Steam Cleaning with Vinegar

When carpets needs an overall, deep down clean, plain vinegar can replace those costly and chemical-laden commercial steam cleaning solutions. If the steam cleaner has a tank where cleaning solution alone is added, it can be filled with full-strength vinegar straight from the bottle. If, however, the steam cleaner's manual instructs you to add a certain amount of cleanser along with hot water in a single tank, the vinegar can simply be substituted in the exact amount recommended. If the manual states to use eight ounces of cleaning solution, for example, eight ounces of vinegar should be used instead.

The entire carpet can be cleaned just as you would ordinarily use the steam cleaning machine. The room will smell of vinegar during the cleaning, but once the carpet dries, the smell will completely disappear. No rinsing is necessary.

Stain Removal

White vinegar may be useful in removing fresh stains from food or drink spills, pet accidents, or grime tracked in from outside. It is always best to treat any spill as soon as it happens, before the stain has a chance to set into the carpet fibers. As a stain remains over time, it actually bonds to the fibers, and old stains may be impossible to remove no matter what cleaning solution is used.

Any solid matter from a spill should be scooped up, and any liquid should be absorbed. Towels or washrags can be pressed over the spill to soak up the liquid.

Once almost all of the liquid has been absorbed, straight vinegar can be sprayed or very lightly poured over the area. It should then be blotted up with a clean cloth. As necessary, the vinegar can be reapplied to the stain and blotted again and again until the stain is no longer visible.