DIY: Spot Cleaning Your Carpet with Everyday Household Items

Families with kids and pets soon discover that carpets can get dirty very quickly. While all carpets should be shampooed on a regular schedule to extend their wear, in between shampooing, carpet spills should be dealt with as soon as possible using a technique called "spot cleaning." Spot cleaning your carpet means hand cleaning a spill on your carpet when it happens, instead of waiting for a carpet shampooer. Taking care of a spill immediately means lowering the chance of a permanent stain on your carpet.

Even if you don't have a commercial carpet cleanser in your house, you can still take care of that stain using common household items. Here's how it's done:
Step 1: Use a spatula or wall paper scraper to gently lift off the "solids" in the spill. Do not press down on the spatula as this can cause the particles to lodge deep into the carpet, making it harder to remove.
Step 2: Next, use a paper towels or clean kitchen towel to gently blot up the liquid part of the spill. If the spill has dried, use the nozzle attachment of your vacuum cleaner to loosen the particles.

Step 3: Before attempting to remove the stain, it's recommended to test a discreet area of the carpet first for color fastness. How this is done is by applying the cleaning solution to a small area, and then blotting the areas with a white towel. If the color of the carpet now appears on the towel, then the cleaning solution will damage your carpet. You can either try another cleaner or do what I do, which is to use a mild mixture of laundry detergent and hot water. Other cleaning solutions that will also work (don't forget to pretest!) include :

Vinegar and water in a 1:10 ratio
1 teaspoon of dish detergent to 1 gallon of hot water
Hot water
A mild solution of ammonia and water

Step 4: After you've safely pre tested the cleaning solution, you can begin blotting the stain with a clean, white towel that has been dipped in the solution. Working from the outside in, blot the stain repeatedly until the stain has completely lifted.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M: Professional Quality Carpet Cleaning Made Easy

There is no need to worry about changing or dumping dirty water on a regular basis, as the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is specifically designed to cut down on the amount of time required to clean carpets. The single tank in this model holds both the clean and dirty water, while the cleaning solution is easily placed into a small inner container, which disperses the required amount of cleaning solution during each and every use.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Many heavy duty carpet cleaners used by professionals leave carpets feeling wet or damp for hours and hours after cleaning. The Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M quickly sucks up excess water and cleaning solution, leaving carpets clean and barely moist after use....bissell carpet cleaners.

I would absolutely recommend the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M to anyone and everyone seeking an effective and fairly-priced alternative to professional carpet cleaning and renting carpet cleaners.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Sources:

Experience

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M product booklet

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M: Professional Quality Carpet Cleaning Made Easy

Despite the specific color, design, brand, or type, keeping carpet clean can be quite the challenge. Weather conditions, pets, small children, and lifestyle all offer wear and tear to carpets, generally in the forms of staining and discoloration.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Anyone with wall-to-wall carpet in the home knows exactly how pricey professional carpet cleaning services can be. The prices are often increased when carpets are stained, discolored, or damaged in any noticeable way. Renting professional-strength carpet cleaners is also expensive and requires tons of time and energy.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Rather than paying for someone else to clean your carpets or renting unreliable and time-consuming carpet cleaners, take the time to research the fairly-priced miracle that is the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M. Offering professional quality cleaning without high prices and the inconvenience of having strangers inside your home, this amazing carpet cleaner from Bissell provides impressive cleaning power.... bissell carpet cleaners.

The Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is a lightweight and extremely durable carpet cleaner that is easily maneuvered under and around large pieces of furniture and household appliances. Unlike heavy and bulky carpet cleaners, the Model 1697M from Bissell is easy to use and does not cause any sort of unnecessary strain to the arms, neck, back, or legs.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Designed with easy to understand and user-friendly features, the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is ideal for cleaning heavily trafficked as well as heavily soiled areas of the home. The effective yet gentle rotating brush works to lift out stains and discolorations, while the automatic cleaning function quickly adjusts to the amount of cleaning solution required to clean various types of carpets.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell SpotBot ProHeat... bissell carpet cleaners.

I first tried the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on the cat vomit stain which, by this point, had set in for several days and would not come up otherwise. Since the spot was stained red from dyes in the cat food, I chose the Set-In Stain Cycle with a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula. It took two six-minute cycles, but it did get up the stain successfully. I have since used it on several more cat throw-up stains which were caught more quickly, and always succeeded in getting up the stains after a single run of the 6-minute Set-In Stain Cycle while using Oxy GEN2 formula.... bissell carpet cleaners.

After the success of using the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on these cat stains, I decided to see if I could get up any of the dirt and traffic stains in my family room carpet. I used the manual spray nozzle, and again a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula to really work on the stains. Although it required some time, and a full tank of combined solution, I was able to lift up all of the dirt stains successfully and the carpet looks nearly brand new. Considering the SpotBot cost $149.99, I was incredibly pleased by this as I was already contemplating whether I would have to get entirely new carpets for the family room - which would have been considerably more expensive.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Overall I have very few complaints about the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. It does run through cleaning solution quickly: a full tank lasts for only three Set-In Stain Cycles. A 32 oz. bottle of Oxy GEN2 retails for $6.99 and will only fill the cleaning tank twice. 32 oz. of the Bissell 2X Little Green formula retails for $9.99 and will last longer, as you only use a small amount for each tank refill. When using the hands-free cycle, the clear round window and scrub brushes do leave marks in the carpet that need to be hand-brushed out, otherwise it looks like you have "crop circles" all over your carpet.... bissell carpet cleaners.

