A badly stained room size rug we have needs to be cleaned regularly. For years I have been cleaning the rug with a Bissell Quicksteamer machine which I love. It's the cost of cleaning solution that is creating a problem.
To the best of my knowledge the machine doesn't actually create steam as it uses very warm water instead. Has anyone ever used vinegar, baking soda, and hot water in a Quicksteamer like mine? The room size rug with fringe is old, but still in fairly good shape. The basic color of the rug is navy blue with a wide white border that has flowers with leaves as well.
We have an older dog who has stomach problems. She eats grass, then on occasion will throw up on the carpet. It would be nice to have the rug look as good as possible, but my main objective is to keep it more sanitary. There are wood floors under the large rug. I clean the wood floors with vinegar and water. Any suggestions? Do you have a favorite homemade"magic potion" you would like to share with me? Thanks.
By Susan Wolfe from Clinton, TN
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
We use a mixture of vinegar and water in our steam cleaner and it does a better job than commercial cleaners do. We spray straight vinegar with a spray bottle onto the carpet first, kind of pre-treating it,and use the vinegar in the machine with water, we just mix it however you would when you use the regular cleaner and have had no problems. I would test a little area on the rug just to see first tho and make sure. Vinegar really does have a million uses, and we use it for just about everything in and out of our home.
We use white vinegar in our steam cleaner too and it works great on pet stains. If your dog is eating grass outdoors, you might try growing a little patch of wheat grass for him, it's easy on the stomach and lots of times animals are just telling you they want some vegies in thier diet (my dogs love raw green beans).
Thank you so much Thenicholas! A big round of applause to you. I can't wait to try Wheat Grass! Our little Jack Russell is like a little cow that is grazing. She is crazy about eating grass. I am very excited about trying your suggestion. I'm tempted to plant her whole fenced in play area in wheat grass. Do you happen to know if you can mow it like regular grass? Will she be attracted to the wheat grass area if we don't plant all her play area? Hopefully wheat grass will help her stomach problems, as I feel sorry for her becoming sick all the time. Again, thanks.
My dog had stomach problems for a while; I went though so much carpet shampoo with my hoover Steam Cleaner, that it was starting to get expensive. So, I looked up this recipe online and I think it works better than the Hoover stuff you purchase in the store. I used the empty hoover carpet cleaner bottle to mix it up in.
Homemade Carpet Shampoo
Half a cup of cleaner liquid (Clorox 2, Tide, Wisk, no bleach by the way)
Half a cup of Downy
One full cup of ammonia
Approximately one gallon of water
I used this with the same measurements as the store-purchased cleaner in my steam cleaner and I believe it did a better job.
For periodic spotting, I pick up most of the debris, then sprinkle the stain with baking soda and lightly tap it into the carpet, Using a spray bottle filled with White Vinegar, I spray the baking soda until it is dissolved. As it dries, it pulls the stain out of the carpet. Vacuum well afterwards to remove all the baking soda and stain. If the stain is deep set, you may need to repeat the procedure.
This idea really cleaned my area rug: I have a 2500 psi power washer. I power washed my driveway first, then I took my area rug and layed it down on the concrete so the back side was facing up. I power washed from the back of the carpet, careful not to slice the carpet with the force of the water. It got all the stains out and really cleaned it up good. I left it outside until it was dry. This is a semi powerful pressure washer, you could probably use an electric 1800 psi and it would work just as well. Also, before you do this, check for colorfast issues and I do have a large area rug that needs to be dry cleaned and I cannot use the power washing method on it.
Good Luck with your carpet.
Editor's Note: Never mix ammonia and chlorine bleach together. This recipe calls for non chlorine bleach but care should be taken when mixing any cleaners or chemicals together.
I take ALL my area rugs to the car was and sudsy wash at an angle...I figure if that soap can take tar off a car, it should work, right? BEAUTIFULLY. Then I tried my husband's greasy jeans, because he was a mechanic...BEAUTIFUL!
Avoid adding the artificial scents/softeners. Those products can marry into other artificials; eg carpet fibers, fabrics, and are respiratory irritants to some people. Environmental asthma is soaring: protect yourself and your loved ones. I went to respiratory issues through continuous exposure over time-in ignorance.
Same with ammonia. Go to natural formulas for your Bissell, or use a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda + 1/4 borax + 1/4 white vinegar and apply gently with a soft brush as I have; vacuum out when dried. Always test in a corner/closet part of rug first.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
