7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (2024)

Keeping your car’s carpet fresh and clean is easier than you might think.

  • I find this method incredibly effective and cost-efficient.
  • I use everyday household items, which saves me a lot of money.
  • I opt for natural ingredients, making it a safe choice for everyone in the car.
  • I enjoy how quickly I can prepare these solutions.
  • I appreciate that these DIY remedies take almost no time to use.

To prepare and use an effective DIY car carpet cleaner, follow these simple steps:

First, I gather all the necessary ingredients, which usually include items like baking soda, white vinegar, dish soap, and essential oils. These are items I often have in my kitchen, so I don’t need to make any special trips to the store. Next, I mix the ingredients according to the recipe I’ve chosen. One of my favorites is a combination of baking soda and vinegar, which I find perfect for most stains.

I always remember to test any cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area of my car’s carpet to ensure it doesn’t cause any discoloration. Once I’ve confirmed it’s safe, I apply the cleaner to the stain, wait a few minutes to let it work its magic, and then scrub gently with a brush.

Lastly, I wipe the area with a clean, wet rag and let it dry, which doesn’t take long. I repeat this process if needed. For me, the beauty lies in the simplicity and effectiveness of these DIY solutions, which keep my car looking and smelling great without the need for expensive commercial products.

There is nothing like having a nice clean car to drive to work or for hitting the road for a weekend adventure. As an essential part of your day-to-day life, it sees a lot of use. With all the use your car gets, the interior can get pretty filthy.

Keeping the carpeting and upholstery of your vehicle clean and looking like new doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. These DIY car carpet cleaner recipes and homemade carpet cleaning solutions will help you get the tough stains out and get your car interior looking like new.

When it comes to keeping your car looking good on the inside, it is essential to take the time to clean the floor mats and the upholstery on a regular basis. While there are many specialty car cleaning products on the market, you can save yourself some money by making your own at home from everyday products.

7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (1)

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Table of Contents

  1. To prepare and use an effective DIY car carpet cleaner, follow these simple steps:
  2. My Best Homemade Car Upholstery Cleaner
  3. My Diy Car Carpet Cleaner
  4. Removing My Grease Stains
  5. Getting Coffee Stains Out of My Car Carpet
  6. Getting Rid of Blood Stains
  7. My Homemade Car Carpet Stain Remover
  8. My Homemade Car Carpet Freshener
  9. My Recipe for Diy Car Carpet Cleaning Spray

How I Clean My Car Carpet

Keeping the carpet in your car clean can dramatically change the interior of your vehicle. Whether you have a brand-new car or have been driving the same vehicle for years, regular cleaning of your car’s carpet is necessary to get rid of dirt, debris, and stains.

Cleaning the carpets in your car isn’t difficult and can be done in less than an hour. The following tips and DIY car carpet cleaner solutions will help you get your vehicle looking great.

7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (2)

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The first thing that you need to do is clear out the garbage that has collected throughout the car. Throw out any fast food wrappers, drink cups, mail, and anything else that has accumulated. To help eliminate the buildup of garbage down the road, place a small trash bag or bin in the back seat.

After you’ve removed the trash from your car, it’s time to remove the dirt and debris from the interior. Using a vacuum, go over the floor mats, under the mats, and over upholstery to pick up the items that are too small to remove by hand.

Finally, treat any stains on the upholstery and carpet with a homemade car carpet stain remover and clean the upholstery with a homemade car upholstery cleaning solution.

My Best Homemade Car Upholstery Cleaner

The task of cleaning the upholstery in your car can either be easy or difficult, it all depends on whether or not you use the right cleaning solution.

You can make this simple DIY carpet cleaner solution that will be just as effective as the commercial products without breaking the bank. The recipe is from our extensive homemade car upholstery cleaner page where you can find even more easy-to-make cleaning recipes.

Thoroughly mix the ingredients and pour them into a large spray bottle to use to clean car interior fabric. Spray the stains on your upholstery and carpet and let the solution sit for a few minutes. With a scrub brush, brush the stains using a circular motion.

Next, use a steam cleaner filled with water or shop vac to rinse the seats. If you are using a shop vac, spray warm water on the seats and use it to suck up the mixture. Open all the windows and doors for circulation so the material can dry effectively.

My Diy Car Carpet Cleaner

During the winter, your car carpet and floor mats take a beating. Along with stains from muddy shoes and residual salt from snow melt, you may have stains from dropped food and spilled drinks.

With a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your home, you can clean your car carpet the DIY way, eliminating the stains and dirt that make the interior of your vehicle look filthy. Try this solution for the best car carpet stain remover and general cleaner. You won’t be disappointed with the results.

