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Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

I have a fairly large home with a lot of carpet to steam clean. In between 7 members of the household, 4 cats, and 4 dogs, I find myself steam cleaning constantly. We received a very nice machine as a housewarming gift, but I am looking for a cheaper cleaning liquid that works as well as the stuff that sells for $8 a bottle. A homemade solution would be great too! Any advice?

Stacey from Dorr, MI

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RE: Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

Is it safe to use each of the ideas posted, not necessarily at the same time? In other words, if I use the idea of spraying hydrogen peroxide right after my dog has thrown up on the rug, can I clean the whole rug with another product like vinegar or oxy-clean or LA Awesome several hours later? Should I be concerned with what might mix or not mix regarding fumes that may linger because of the mixtures I used? These are questions I have had for a long time. Once something dries, do you have to be concerned with what product you use next? I really don't want to "OD" my family and friends because I am ignorant to what can or can't be mixed and applied in separate segments. Thanx!

Post by suzyspinkmoon

RE: Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

Looks like you have received lots of great ideas. Mine would be oxy-clean. It really takes out stains and doesn't leave an odor, clean or otherwise. Frankly, I prefer that now to carpet cleaner, the hypo allergic kind. Good luck!

Post By kathleen (Guest Post)

RE: Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

I have a lot of pets too... plus we have a small farm, so a lot of stuff gets tracked in.

I go to a dollar store, (family dollar, dollar general or dollar tree) all of which carry a product called LA's Awesome.
Fill your hot water tank then measure in the amount of Awesome that you'd normally use if it were carpet cleaner. You don't need to rinse either!

You can also use full strength Awesome to spot treat stains before you clean.

It's all I use any more! by the way... did I mention that Awesome is only a !!!!!DOLLAR!!!!! for the spray bottle and only $3 for the huge refill. Can't go wrong!

Good luck! I hope it works for you as well as it works for me!

Post by Shosha

RE: Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

I'd think Tide would leave a residue. I'd never use it to clean a carpet with! The dollar store sells a solution called "Awesome". You have to dilute it quite a bit! (a tiny bit goes a LONG way!) You could give this stuff a try, I've seen MANY women buying it to use in carpet cleaning machines & they swear by it!

---> If it were me & I had light to medium colored carpeting & was trying to clean Organic stains (dogs, cats, blood, dirt & food, etc) I would opt for Plain old Hydrogen Peroxide.It cleans with oxygen & leaves no residue. I use it straight from the bottle for stains. I Just squirt some on & leave it set, or use a toothbrush & brush it a bit. But if you were doing a whole carpet & using a rug machine I'd dilute it by half.

You can find peroxide on sale at most drug stores or dollar stores for 50 cents a bottle, so you can't beat it. It won't work for non-organic stains. that means it WILL clean up grape juice or red wine, but will NOT clean up grape kool-aid or grape jello (artificial dyes). !t works great for coffee & coco stains too.

Post by Cyinda

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