Comments on: How to Clean Carpets with Household Products

on 3/10/2008 most carpet spots are just sticky residue or sweet spills and don't need soap just water rinseing and blotting to get all the residue out so they don't darken from trafic. Soaps that won't rinse out are sometimes neutralized with slightly acidic spotters. Harder spots depend on source, most human spots (protein) require alkaline spotters and this method will work although I find people using weak solutions agressively cause undue wear. Most vegetable and urine need acidic spotters, vinegar has a 2.6 ph and might be to low a ph for some carpets. because either too high a ph or low can brown out a carpet. so use chemicals designed for the purpose follow directions, and regardless of proceedure pretest first. for more information see my web http://www.hilbrandscarpetcare.com

on 10/29/2007 Simple Green took wet nail polish out of my carpet like magic.

on 9/14/2007 I have a dog and need to spot clean an area rug (she eats her dog biscuits on this rug). What is pet safe for cleaning?

on 9/10/2007 does aminoa really work, or will it not get my hard spot out?? please help!!!

on 4/16/2007 To the "Clean hard to beat spots with white vinegar " poster...THANKS! Worked like a charm, but is stinky as you said.

on 9/4/2006 I use plain old white vinegar, not diluted, straight from the bottle with an old white rag in the house. Pour the white vinegar directly on the stain and scrub out. I have only had small stains (about the size of a dollar bill) in numerous, numerous places and it works like a charm. I do vacuum after and the smell lasts for about a day. Trust me, it removed a battery acid stain on ivory carpet with no rug discoloration or fiber removal!

on 11/22/2005 First, pull out your fans and open the windows. Vacuum your carpet, then vacuum it again. If you're renting a machine, don't buy the detergents and all the junk they try to sell you. Mix 2 parts Simple Green with 1 part water and 1 part ammonia in a spray bottle or garden sprayer. If ammonia gives you a problem, leave it out. And I must confess that I do like some of those new oxygenated products available these days. Spray the traffic areas. If there is a stain that you know is grease, wax or gum, take the appropriate steps to remove it first with De-Solv-it. In the past I would scrub the traffic areas on my hands and knees with a scrub brush after spraying, but I am getting smarter. Now, disconnect the suction hose on the upright vacuum cleaner and run it over the sprayed traffic areas letting the beater brush do the job. After that it's simply a matter of adding a pint of white vinegar to the hot water reservoir and spraying it down and sucking it up with the rented steamer. Then throw down some of your oldest bed sheets to protect the clean, wet carpets until they are dry, with the help of the fans.

on 11/22/2005 Either use a lint roller brush or clear packing tape to roll away unwanted hair! I used them and my area rug looks brand new! Good luck, and I hope it works for you!

on 11/22/2005 When spots return to the carpet, it's because of wicking. Wicking occurs in cases of extreme spillage and the liquid pools down at the very bottom fibers of the carpet. When the carpet is cleaned, only the top of the carpet is actually affected. A few days later, the liquid that was pooling on the bottom has made it to the top, recreating the stain.

To avoid this, cover the stain with a thick towel (after cleaning) and weigh the towel down with a brick, book, or other heavy object. Leave the towel on the spot overnight, to absorb the liquid and clean any remaining stain.

on 11/22/2005 Returning spots are most commonly caused by deep down dirt. It's usually dirt or a spill found at the carpet backing (the tarp-like material behind the fiber) or in the cushion padding below the carpet. Once these spots have been re-wet by cleaning, they tend not to show up right away but do once the drying process begins. This is what we professional carpet cleaners call "wick-back". Imagine submersing a dry paper towel half way into a cup of water...the water is drawn up the paper towel, much like the stain/spot/spill is drawn to the surface as it drys. If you can't get a professional to do it for you, then the best way is to not over wet the carpet and re-activate the deep stain/spot/spill. Or, you can clean it using your method and once it dries and the spot re-appears, use a slightly damp towel and only work the stain/spot/spill out of the top fiber only. Do not over wet. Use a slightly damp towel only. Wipe gently as not to distort the fiber. The stain/spot/spill will still be there, yet it will be below the surface and will not be noticeable. A good professional cleaner should be able to properly remove it.

Hugh
IICRC Certified Carpet Cleaner

on 11/22/2005 Try diluted Simple Green on spot removals. It also works great on fabric coverings.

on 11/22/2005 I have found that Dow Scrubbing Bubbles or any generic brand of this type of cleaner cleans with ease! It foams and isn't soapy. I spray it down and then gently scrub the area and blot dry. Hasn't discolored any of my carpets.

on 2/12/2007 Indentations on carpets left by furniture can be removed by putting ice cubes on the indents. Let ice melt, dry, then vacuum.

on 11/22/2005 Almost as good as a carpet sweeper: Insert two Helmac Lint Pic-Up refills (two Extra Large Adhesive Rollers) on a paint roller with a long handle. They will fit perfectly. This improvised gadget will pick up crumbs, hair, etc. from carpet, tile, hardwood.

on 11/22/2005 Detergent residue attracts NEW soil! Spots that "return" in carpet are actually caused by detergent residue. Detergent residue attracts new soil by cleaning the bottom of shoes. The secret is not to leave soap and water to dry in the carpet.