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Homemade Car Carpet Cleaner Recipe

  • 3 tablespoons grated soap
  • 2 tablespoons Borax
  • 10 drops lavender essential oil
  • 2 cups boiling water

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In a large, plastic bowl add all the ingredients. Stir the DIY cleaner until the soap is completely dissolved and the mixture is foamy like a carpet shampoo.With a stiff scrub brush, dip it in the solution and scrub the parts of the car carpetthat are dirty.

With a clean, wet rag, wipe the area clean, then let dry. This recipe also works well as a natural carpet deodorizer, too!

How I Remove Stains From My Car Carpet

With the amount of time that we spend in our cars, driving to and from work, hauling kids and pets around, and hitting the road for a nice relaxing road trip, stains from food and drinks are inevitable, not to mention the dirt and grease tracked into the car.

All of this can leave stains on your upholstery and car carpet if not appropriately treated. There are different kinds of stains that require different steps to remove.

Removing My Grease Stains

If you spend a lot of time eating at the drive-thru, you may notice grease stains on your car carpet, floor mats, and upholstery. A great way to break this kind of stain down is by using a small amount of paint thinner. With a clean cotton cloth, rub the paint thinner into the stain.

Follow this by pouring some cornmeal or salt over the stain and let it sit for several hours. The salt and cornmeal will absorb the oil. Finally, vacuum the cornmeal or salt up and allow the area dry.

Getting Coffee Stains Out of My Car Carpet

If you have coffee stains, you can use a simple glass cleaner to remove the stain. For this to work, you have to treat the stain quickly by blotting up as much of the liquid as you can with paper towels or a clean cloth. Once the area is dry, you will want to soak the stain with the glass cleaner.

Allow the glass cleaner to sit for several minutes then wipe dry with a clean cloth. This method should remove the stain without leaving any residue.

Getting Rid of Blood Stains

If you have an accident and have to clean up blood stains, cold water, and dry laundry starch work well. Combine the water and laundry starch to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it dry.

The starch will pull up and get the blood stains out of the carpet. Then vacuum up the residue. Repeat this process as often as necessary until the stain is completely removed. Vacuuming is also the best way to remove dirt from carpet fibers.

My Homemade Car Carpet Stain Remover

For removing general carpet stains from car floor mats and upholstery, you can make your own homemade carpet stain remover from everyday ingredients that you probably already have in your home.

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DIY Car Carpet Stain Remover Recipe

  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda

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Mix the baking soda and white vinegar to form a thick paste. Using a scrub brush or old toothbrush, work the paste into the stains. Allow the paste to dry completely.

Once the paste is dry, vacuum up the baking soda. If you are dealing with a stubborn stain, repeat the process until the stain is gone.

My Homemade Car Carpet Freshener

It doesn’t take long for cars to lose their new car smell and begin to develop pretty strong odors, particularly if you are prone to dumping trash and food debris on the floor or into the back seat.

With the help of baking soda and essential oils, you can rid your vehicle of those disgusting odors and leave it smelling fresh with a natural car deodorizer that is inexpensive and simple to make.

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DIY Car Carpet Freshener

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 10 drops orange or lemon essential oils
  • 5 drops lemongrass essential oil
  • 5 drops tea tree oil

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Combine the essential oils and baking soda. Sprinkle a fine layer of the powder on your car’s carpet and allow to sit for several hours. Vacuum up the powder. To keep your carpets from smelling stale, do this regularly.

Cleaning the interior of your car doesn’t have to take a lot of time or cost you a ton of money. Using a DIY car carpet cleaner on a regular basis works just as well as commercial cleaners for eliminating tough stains and disgusting odors. With the right tools and elbow grease, your car’s carpet and upholstery can look new again.

My Recipe for Diy Car Carpet Cleaning Spray

7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (3)

DIY Car Carpet Cleaner

Yield: 20 ounces

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Get rid of ugly, smelly car carpet stains with this easy-to-make spray.

Materials

  • 8 ounces of white vinegar
  • 4 ounces dish soap
  • 8 ounces of club soda

Tools

  • 24-ounce sprayer
  • Measuring cup
  • Cleaning brush
  • Carpet steamer or shop vac

Instructions

  1. Pour the liquids into the spray bottle.
  2. Shake to mix.
  3. Spritz carpet stains or fabric car seats.
  4. Allow the cleaner to sit for about ten minutes.
  5. Scrub the mixture with a cleaning brush to get down into the carpet fibers.
  6. Steam the material or use a shop vac to pick up residue and excess cleaning solution.
  7. Air dry by opening the windows and doors for several hours.

