Homemade carpet cleaner solution recipe - Anyone got any suggestions?

Trazy

I second washing powder, it works fine

Anne3333

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

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.

Anne3333

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

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

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!)