Homemade cleaner for dark stains in beige carpet...

[purple monkey]

Any brilliant person here that can direct me to a recipe that actually worked for them.

I really need one that has been tried and true.

Step by step instructions please.

[Dicey]

1. Mix plain, unscented ammonia 50/50 with water and fill a clean* spray bottle. (*This is crucial. Never mix ammonia with bleach, so make sure container has no residue of a cleaner with bleach.)

2. Get a big pile of white towels. If you don't have white, you may use light colors, but only if they've been washed hundreds of times. No paper towels, no dark colored towels, nothing that's stained.

3. Spray with ammonia/water mixture and blot with white towel.

4. Repeat step three until stain is gone.

5. When stain is gone, repeat step three some more, then

6. Blot with clean, damp (water only) towel

6. Do not rub or scrub carpet.

7. Do not walk on wet carpet.

You're welcome. (I'm FIRE from the carpet biz.)

[Student loan stomper]

I have used rubbing alcohol to get duct tape off carpet, you can give that a try.  Also, if you google WD40 as a stain remover, depending on what caused the stain you may have some luck with that.  a lot depends on what kind of carpet and what kind of stain.  Good luck!

[worms]

I have used rubbing alcohol to get duct tape off carpet, you can give that a try.  Also, if you google WD40 as a stain remover, depending on what caused the stain you may have some luck with that.  a lot depends on what kind of carpet and what kind of stain.  Good luck!

I swear by WD40 as a miracle cure for many things, but spraying it on the carpet sounds like a recipe for the stain to be replaced by an oily mark!   Not sure I would be brave enough to try that, so I am now rooting for the OP to give it a go an report back! :)

[BMEPhDinCO]

Do not use white vinegar and water - or if you do, make sure the concentration is correct... it made my carpet lighter then the surrounding area! Test anything in an area that is slightly less conspicuous (keeping in mind that if you move, all furniture is gone...).

[FLA]

1. Mix plain, unscented ammonia 50/50 with water and fill a clean* spray bottle. (*This is crucial. Never mix ammonia with bleach, so make sure container has no residue of a cleaner with bleach.)

2. Get a big pile of white towels. If you don't have white, you may use light colors, but only if they've been washed hundreds of times. No paper towels, no dark colored towels, nothing that's stained.

3. Spray with ammonia/water mixture and blot with white towel.

4. Repeat step three until stain is gone.

5. When stain is gone, repeat step three some more, then

6. Blot with clean, damp (water only) towel

6. Do not rub or scrub carpet.

7. Do not walk on wet carpet.

You're welcome. (I'm FIRE from the carpet biz.)

I do these steps only with straight hydrogen peroxide. It should easily take the color out of a carpet but the carpets seem coated or something, I've been doing this for years and no carpets changed color.  But try in a small spot first