Notes

Substitute apple cider vinegar for white vinegar, if desired.

Ensure that the carpet or fabric is completely dry before closing the doors and windows so that mold does not develop.

7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (4)

If you found the information about car carpet cleaner recipes helpful, please feel free to share our car carpet cleaning tips with everyone you know on Pinterest and Facebook.

7 Easy-to-Make DIY Car Carpet Cleaner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best mixture to clean car carpets? ›

To do an overall carpet cleaning, use a commercial carpet cleaning powder (dry or liquid) or use the same homemade solution recommended for cleaning upholstery (½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup warm water).

What is the best homemade recipe for carpet cleaner? ›

What You Will Need
  1. 4 litre jug (like an old milk jug)
  2. 3.75 litres of Hot water (unless you're carpet cleaner heats the water, like mine does, then just use room temp. water.)
  3. 1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide, 3%
  4. 2 Tbsp White Vinegar.
  5. 1 Tbsp Dish Soap (Resist the urge to add more! This is all you need.) - I like this one.
Sep 21, 2023

What can I use as a car carpet cleaner? ›

The best car carpet cleaners of 2024 are from top brands including Chemical Guys, Turtle Wax, Adam's Polishes, and Armor All based on stain removal, odor, and our overall cleaning process.

How do you make homemade car cleaner? ›

Pour 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon Blue Dawn and 2 teaspoons baby oil (or mineral oil) into a spray bottle. Shake to combine. Use this on the dashboard, doors and tires by spraying it on a cloth and then on the surface to be cleaned and polished.

How can I make my car cleaner at home? ›

Simply combine the vinegar and oil in a spray bottle and spray your leather surfaces, then wipe the surfaces dry with a clean, dry rag or paper towel. Sprinkle some baking soda in your cup holder or ashtray to purify the air. About 2 teaspoon (9.9 mL) of baking soda can absorb the smells and odors in your car.

How to clean really dirty car carpet? ›

Buy carpet cleaner, wet vinegar, and rubber gloves. Vacuum the carpet really well to get all loose, dry dirt out. Mix the carpet cleaner with hot water. Apply the solution to the carpet.

How do you clean the nastiest car carpet? ›

Using the Right Cleaning Solution

Mix a cup of club soda, vinegar and dishwashing soap into a spray bottle and mist the carpet in your car. This mixture is perfect for removing grease, coffee and other tough stains. Let the mixture soak into the fabric for around ten minutes before you start scrubbing.

How do you clean heavily stained car carpet? ›

For protein-based stains (such as blood or vomit), mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of hot water. For tannin stains (such as coffee or tea), mix one part vinegar with two parts water. For old carpet stains that may be tougher to remove, mix equal parts vinegar, club soda, and liquid dish soap.

Can you make your own carpet cleaner solution? ›

Ingredients in DIY Carpet Cleaner Solution

In the bottom of your carpet cleaner machine, add vinegar and dish soap. Fill the container the rest of the way to the fill line with warm water and use the machine to clean up dirt, odor, and spills the same way you would use a commercial carpet shampoo.

How to shampoo car carpet without a machine? ›

Use a Brush

After spraying the cleaning solution on the car floor carpet, wait for one or two minutes, then scrub it with a hard brush. Break down all specs of dirt and take them off the carpet. If needed, make a few passes with the brush on the same area to deep clean car carpets.

Can you use Dawn dish soap on car carpet? ›

Dish soap is another common cleaner you shouldn't use on car interiors. These may seem fine at first because they're safe for food surfaces and don't pose any health risks. They're also affordable and widely available, so it can be tempting to use them to keep costs low.

Is baking soda good for car carpet? ›

Baking soda works great for general pet odor deodorizing. For example, if your car smells like your dog, sprinkle some baking soda onto the carpet and upholstery and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before vacuuming it up. This can work in the living room or on your pet's bed as well.

What is the best homemade car upholstery cleaner? ›

Try a concoction of vinegar and water with cameos from things like castile soap, mild detergents, or baking soda when required. The perfect ratio is ¾ cup of water to ¼ cup of vinegar but this can be customised to suit your needs.

Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean car carpet? ›

Dish soap is another common cleaner you shouldn't use on car interiors.

Is there a homemade carpet cleaning solution? ›

Vinegar Carpet Cleaner

For synthetic carpets: Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water. For natural fiber carpets: Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water.

Does baking soda clean car carpet? ›

Sprinkle baking soda

Speaking of baking soda, it can be a good idea towards the end of the process to sprinkle some of this on your carpet to soak up any lingering moisture. Leave it to dry for an hour, then vacuum up. This can also get rid of unwanted smells.

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