How to Make a Carpet Stain Pretreater

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Things You'll Need

  • Baking soda

  • Vinegar

  • Spray bottle

  • Carpet brush

  • Soft cloth

  • Borax

  • Baking soda

  • Vacuum cleaner

Removing stains as soon as they happen can keep your carpet looking clean and new.

Stains and spills are a common occurrence on carpet. Any spills should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent stains from setting and liquid from reaching the carpet pad, where it can be extremely difficult to remove and clean. Although there are many commercially sold products which pretreat stains, remove stains and clean the carpet, there are also many household products which can be used to make your own carpet pretreaters and stain removers.

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Dry Stains

Step 1

Combine 1 tbsp. of baking soda with 3 tbsp. of vinegar in a small bowl. Once the baking soda has dissolved, add 2 cups of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

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Step 2

Spray the solution onto carpet stain. Use a carpet brush to scrub the cleaner into the stain.

Step 3

Allow the cleaner to work into the stain for 10 minutes.

Step 4

Dampen a cloth under running water and blot away the stain and residue. Blot the carpet dry with a dry towel.

Wet Stains

Step 1

Lay a rag over the stain. Push downward to absorb as much liquid as possible.

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Step 2

Combine 1/4 cup of Borax with 1/2 cup of baking soda.

Step 3

Sprinkle a generous layer of the mixture over the stain. Allow the powder to work into the stain for 30 to 60 minutes. It will absorb any moisture left behind.

Step 4

Vacuum the area to remove the mixture.

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