Hoover Shampooer

Keep your carpets clean by making your own carpet shampoo solutions. Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images


It is sometimes confusing to select a carpet shampoo, as all claim to do the same thing but have different product labels and price points. The issue is that most of these products contain harmful chemicals that are not necessary to keep your carpet clean. Instead, add your own cleaning ingredients to your carpet shampooer based on your needs.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that is safe for the carpet. To use baking soda in your carpet shampooer, add 1/2 cup baking soda to the unit per gallon of water used.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a safe and natural disinfectant, and by adding 1 cup white vinegar per gallon of water used to the carpet shampooer, you can quickly kill any bacteria present on your carpeting.

Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent is the perfect alternative to commercial carpet shampoo. It cleans the carpeting the same way it cleans laundry, and leaves behind no film. To use laundry detergent, add 2 tbsp. per gallon of water used in your carpet shampooer. To provide a full and thorough cleaning, add the detergent, vinegar and baking soda to the carpet shampooer all at once.