These issues aside, I thoroughly recommend the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. Whether you have pets, small children, or just want to be prepared for any kind of carpet-stain "accident" that can happen, the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat can successfully get up both set-in and surface stains quickly and easily. Cleaning the SpotBot itself is simple, and it is lightweight and compact enough to move around the house and store in just about any closet space. For the price, it's a solid investment for maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of your carpets.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell SpotBot ProHeat... bissell carpet cleaners.

The Bissell SpotBot ProHeat is one of Bissell's extensive line of carpet cleaning devices. I had used an old Bissell Green Machine for many years, but when I bought a new house recently with lots of light-colored carpeting, I knew it was time for an upgrade. With six cats in the house, accidents and stains would surely be inevitable. Indeed, by the second night in the house I already had a dark red stain in the hallway rug from cat vomit that I could not get out with spray-on carpet cleaners and thorough scrubbing. Also, even after having the carpets professionally steam-cleaned before I moved in, the family room carpet was not in great shape. It showed considerable ground-in dirt and traffic stains from the previous owners' use.... bissell carpet cleaners.

On recommendation, I bought a Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. This portable deep cleaner has a clever design and can be used both manually and automatically. In the automatic "hands-free" mode, just place the round cleaning window over the spot to be cleaned, press a few buttons to set the cleaning mode, and walk away. The SpotBot's cleaning brush, spray nozzle, and suction nozzles do all the work for you. In manual mode, you control the spray and vacuum nozzle/suction hose yourself, for cleaning over a wider area. The ProHeat version of the SpotBot heats tap water up to 25 degrees hotter, aiding in its cleaning efficiency.

There are several ways to adjust the cleaning power of the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. In hands-free mode, you can select Surface Stain Cycle, which runs for three minutes, or Set-In Stain Cycle, which runs for six minutes. You can also adjust the mixture of cleaning product that you use when filling the solution tank. For regular dirt, grime and pet stains, use a mixture of Bissell 2X Little Green formula and water. For dye-heavy stains such as coffee, wine and fruit juice, use a mixture of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula plus water. The water heating feature is also optionally selected, but does not affect the 3 or 6-minute automatic cycle time.... bissell carpet cleaners.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:

The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Best Carpet Cleaners in Grand Rapids, Michigan... commercial carpet cleaners .

L&N Carpet Cleaning (Phone: 616-281-0618) - L&N Carpet Cleaning offers carpet cleaning services for both residential and commercial applications. The company offers three different cleaning options—steam, dry, and chemical—and they have a knowledgeable staff that will help you select the appropriate cleaning method. If there is a stain that can't be removed, the company can do patches and other repair jobs to your carpet. In addition to being one of the better carpet cleaning services, they also offer services including mattress cleaning, window cleaning, gutter cleaning, and much more. Interested customers should check their website first, as there are regularly a number of discount coupons available. You can also schedule an appointment online.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Rivers Edge Cleaning & Restoration (Phone: 1-888-501-5432) - Rivers Edge Cleaning & Restoration offers a full line of carpet cleaning services that are comparable to other carpet cleaners in Grand Rapids. Where they differ is that they price based on a square foot basis—for example fifty-three cents per square foot—where other companies charge on a per room basis. According to Rivers Edge, this is a more honest and efficient way of charging their customers. For example, if you are having just a small area cleaned, you only pay for that area—not a full room. In addition, the company offers four different levels of carpet cleaning, so customers have a bit more choice and flexibility than other places allow. If all the choices are too much, Rivers Edge has a helpful staff that can assist you in making the right choice.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Clean N Fresh Carpet Cleaning (Phone: 616-455-7618) - Clean N Fresh Carpet Cleaning offers full residential and commercial carpet cleaning service along with extra services such as furniture and mattress cleaning. In addition to residential and commercial carpet cleaning, they also clean boats, motor homes, and RVs. They list their pricing right on their website, which makes it easy for customers comparing them with other professional carpet cleaners in Grand Rapids.

Bissell Big Green Cleaning Team (Phone: 616-735-1473) - Bissell is known for their well-made vacuums and other carpet cleaning products, but few people are familiar with the fact that they also run a carpet cleaning service. Bissell's Big Green Cleaning Team is a great choice for carpet cleaning as they mix the expertise that comes with years of manufacturing cleaning products along with additional services such as upholstery cleaning, oriental rug cleaning, and water damage restoration.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Best Carpet Cleaners in Grand Rapids, Michigan... commercial carpet cleaners .

Cleaning your carpet is an absolute necessity. Whether you have a high traffic household with kids and pets running around, manage a rental property, or just are concerned about indoor air quality, there will come atime when you need your carpet cleaned. While many people might think vacuuming is enough, having your carpet professionally cleaned can restore its original look and feel and extend its life in ways that vacuuming and home carpet cleaning products cannot. Moreover, professional carpet cleaning services remove a wealth of dirt, dust, and microbes not removed by home cleaning.... bissell carpet cleaners.

For those of us living in Grand Rapids, there are a number of professional carpet cleaners that offer a full range of carpet cleaning services. These include everything from basic carpet cleaning using industrial strength steam cleaners to upholstery cleaning. The following guide to carpet cleaners in Grand Rapids will help you choose the right carpet cleaner for your home or business:

Modernistic (Phone: 1-800-627-5080) - Modernistic is a chain of carpet cleaners with locations throughout Michigan. Its Western Michigan locations are one of the better options for carpet cleaning services in Grand Rapids. Modernistic offers the usual services—residential and commercial carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, clean up of pet related stains—along with a lot of extra services that you don't find at other professional carpet cleaners. For example, the company allows you to make an appointment online and generates an instant quote for you based on the number of rooms to be cleaned. Additionally, they offer services such as air duct cleaning and ceramic tile cleaningmaking them a good option for cleaning that goes far beyond carpet cleaning.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care