Steam Vaccuming

I have a kirby vacuum cleaner with a shampoo attatchment. I love it because it dries quickly! I had a bissell steam cleaner that I LOVED until the motor went out in it...I plan on getting another one soon!!!

I usually make my own shampoo...much cheaper than what you buy!!!

1 cup laundry soap (liquid)
1 cup fabric softner (liquid)
1/2 cup household ammonia
added to ONE GALLON hot water

I only use the ammonia when I am dealing with HEAVY staining...otherwise I just use the laundry stuff! Smells wonderful, carpets are soft, and you can pick your own scent!!!! If you are worried about baby...I would try it with the baby safe laundry soap/softner!!! Couldn't hurt!!!

I hope this helps!!! BTW-I haven't found a machine yet (kirby, rented, bought steam cleaner) that this mix doesn't work in :)

hugs and brightest of blessings
H.

Someone once told me to use white vinegar and water in equal parts to clean the carpet. I have done this twice and it seems to work and leaves nothing behind. It does smell kind of bad until the carpet dries, but after that it is great. It is supposed to absorb any odors, too. This came from a professional carpet cleaner when I asked him for help! Hope that works for you!

You and I must be on the same wavelength! LOL I jsut posted something about the same thing. I love the thought of them being steam cleaned and not using chemicals -- I believe the same thing you do about them.... I'm going to keep my eyes on your thread too.

Keep in mind when you rent machines from Walmart, Home Depot, etc.....someone else's dirt is there. You cannot get those machines fully cleaned after a use.

Personally, we have our own steam cleaner (3rd one) Bissell with onboard water heater. They run around $200 and up, depending on the features you prefer. This way, you can clean your carpets and know where the machine has been.

We do use carpet cleaner with ours because we have 3 pets and a 12 yr old. We also, ALWAYS, go over the carpets again after shampoo with hot water to completely rinse.

My carpets are very light colored and we've found this to work well for us.

I have also used Dalworth and Stanley Steamer but I am just not happy when they rush in and out. When I clean, I know I am doing a better job because they are my carpets and I am particular.

Hope that helps.
Susan

A friend of mine used Zero Rez and liked them a lot. They do not use chemicals only steam.
Phone: ###-###-####

But I own a Hoover steam vaccum that we got at Sams. Love it and used it all the time when out kids were little and out first one had reflux issues.

Congrats on the baby!

Tanya,
My ex-husband cleans carpets and he never recommended those b/c they stir up the dirt and allows too much water to get down into the pad which can ruin it and cause mildew. Good luck!
M.

I find buying a steam cleaner is better. It is always there. I have a day care and dog so we went through potty training and my granddaughter one night threw up all over the hallway and I scrubbed and scrubbed. Once they are cleaned I was told hot water voids the warranty but I would not be without it. I get a lot of dirt out and it is easy to pick up any stains right away. I do it most of every week or every other. You just cannot believe even taking off shoes how much dirt gets in the carpets. I have allergies and years ago they warned about even having any carpets. I am a neat nick anyway so my light almost white carpets always look new. The scotch guard seems to come out at first. My brother cleans carpets and he uses a scotch guard but he is far away. Tuflon product. I just like the feel of clean houses. I also use it in the car. I have had kids just sit on the carpet and pee and puppies when they pee will go back to the same place. Although Pet Smart has the most wonderful product you put on it and order and stain are gone then I steam after. The one I just can not get out is my granddaughter let a popsicle run down from the top of her dresser onto the floor. It was red of course. My brother said to use windex and use a paper towel and low heat iron on it. It did take out some of the bleeding but I see a faint stain there. Kids always destroy things. Renting a number of times will evenually catch up to the cost of owning. So my advice is to own one. They have one that heats the water and I wish I had paid a little more for that one. Brissle is what I got at Home Depot. G. W