How can I clean really soiled carpet?
Question:We have a light beige carpet in our apartment.
(Including the dining area)
We have two young boys (Enough said?)
who spill EVERYTHING.
I've tried using a carpet shampooer / steam cleaner... I've tried bleach & carpet cleaning liquid that I bought.. but nothing gets rid of the soils. (pinkish juice, dirt, etc)
Bleach lightened it slightly, but didn't get rid of it completely.
Any ideas of how I can get these carpets clean?
Answers:
Costco carries a degreaser in a red and white bottle. Can't remember exactly the name. Dilute it according to the directions and put in a spray bottle. Works wonders on everyhthing! I love it. I have two boys too, so I know what ya mean. Check carpet for color fastness first. Also, Walmart carries a product called totally todler (pink and white bottle) in the infant section. I used this on my car seats and carpet and also works wonders! Good luck :-)
Rent a steam carpet cleaner. ~
If that doesn't do it, replace the carpet or use throw rugs.
My carpet is the same. I do use a steam cleaner but I use a cleanser with an oxidizer in it. Woolite Oxyclean is great for mine. It is the stain oxidizer that does it though.
For heavily soiled carpets, shampooing is recommended, rather than spot-cleaning. Wet-cleaner machines spray and remove hot detergent solution while cleaning the carpet.
Instructions
Step One
Purchase or rent a wet-cleaner machine also known as a steamer, at a hardware or grocery store. When you rent a machine, the necessary cleaning products are usually included or can be purchased at the rental store.
Step Two
Vacuum the floor thoroughly.
Step Three
Spray heavily soiled areas with prespray or traffic-lane cleaner. For really dirty areas, increase the amount of prespray used instead of increasing the amount of carpet shampoo.
Step Four
Fill the machine's hose or reservoir with hot tap water.
Step Five
Use the machine and carpet shampoo according to the steamer manufacturer's instructions.
Step Six
Maximize the amount of water removed from the carpet by making a water-extraction pass with the water spray on, and then again with the spray off. Test the carpet with your hand. If your hand comes away with water droplets, extract again with the spray off; if your hand comes away damp and the carpet feels wrung out, you have extracted correctly.
Step Seven
Wait overnight for the carpet to dry before walking on it. To dry thoroughly, open windows and use fans.
Tips & Warnings
* To help your cleaning last longer, neutralize detergent residue left on the carpet by steaming with a vinegar-water rinse made up of 1 c. vinegar and 1 gallon water.
* Oversaturating the carpet can cause water to soak through and damage the floor underneath.
Overall Things You'll Need
* Rubber Gloves
* Vinegar
* Prespray Carpet Cleaner
* Vacuum Cleaners & Accessories
* Wet Cleaner Vacuums
* Carpet Shampoos
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