Cleaning Stain Out of Cheap Cheezy Carpet

I actually use Shout on my carpet stains. I scrub it in to the fibers, let it sit for an hour and then steam clean to pull everything up. The type of scrubber you use makes a difference as well. Use one with the rotating spin brushes like the Hoover Steam Vac and not the beater bar like is in the Bissel.

I'm not a fan of vinegar smell and the smell can make my hubby sick, so I never use it for much of anything. But on Friday, I just spot tested a clients light tan carpet with Sol-U-Mel (Melaleuca) and took out spots that she said were over 2 years old. It will not bleach the color out, but lifted the marker/paint stains out. I am impressed each time I use it- the obvious, like coffee and red wine on my rugs. But was rather impressed that it took out 'set' stains. If you know of someone who is a preferred customer, you could ask them for a bottle. Or you can order online at regular pricing.
When we rented, I always had the landlord get the carpets steam cleaned, and then used my own area rugs.
Good Luck!
;)

I had stains on my carpet that I couldn't get out even with my steam cleaner, and I picked up a can of "Bissel oxy carpet cleaner" It's in a white and blue can in the vaccum cleaner aisle. It is amazing! They have a pet version also, if you need that. It took stains out of my carpet that had been there for a year in about 10 minutes. You just spray it on, let it sit for a minute, rub it in, and then vaccum after a few minutes. And it's less than $5.00 a can. I use it faithfully now.

Perhaps getting washable throw rugs will help if the carpet is that cheap.

Sounds like you are wasting money on things trying to clean it. What if you go with the same twenty dollars and go somewhere and find a cheap new piece/remnant and throw it over that. Or tell your landlord the apartment needs an upgrade (I'd go with the remnant myself/in fact have). We rotated remnants or cute cheap carpets over the years and it covered up frustration and saved money on soaps, vinegar, air fresheners, etc.

Wandering what color the stain is? If green then may not come out. Whatever was spilt may have bleeched the carpet. Had a sick dog that turned our tan carpet green in a couple of spots. Had prof company come out to steam clean and even with heavy duty cleaner and machines he wasn't able to get out. He said that carpet is normally green before they dye it whatever color and some stains are so acidic that they take the coloring out and no matter how many times you clean it it won't come out but they have dye pens but can be difficult to match color. He also mentioned cutting that piece out and replacing with new carpet piece.

If drink stain I'm sure you've gotten a lot of good suggestions. A good way to keep from staining is when spilt immediately get a towel and push on it. DON'T SCRUB! If you lay the towel over the spill and apply lots of pressure until almost completely dry you are less likely to have a stain. I have even gotten red punch out of tan carpet without having a stain. Haven't tried on carper but if possible getting another piece of carpet same style to scrub it but just an idea. To get even juice, food or even blood out of clothes you can use any soap with warm water but scrub the fabric with itself and it comes out even if it has set.

Once carpet is steam cleaned it seems like it gets cruddy faster with each cleaning. Personally, I'd request new carpet or cover it up myself with a large area rug that you can take with you when you move.
I've heard alcohol is the best thing to use for stains on carpet, but if you're talking about general cruddyness, I don't think that will work.