The CHOICE recommended DIY carpet stain remover that rates better than store bought options

Carpet stains are notoriously hard to clean, especially if it's something as stubborn as red wine or sauce.

If you've been trying different store bought options and nothing is working, a DIY cleaner might be the answer.

According to consumer advocate CHOICE, a homemade carpet stain removal recipe they tried works far better than any of the store bought options they've tested.

READ MORE: How to deal with stains of every type: Simple tips and tricks to remove odours, oil and more

The best part is, you probably already have these ingredients at home so you can just whip this up as soon as you notice a stain.

This DIY recipe scored a rating of 80 per cent in CHOICE's review and costs $0.69, which is an absolute bargain.

To make the stain remover combine two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, three tablespoons of white vinegar and a quarter cup of water.

"Work the mixture into the stain, being careful not to over-wet the carpet. Blot the area clean with a towel," CHOICE said.

This stain remover has been tested on red wine, sauce, oil, dirt and coffee.

READ MORE: The not-so-secret coupons that will save you thousands on Amazon

The second-highest performing stain remover was the Bissell Spot and Stain Oxy Pro, which isn't far behind the DIY option with a rating of 75 per cent.

While the Bissell Spot and Stain Oxy Pro works better on red wine and sauce than the homemade stain remover, it costs more at $17.95 a bottle.

There are plenty of other carpet cleaners out there on the market to choose from, but there's only one CHOICE said performs worse than plain water.

The Vanish Preen Powerpowder Clean And Fresh Large Area Carpet Cleaner costs $14.70 and scored a rating of 25 per cent.

"Instead of hitting the shops, you're much better off keeping your money in your pocket and using our DIY recipe," CHOICE said.