Carpet Cleaning

[misol]

OK, so I have a no shoes rule and I only allow food and drinks in the kitchen. So why do my carpets look the way they do???? They are are beige so EVERYTHING shows up on them. And of course they look especially awful whenever I have a interview or whenever my mother in law comes over
I can't afford to have my carpets professionally cleaned every other month! I try to spot clean with Resolve as I notice major stains but that doesn't seem to be helping much because every day I notice a new stain that wasn't there the day before!

How often does everyone have to have their carpets cleaned? I saw a picture on here where someone (can't remember who) had vinyl flooring that looked great. Eventually I would like to pull up the carpets and do that because it would be soooo much easier for me to keep clean. Until then though, I need to keep my carpets looking halfway decent. Any suggestions for brands of carpet shampooers that work well and are easy to use? Anyone use those Bissell spot cleaners? Are they any good?

Thanks.

[Michael]

You can rent a carpet cleaner from the Home Depot:

http://www.homedepotrents.com/diyTools/carpet_cleaner.asp

Also, many grocery stores rent them like this one:
http://rugdoctor.com/

They are industrial strength and clean very well.

[QualiTcare]

after i had my own 2 kids, and before i started keeping other children - i just came to terms (kinda) with the fact that everything i own will be destroyed - .

i will have nothing nice for about 15 more years - if i'm lucky!

i have no good advice about carpets, but if anyone knows how to get a man to put clothes in a basket instead of the floor (right beside the basket) then i will pay you for your secret. also, wiping hair from the sink? is this just me, or is it typical? i'm thinking of denying all marital priveleges and starting a behavior chart for him at this point.

[mac60]

I clean my carpets about 3 to 4 times per year. I bought a carpet shampooer and do it myself. I am sure you can find one for under $150/$200, and it would be well worth it.

Since I don't know your dc setup, I would suggest some type of area rug in front of your front door if you don't have a waterproof foyer, all parents stay on mine with their shoes. If we go out the backdoor, I have a rug there too.

I don't have a problem with the kids destroying things because they pretty much sit on the dc chairs or floor, and I don't allow food or drink out of the kitchen either. I really haven't had a problem with dc kids ruining things like my furniture and carpets. I do keep a throw/sheet on the seats of my furniture, and I spread 2 king size blanks on the family room floor for the kids to sit on/play on/and their nap mats go on top of these each day.

I was just talking to one of my dc moms yesterday because she said she was getting her carpets professionally cleaned. She said the guy told her to us white vinegar and water if a stain gets on the carpet, as Resove and carpet cleaners "set" the stain.

[TGT09]

I was told that you should have your carpets cleaned with some sort of steam cleaner (professional, store borrowed or bought) every 3 months in order to remove all the germs and traffic marks. We bought a pretty nice one for under $300. I know that's not on most people's lists to buy or in the budget but it's certainly paid for itself over the past few years. However, like Michael said you can rent one from Home Depot and even some grocery stores (I think it's like $40-50 if I remember correctly).

We just cleaned ours a few weeks ago and it almost wants to make you puke after seeing what comes out of your carpets.

[MN Mom]

We are putting in Laminate Hardwood (cheater wood as I call it) in our Livingroom (just finished), Kitchen (it had carpet when we bought the place YUCK) and our Family room. I'll toss some pictures up of the livingroom later today after I get them off my camera. It looks VERY nice and will be much easier to clean than the white carpet I had in there before. Allure is the brand from Home Depot. It cost us $1,400 for enough to do the 3 rooms in our house. The livingroom and family room are large rooms, kitchen is a medium size room.

[tymaboy]

I am assuming the kids have socks on during care hours. I have a must wear socks or slipper rule (nothing that has been worn outside) When I 1st started I had a family that the kids never wore shoes or anything on their feet & they would come in with black feet. Then the dirt would rub off on my floors & furniture.

[mac60]

I have actually washed kids feet in the morning because they were so dirty. (Just think what their beds must look like) Yuck. I too have thought about wood laminate when the time comes for the living and dining rooms, not sure I want it in the family room though. While I know we can put down area rugs, just isn't the same as carpet. It is gross the dirt that comes out in my carpet cleaner too, and I vacuum daily.

[SunflowerMama]

We have the Bissel Little Green Machine for spot treatment and it works really well. We have all beige carpet as well. We have a lot of different guys/companies (Dallas metroplex area) that carpet clean in the area so prices are very reasonable. I can usually get 3-4 rooms done for right around $100 (someone is always running a special) so I just do it when the carpet starts to look a little messy....every 3 or so months.

[MN Mom]

Here's our finished livingroom. We converted it to a livingroom / diningroom so we can do the Kitchen next. I like the table in there, so I may leave it that way and add more counterspace to our Kitchen.

*Image is Moderated so you cannot view it yet...bah!!!

[MarinaVanessa]

I used to rent the shampooer (Rug Doctor) from Lowe's which is about the same price as Home Depot but after a while we just bought one ourselves. We have a Bisell that works great. I thought about how much I paid each time to rent the shampooer (about $20 for every 24 hours plus the cost of shampoo) and figured it would be a better investment to just buy one.

Until then you can try a product called Folex. I swear by this stuff. It comes in a white bottle and has purple-ish Red-ish writing. It comes in a spray bottle or in a large container. I use it on EVERYTHING! Clothes, carpet, curtains, couches etc. It cleans out blood (if you get it right away), barf, pet stains, ball-point pen, crayon (from couches) etc. I love this stuff. There are only a few products that I swear by (kirby vacuum, magic erasers, etc) and this is one of them.

[TGT09]

Magic Erasers are my best friend. :-)

[Childminder]

A carpet cleaning company once told me that shampoos especially the rinse agents are oil/wax based and they attract dirt which is great for them. He recommends rinsing with vinegar water to cut the soap. It does make a difference. It's kinda like fabric softener does the same to your clothes/washer and some shampoos/conditioners will do it to your hair.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I have midnight blue carpet in my living/play room. I wanted dark so as not to show stains. I have had many different shampoo'ers over the years. I have a bisel pro heat right now. it is nice,.. Ive had it several years. I clean carpets whenever I have a weekend we dont have plans, . I dont have a schedule. I just get to thinking,.. hey ,.. we are going camping this weekend, it takes me about an hour to clean carpets,.. so I do it right before we leave, and they dry before we are even home.

[Daycare Mommy]

I have my own carpet shampooer that I got for under $200. I can't imagine having a daycare (or even just my own 2 kids) without it. It's a lifesaver! Here's one thats reasonably priced and has good reviews.

A carpet cleaning company once told me that shampoos especially the rinse agents are oil/wax based and they attract dirt which is great for them. He recommends rinsing with vinegar water to cut the soap. It does make a difference. It's kinda like fabric softener does the same to your clothes/washer and some shampoos/conditioners will do it to your hair.

I've not had a problem before, but this last time I shampooed it got dirty again FAST. And I was really careful about no eating or drinking on it and shoes off too. I was going to do it with straight hot this weekend and no shampoo, but I'll try mixing in some vinegar as well. Thanks for the tip!