I have had the same carpet in my house for at least 20 years which now needs a fresh cleaning. I recently saw some 25 year old carpet just like mine that I had been told by my friend he was replacing. I thought he had. All he had done was to rent the equipment and do his own cleaning. I was amazed. He told me I should rent a good steam cleaner
From Home Depot and do my own carpet cleaning. The cost of twentry four hours use of the equipment and the detergent comes to $40.00.

Please tell me what the very best of all solutions there is for me to use on the carpet after it has been cleaned. I certainly want it to continue to extend the wear of the carpet without poisoning anyone etc.
Thanks!

For one thing, carpets in your home should be cleaned a minimum of once per year and the traffic lanes about every six months depending on the traffic levels. Commercial carpets are recommended for cleaning every six months; once wall to wall, second traffic lanes, third time w to w and then traffic again.

To do it yourself would normally work in my opinion, however since you have not said when the last cleaning was I have to assume that it was some time ago.

Hot water extraction or steam cleaning by a professional is best as some restoration may be required. Especially if this carpet is older, what fabric it is, and how dirty it is.

As dirt and grim sink into your carpet/s it acts somewhat like sandpaper and will wear at the fibers and cause damage. These two methods, in my opinion will perform the job best.

You will only get about 80% of what you put into your carpets (even cleaning solutions) back out. The surface will be or at least appear cleaner however just like the trap below your clean sink, there will still be dirt and more below at the base level. Also be aware that using too much water can damage your sub floor as most carpet bases are fiber or burlap based and too much will penetrate the carpet base.

Since your carpet is old and your like it, I would check what it is made of prior to any cleaning. Shrinkage at this point or discoloration may not be a problem but you want to make sure.

Stringer

Since the carpet hasn't been cleaned I would shop around for a whole house special from someone like Stanley Steamer. They have a big truck and long hoses and the work will go so much faster. They move the furniture and it only takes a few hours. After having it professionally cleaned you can keep it up yearly by renting a steam cleaner. To save some money you could purchase Rug Dr pre-stain treatment and treat any stains before they arrive.
Carpet Cleaning

Ok, I got two replies on my question about
After cleaning carpet protection solutions. Unfortunately neither came close to addressing
My question. Anyone else that knows anything
About after cleaning solutions?

You should keep it vacumed regularly and clean any spills or stains immediately. Use 91% isopropyl alcohol and microfiber cloth to clean. The alcohol will evaporate. There is a scotch guard protectant for carpets:
3M Scotchguard Scotchgard Carpet Protector

OK, thank you. Did you mean to use the
Alcohol to clean spills or to use in cleaning
During the cleaning of the entire carpet?
On the scotchguard, I am looking for a
Home remedy. I hear that most preservatives
Etc are carcenagentic. Although they will go
To the wall telling you otherwise.

Thanks again,
Bob

Commercial carpet cleaners as well as places like Stanley Steamer use protein based solutions which leave a reside that attracts stains more easily.
I forget the names of the products that are best. I will look them up and get back

I think one is something like Amos

The Amos is the only one I could find
Home shopping Network use to sell it
I don't know if they still do

As Seen On Tv Network - Shock It Clean - Professor Amos

Thank you so much for your time and effort. If I locate it, I will let you know.
Regards,
Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bobblive

ok, thank you. Did you mean to use the
alcohol to clean spills or to use in cleaning
during the cleaning of the entire carpet?
On the scotchguard, I am looking for a
home remedy. I hear that most preservatives
etc are carcenagentic. Although they will go
to the wall telling you otherwise.

Thanks again,
Bob

---

You can use the alcohol prior to cleaning your carpet and on any spills afterwards. You can use extra-strength vinegar and hot water to clean your carpet since you don't want to use any chemicals. I would use 1 gallon of vinegar($3) to 3 gallons of hot water. Go over it a second time with 1 cup of vinegar in a full tank of hot water. Vinegar removes any cleaner from before and is a mold killer.
I had a toilet overflow and I rented a rug dr and used bleach and hot water. Did not bleach out the carpet. I let it dry and went over it again with the vinegar solution. No signs of mold and the carpet smells good.
I use to work for a carpet cleaning company and theymake their money off selling you all the chemicals they tell you they need to use. When I have my carpets professionally cleaned I tell them no and just to steam clean them with water since I have already cleaned and pre-treated the stains with vinegar and alcohol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pattyg2

you can use the alcohol prior to cleaning your carpet and on any spills afterwards. You can use extra-strength vinegar and hot water to clean your carpet since you don't want to use any chemicals. I would use 1 gallon of vinegar($3) to 3 gallons of hot water. Go over it a second time with 1 cup of vinegar in a full tank of hot water. Vinegar removes any cleaner from before and is a mold killer.
I had a toilet overflow and i rented a rug dr and used bleach and hot water. Did not bleach out the carpet. I let it dry and went over it again with the vinegar solution. No signs of mold and the carpet smells good.
I use to work for a carpet cleaning company and theymake their money off selling you all the chemicals they tell you they need to use. When i have my carpets professionally cleaned i tell them no and just to steam clean them with water since i have already cleaned and pre-treated the stains with vinegar and alcohol.

