
Do-It-Yourself Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaning Solutions for Chicago Homeowners

Nasutsa Mabwa
February 13, 2015
Heavy duty commercial carpet cleaning solvents may get the job done, but most of them leave sickening air pollutants. Some of these solvents are so powerful that they even burn your carpet and break down the fibers, decreasing your carpet’s longevity. At ServiceMaster Cleaning by Simons, we do our best to provide
green cleaning options in Chicago, IL
to keep your carpets and the environment safe.
We choose carpet cleaning products that are as green as possible, but you can also try these DIY home substitutions for the often-expensive natural cleaning detergents. Here’s what each ingredient can be used for:
Baking soda
is a magical powder that can be used for much more than baking. As far as cleaning possibilities go, baking soda can be used to deodorize, scrub and scour, soften water solutions, and absorb stains out of fabrics.
Lemon
is a natural deodorizer that smells great. That’s why so many commercial cleaning solvents try to mimic that lemony fresh scent, but nothing can beat real lemons. Even better, lemons are one of the strongest food-acids, and they work great as a sanitizer effective against most household bacteria.
Borax
works just as well as baking soda to clean, deodorize, and soften water. It’s also a disinfectant because of its high-alkaline pH. As a disinfectant, it’s much gentler on your carpets than other disinfectant cleaning solutions.
White vinegar
is one of the most effective deodorizers. It may smell pretty strong when you apply it, but white vinegar will dry completely scentless. It also cuts through grease, stains, and wax-buildups.
Isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alcohol) is an extremely effective disinfectant that kills all bacteria it comes into contact with. It’s toxic for humans to consume, though, and breathing in alcohol fumes for an extended period of time isn’t a great idea, so use sparingly.
Cornstarch
often gets overlooked in the cleaning spectrum, but it’s actually quite effective in removing grease and stains, polishing furniture, and can be used to shampoo your carpets.
When faced with a carpet cleaning task that goes far and beyond a simple DIY chore, or it's just time to thoroughly clean and sanitize your carpeting,
give ServiceMaster Cleaning by Simons a call
! We can help with any of your carpet cleaning needs with green cleaning solutions in Chicago, IL.
[Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net]
Nasutsa Mabwa is the CEO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a nationally recognized, award-winning disaster restoration firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties. Under her leadership, the company has become one of Chicagoland’s most trusted providers of water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke damage cleanup, mold remediation, and specialty cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients.
A respected business and civic leader, Nasutsa has received numerous honors for her contributions to the industry and her community. Her accolades include:
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies - 2025 recipient
- Top 100 Women to KNOW in America (2024) by KNOW Women & JPMorgan Chase
- Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40
- SB100 Best of Small Business Award
- 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Stevie® Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2020 Daily Herald Business Ledger C-Suite Award
- 2018 ServiceMaster® Achiever Award
She is IICRC-certified in both Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), combining technical expertise with visionary leadership. Nasutsa holds a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA in Real Estate Development from Roosevelt University.
Beyond her business achievements, Nasutsa is an active community advocate. She is a Board Member of the Civic Federation, an Advisory Board Member, and Past President of the Executive Committee for the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She is also a long-standing member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO).
She is the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset, an essential guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water and fire disasters.
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