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Cleaning Up:  Steam Cleaning an all-wool area rug??  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 05 2009 : 1:07:17 PM
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| I have a 5 x 8 all wool area rug, that I believe, a cat has pee'd on. It smells...rather unsavory. And, since I believe this has happened sometime ago, but can't visually locate the spot, I'm wondering if I can steam clean the rug with my personal steamer, or should I have pay a company to come in and do it...it's the only darn piece of "textile" floor covering in my house that isn't washable--we got rid of our carpets a bit ago. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2009 : 1:54:19 PM
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I would assume you could if your personal shampooer doesn't have a beater bar. If it only injects water and then extracts it you should be okay. If you do have a beater bar you probably don't want to do anything to it as you could felt it. Especially if you use hot water.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2875 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2875 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2009 : 3:59:12 PM
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| Hey Vi, I have a huge wol rug & have had it cleaned twice, both by local companies(here in Georgetown, not Cinci) & they didn't do squat. I had a similar problem with my incontinent Dane(now that's a LOT of pee). THe one company came in the summer & I had to take the rug outside to dry. I weighed a few hundred pounds, it seemed like, & even when it dried, just did not seem clean. Widmer's wanted a hefty price, but I think it may have been worth it, cause now my rug is just kind of a weird texture. I still have it, but the fibers seem kind of matted, or not like they used to be. & I still feel like the rug is kinda dirty,; it just hasn't been the same since. Good luck.. If you have a Widmer's, I would call them & ask. |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 5:53:38 PM
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I've used my home carpet cleaner on my wool area rugs all the time. Haven't had a problem. My cleaner also doesn't have a beater bar so maybe that's why it worked OK?? I too had a cat that had "problems" and I couldn't afford to take the rugs in and have them professionally done so I just did them myself. Now mind you, these are not top of the line wool rugs, just nice inexpensive ones. They might be a wool blend?? I'd try an enzyme cleaner on the spots first. They make them specially for pet soils. And to locate the area, your nose works wonderfully well (don't ask how I know!)but if you'd prefer not to get that close get a black light at Home Depot. It will show the stain.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 11:40:38 AM
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Good ideas...Since I'm pregnant, I've fought the urge to get down on my hands and knees (and well, it's not that easy right now--I might not get back up!!!) and smell, but a black light sure would help.
A beater bar...I don't believe mine has one. It's just one of those Hoover steamers from Kohls. It's a nice one, but not like an industrial grade. I might just give it a shot--the wool is so tight on this rug, that it almost seems felted anyway. The drying part is of concern, though. I guess I need to hang it outside or something?
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2009 : 4:06:21 PM
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If you have a good snowbank around I've heard a good way to dry-clean a rug is to thow it face down in dry snow (must be really cold and clean snow) and walk all over it. The icky bits freeze dry out. Might be worth a try. I did it to several rugs before we thawed out this week and they are so much cleaner.
We make a difference. http://huckleberrywine.blogspot.com |
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Cleaning Up: Steam Cleaning an all-wool area rug?? |
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Steam Cleaning an all-wool area rug??