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Just cleaned my carpet using vinegar and hot water. I will never
Do it again using anything. Bobbmiller

I should have said "i will never do it again using anything else". Bobbmiller

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bobblive

just cleaned my carpet using vinegar and hot water. I will never
do it again using anything. Bobbmiller

---

Are you saying that you are happy using the vinegar and hot water?

1. I am sorry I did not make that clear. Yes, I am pleased with my
Use of vinegar. My results are better than I have ever gotten from
Any commercial cleaner.

2 The following is a list of the processes I would use the next time
I clean my carpet. Your results may vary and I take no responsibility
For any variation. Please read this top to bottom before buying products or
Renting machinery. I have built in many steps to help keep you from
Damaging your carpet.


I pray that your results will be a blessing to you and your carpet.


I am using a carpet cleaning machine that I rented from Home Depot.
While I am cleaning I always have pots of water on the stove heating up for my next refill.
I extract water & vinegar only from this machine. Other agents are applied separately and picked up by this machine.



3. Since your carpet is likely to be different than mine, you very much
Need to test all the ingredienst you are to use on your carpet.

4. I recommend that you test the hot water and vinegar combination
(50%water/50%vinegar) in a small closet which has the same carpet
As the rest of the house which will not create a problem for you if
The process leaves unexpected staining. Allow the test area to dry
For at least 24 hours before you assume that you know the what the
Results are going to
Be.

5 . If this carpet passes this first test, then perform the same test in the
Least conspicious part of your main living area under a piece of furniture
Or throw rug that is liklely never to be moved.

6. Then allow a day for this area to dry before you assume that your know
What the results are going to be.

7. You now start the job of cleaning the entire carpeted area of your home
Using vinegar and hot water in your cleaning machine. While doing so,
You must give extra attention to any stains that do not respond to cleaning
And all of those that respond in any undesirable way.

8. For those that do not respond immediately, but do not spread,
Be sure to go back over them several times extra. This includes
Infusion AND extraction. When you have finished addressing
This area, it should be dry to the touch whether the stain remains
Not.

9. If this stain is still not removed, place on it a marker that will make
The area more easily located later on. Make certain that this marker
Is unique to the type of location it represents.

10. If the stain starts to spread, move away immediately and place
An easily loctable marker at the location of the stain and move on.
Make certain that the marker is a unique color. Make sure that this
Marker is unique to the type of location it represents.

11. For use in the cleaner, I mixed vinegar with hot water, at the
Rate of .25 vinegar to .75 hot water. The key here is to always use
Water as hot as possible. Do not use containers that are too heavy
For you to handle once they are full of hot water and never when you
Are the only one in the house.

12 For "average stains", I use a spray bottle of 1/2 oxiclean, and 1/2 isopropyl (sp?) alcohol.
I apply enough to satruate the surface of the stain and allow it to soak for two to five
Minutes depending on how I felt at the time.

13. After the two to five minutes, I go back over the area with the rented cleaner using the
1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. If this fails, place on this area, a marker with a unique color
Which identifies the type of stain and makes the area much easier to locate later on.

14. Now, for all areas with a marker of any color, use very hot water alone, place a doubled
Over disposible bath towel over the area allowing an additional four inches around the outside
Paramete of the stain (not the towel).

15. Next, continue to pour a trail of ' next to boiling' water around the perimeter of the indicated area. Next
Continue to pour the hot water in decreasing size circles until the stain area is saturated.

16. Once this is done, remove the towel and repeat the process.

17. Remove the second wet towel and place another dry towel on top. This time stand on the towel to
Soak up as much water as possible. Do this as second time if needed. (Remove wet, add dry, stand on)

18 . Once this is done, allow your carpet to dry for several days. If you still have stains that were not
Removed try askme.com again. Your struggle, from this point, should be greatly reduced.

The proportions are 25% vinegar and 75%
Water. My apologieas

Yeah commercial shampoos are worthless. The vinegar is the better way to go. Also baking soda is good for getting up spills.

I agree, also if you immediately can get to a spill and cover it with room temp water and blot it (never rub) with a clean, white cloth changing to the clean part of the cloth you can remove the spot right away. And you usually don't have to use any chems.

I'm glad you used the vinegar! I also get the water hot on the stove for the steam cleaner. Can't be steam without it being hot! Vinegar has so many uses that you really don't need to buy much off the shelf as far as cleaning products go.
Vinegar Tips