Homemade carpet cleaner solution recipe - Anyone got any suggestions?

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Comments

  • Trazy
    Trazy Posts: 2,863 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I second washing powder, it works fine
    If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. - Mark Twain
    Nappies and government ministers need to be changed frequently and for the same reason
  • Anne3333
    Anne3333 Posts: 254 Forumite
    I think that if it were your own machine, you could try what you want. Given that it belongs to someone else and cost £179.99, it would be pretty selfish to invalidate their warranty by using products not recommended.
    The user guide clearly states
    "NOTE: Use only Vax carpet cleaning solution, as other
    cleaning solutions may cause excessive foaming. This may
    cause the float to shut off the cleaner prematurely. Using
    other cleaning solutions will invalidate your guarantee."
    It is not moneysaving to take risks with other people's equipment. If you are not prepared to use it correctly then perhaps you should consider a bucket and a stiff brush?
    P.S. Remind me not to lend you anything! ;)
  • david39
    david39 Posts: 1,968 Forumite
    I don't know what people think is in such products as Stardrops that is going to harm any part of a carpet shampooer - you can use Stardrops on almost anything - look at the instructions on the label - also, washing liquids - what material is in a carpet shampooer that isn't in a washing machine?

    Of course the machine manufacturer says that if you don't use their own shampoo then it "might" invalidate the guarantee - they make big profits out of their own shampoo - just look at how much they charge you for it.

    Having said that, though, you do need to be careful in how much washing liquid you put in as it does foam up and that will stop most shampooers working - and its a devil of a job getting it all out to start again. You need much less than you would normally use for, say, washing up or to clean a work surface.

    The main quality of a carpet shampoo is the chemical in it called a surfactant. This separates the particles of dirt from the fibre and envelopes them so that the suction of the shampooer will lift them from the carpet. Most household cleansers contain surfactants.
  • david39 wrote: »
    Of course the machine manufacturer says that if you don't use their own shampoo then it "might" invalidate the guarantee - they make big profits out of their own shampoo - just look at how much they charge you for it.

    I agree with you that it is likely that other products could be used, and be far cheaper, however this £179.99 machine does not belong to the OP. The warranty states that using other products 'will' invalidate the guarantee, not 'might'. Is that not the decision of the machine owner?
  • david39
    david39 Posts: 1,968 Forumite
    I was not specifically referring to the OP's post. Of course the OP should clear it with the machine's owner.

    I was speaking generally, and not specifically about Vax machines. I have a Vax machine myself, three years old and I've been using Stardrops and 1001 in it since I ran out of the original Vax shampoo that came with it.
  • loracan1
    loracan1 Posts: 2,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thing is, stardrops is no cheaper than 1001 is it? I found a receipt for the last bottle of carpet shampoo I bought, 99p.

    The other thing about using non-specific products is that they foam - if you've ever used one of these vaxes (I've got the same model*) the minute it starts foaming, it stops the suction.


    (*and I have used allsorts in it...but it does belong to me!)
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