My carpet looks like crap. I can't afford to rent/hire a steamcleaner or anyone to come in and clean it for me right now. I don't expect to be able to get out EVERY stain, but I want to make it look somewhat better. Basically, the carpets were clean when we got ready to move in, but a broken pipe in the wall delayed our move in and the workers got stains all over the carpet while they were working. I also have a toddler who, of course, has contributed some to the stains on the carpet. I get up things he spills, but there are still a few stains from stuff that didn't completely come up. Basically, we are talking about off-white carpet with red mud stains, dirt stains, and food stains such as spaghetti sauce and strawberry milk. In general, what is something I can try to get up the stains? I borrowed a cheap steamcleaner from my landlord, but it didn't really work well. I don't mind getting down and scrubbing the floors, but I need to know what kind of cleaners work best.

11/8/2005 3:44:13 PM

Resolve - high traffic foam is the best thing i've found.

11/8/2005 3:46:23 PM

^yeah get a can or two of that and a scrub brush

you'll get a workout, but it works

11/8/2005 3:56:38 PM

Gilby's Gin will get stains out of carpet that other cleaners won't touch. Just don't drink the nasty stuff.

11/8/2005 4:01:57 PM

now ya tell me

11/8/2005 4:13:43 PM

Tuff stuff... for cars... works well too. when the water heater in my old place burst and stains were left, thati s what we used and it took out pretty much all ugliness

11/8/2005 4:14:01 PM

OxyClean works great on pet stains, wine, tomato sauce, etc. in my experience.

11/8/2005 4:15:27 PM

It's like $20 to rent a steam cleaner from Harris Teeter for 24 hrs. That may be too much still, but I do know that people often think that it costs much more than it actually does to rent a carpet steamer. If you decide to go this route, DON'T buy the cleaning sol'n that they try to sell you. It's expensive and doesn't work for shit. Instead, go to Advance and buy some Purple Power, dilute it and use that in the steamer. It will literally get almost anything out of your carpet. I hope this helps and if not, good luck with the carpet.

11/9/2005 11:26:26 AM

club soda on wine stains thats all i know. i dont even drink wine

11/9/2005 12:00:28 PM

BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR


try it!!

11/9/2005 12:01:11 PM

resolve foam

11/9/2005 12:05:41 PM

you can borrow my steam cleaner. i dont have any of the stuff you use in it but i think thats only a couple of bucks. if your interested pm me and i will make sure i still got all the pieces.

11/9/2005 12:16:12 PM

Grape juice will get anything out.

11/9/2005 1:40:45 PM

^ yeah ^

11/9/2005 1:47:21 PM

update: I borrowed my landlady's steamcleaner again and mixed pinesol, clorox, and all detergent together (they were the only cleaning supplies i had on hand that i thought would have a shot at getting out stains). Before going to get anything new, I decided to just take a shot at the small chance that they would remove stains. Well, they did. My house smelled a bit like bleach for an hour or so afterward, but I opened some windows and it smells fresh and clean now. I didn't put enough bleach in the water to harm the color of the carpet and it got out the majority of the stains as far as I can see. Thanks for the offer ^^^ to use your steamcleaner though! And thanks for all the real advice that some of you gave!

11/9/2005 6:30:23 PM