be intense at first, but that will diminish as it dries. Once your carpet is dry, the vinegar or original odor should no longer linger. How to clean carpet on stairs

Steam Cleaning

Instead of using the cleaning solutions you regularly use, try replacing it with vinegar. I recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions on adding any solution to the machine and clean as usual. The vinegar odor will dissipate after the carpet dries.

Step by Step Process

Vacuum the Rug

You will need to eliminate loose debris, dirt, and hair from the carpet in order to reach the stain. The last thing you want to do is rub the dirt further down into the carpet, so this step is important. Vacuum as usual so you can bring your focus back to the stain. Use a good vacuum (see difference between roomba 960 and 980)

Use a Vinegar Solution

Now, you can get down and dirty to remove the fresh stain. Grab a bucket and mix in 3-4 cups of white vinegar with warm water and mild dish soap. Be sure to pay attention to your carpet fiber and do not oversaturate it with this solution. You want to use just the right amount so you can clean your carpet, let it soak, and scrub it without damaging the floor boards below.

Scrub the Carpet

Using a soft towel or a scrub brush, you will want to scrub the stain using back and forth motion. Do not scrub too roughly, as you do not want to simply embed the stain deeper.

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If you are doing a large area of carpet, start on the edges and move inward. Take your time and repeat as needed.

Rinse Your Carpet After Scrubbing

Sometimes stain removal can create a ring in your carpet around the wet area. This is why it is important to rinse the carpet after scrubbing the stain area. Follow the method above, but with a bucket of warm water only.

If you have a rug, it might be easier to take it outside and rinse it with a hose.

Remove Extra Water

Removing excess water prevents damage to the wood beneath. Hang the rug outdoors in a sunlit area to drip and dry. Otherwise, blot up access water with towels.

Dry Thoroughly

Open up windows and point fans at the run to allow sunlight and airflow to aid in the evaporation process.

Final Thoughts

White vinegar is a budget friendly item that can be found in most homes. As long as you perform a safety patch test on your carpets, you will be cleaning your carpets with a safer, environmentally friendly solution in no time. Using vinegar to clean carpet doesn’t have to be that hard. You can also see this article if you’re thinking of using roomba on carpet.