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Cleaning Up:  Shampooing Carpets  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 12 2009 : 1:33:09 PM
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Hi Ladies!
I am sure some of you have carpet shampooers like I do.
How often do you shampoo your carpets? Lately I have been shampooing mine weekly between messes that Nora makes, normal traffic and the dog shedding so much.
I get an intense feeling of satisfaction when I dump out the dirty water from my shampooer- and a bit of a shudder of revulsion when I realize what was IN my carpets to begin with! I think I am becoming obsessed with Carpet Shampooing!
Also we live in a rental with super light beige carpet. Solid tone. No flecks, no shadings- just solid pale beige. The worst color for a busy child-and-pet household EVER. Okay Snow White might be worse, but you get the idea! LOL
So I have been using store bought carpet cleaner which leaves a great deal to be desired. I also have been using some commercial laundry detergent diluted down which was a whole lot better but still not good enough. I keep forgetting to buy vinegar which is a Stellar carpet cleaner so I used my ammonia that I had in the house. Two cups to every gallon of water. I know- really strong but I needed to get these carpets clean!
And they look SO much better. The house smells like ammonia but that will fade as the carpet dries. Now the carpet is all the same color instead of visible traffic patterns and stains from where Nora spilled things. It's amazing.
Anyone else have a carpet shampooing obsession?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2009 : 2:29:50 PM
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Alee, When I lived in a rental house with the same carpeting you are describing, I had a carpet shampooing obsession as well. I didn't shampoo quite as often as you, but I did do it every month. It was wonderful to have the clean carpets. And I too derived a tremendous satisfaction from emptying the yucky water and knowing it wasn't in my carpet anymore.
I used the Rug Doctor shampoos which seemed to work great. I wonder now, though if it would be possible to use liquid castille and tea tree oil instead? I just don't know how disinfectant it would be. It certainly would smell nice though. I've been using a wonderful liquid castille that has peppermint oil and it makes my whole house smell like peppermint! I LOVE it!
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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MommaJ9
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Kimberly
Longview
Washington
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2009 : 4:41:29 PM
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I was shampooing our carpets weekly too. I don't know if it was for the dirt or just to try and cut down some of the ugliness! Our home used to be a girls group home, so ALL of the carpets (in a 5600 square foot house) were PINK!!! Not all the same pink though...some were raspberry, others were more huckleberry, but all was UGLY! We finally ripped it out (except for some of the bedrooms) and replaced it with wood floors. Much better. Now I use my carpet shampooer for hanging the vacuum attachments from!
Farmgirl #783
http://jabezfarm.blogspot.com |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2009 : 7:07:48 PM
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Yes, Alee, I did!!! : ) I just used Dr. Bronners...like a little to a lot of water...and I rinsed really well. I used the Lavender and it worked great and made the whole house smell fantastic. I have the steam cleaner that heats up the water really hot.I do spot cleaning and then deep washing every 3 months. I don't like the store made cleaners---I think they don't work well and you have to use alot.
Heather
"Hitch your wagon to a star"
http://somewheredownintexas-heather.blogspot.com |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2009 : 7:03:56 PM
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Alee:
Once a week shampooing carpets!!!!!!!! Never. Never.
After the last flood, all carpets were taken out, and tile and wood floors put in. No more carpet for me.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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lilwing
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Brooke
Fulshear
Texas
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2009 : 8:45:39 PM
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Our condo has WHITE carpet in our bedroom - luckily tile everywhere else - let me tell you, it's horrid! NEXT house, all wood floors or tile.... it's better for my allergies too. Bah!
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Proud Farmgirl #775
Hencho of Gulf Coast Farmgirls - Sub-group of Heart of Texas Farmgirls
http://maggielousdaughter.blogspot.com
(in construction!)
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 07:24:09 AM
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Wow! that is a lot of carpet cleaning. If it was good carpeting and in your home you owned, I would strongly discouage that. It really ruins a carpet and the underpadding. I can understand you wanting to clean it so much though. I love the feel of good carpet under my feet but it does get dirty and can smell pretty quickly. We have pergo in the kitchen, long hallways and the laundry room and tile in the bathroom, I really love it. We have two dogs and it seems I can always smell the doggy odor, no matter how much I vacuum or clean. What do you girls use for doggie odor? Any suggestions?
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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herblady55
True Blue Farmgirl
3470 Posts
Judy
Louisville
Ohio(Stark Co)
USA
3470 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2009 : 8:15:52 PM
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Not to sound stupid, but what's pergo?
Judy
Hugs&Squeezles!
I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman- |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2009 : 10:54:31 AM
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Thanks Alee, I will try that. Is it diluted in water or just straight? Judy, pergo is a name brand of laminated flooring it looks like wood but really isn't. It cleans so easily, All it takes is a very light damp mopping and it looks like brand new. Actually I use the vinegar cleaning pads on mine. I wish I had it in the whole house.
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2009 : 10:59:22 AM
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FYI- I was in Target and they had tiny bottles of Dr. Bronner's...over in the travel section thingy...if you want to give it a try without spending a lot of money. I think they had all the scents and they were just 99 cents. : )
Heather
"Hitch your wagon to a star"
http://somewheredownintexas-heather.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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stefffic
True Blue Farmgirl
151 Posts
Stephanie
Cherryville
NC
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2009 : 2:23:32 PM
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Thanks for the ideas!
I live in a 660sqft apartment over a barn - at one point I had 15 animals in the house... I'm down to my normal 3, but I have white carpet in the bedroom that I have to steam clean weekly.
Why do people put white/beige carpet in barn apartments and other rentals? That's just Stupid!
"A quotation is a handy thing to have about, saving one the trouble of thinking for oneself."
"One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries." A A Milne |
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Dawniamw
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Dawnia
Mapleton Depot
PA
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2010 : 7:42:01 PM
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HI Alee,
Regarding the website for the article from Mary Jane, when I tried to open the link, it went to the site, but did not show the article, nor would it come up under Mary Jane Butters or carpet cleaning. Any thoughts?
Thanks and Peace,
Dawnia |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2010 : 06:42:37 AM
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Dang, yup. I tried the link again. I know papers will move articles sometimes. And I too needed those numbers. I am in the process of tearing up my burnt orange carpet, though I will be replacing it in the bedrooms with some recycled carpet and bamboo flooring in the living room. I like carpet in the bedrooms for winter.
Best Growing |
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phonelady
True Blue Farmgirl
323 Posts
Carla
Loveland
Colorado
323 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 08:34:56 AM
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My new house in Loveland is supposed to have Pergo floors everywhere except the bedrooms.
I like the warm feeling of carpet in the winter but in rental houses they can get so nasty [you never know about the lifestyle of those who where there before you...].
Hey Alee,
That article won't come up.
Do you remember what day it was?
An archives search didn't work either.
Thanks!
Carla
It's not just life-
It's an adventure!
http://familyhistoryfindings.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Peg Graham
True Blue Farmgirl
281 Posts
Peg
Chesapeake
Virginia
USA
281 Posts |
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Cleaning Up: Shampooing Carpets |
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Shampooing Carpets
