Medium Shag Wool-Mix Carpet

[The Ranger]

My "never-will-stain-even-from-heavy-traffic" light azure carpet, a wool-nylon mix medium shag designed for heavy traffic areas, is starting to hold dirty grime and oil from bare feet in a manner that makes the above marketing collateral blush.

I've used the foaming product (set it, sponge it, vacuum it away), and I've attempted to spot it with the aerosol product. The area is just too large and stubborn.

My next step is a steam cleaner but a quick look at the cleaners one uses with this behemoth machine shows the clear warning, "Test in an inconspicuous area before use. May remove dye from some carpets." That would not be an option given the beaten animal path I'm in need of cleaning.

As I done so often in the past, I ask the Collective for their chosen bit-and-bytes of tips in areas that I am not as familiar in lore and wisdom.

The Ranger

-- Beets are the Magical Vegetable; they can be pickled, peared, and julliened and never lose their specialness.

[jamie]

In my experience, the foaming product makes the carpet look cleaner for a few days, but leaves residue that attracts dirt to look filthy shortly thereafter.

I suggest a carpet cleaning company with a truck-mounted extraction cleaner, to clean it and get the residue of the other junk out of it. I suspect it will give you better results than a home-type or rental steam cleaner.

[Vox Humana]

It is really hit-or-miss with carpet cleaning companies. Theoretically, they can do the best job because they have the best equipment. The problem that I find is that the business is very competitive, and you can get a couple of high school students who want to spend about 5 minutes per room so they can get on to their next $59 whole house job. Make sure you ask around.

The extractor/cleaners that you can rent like the Rug Doctor aren't as powerful as the professional equipment. However, you may end up with a better job because you will spend the time to do a good job. As someone recommends here, use a garden type tank sprayer to apply the detergent and then agitate the surface. Let the detergent sit for a about 15 minutes, and then use clear water in the rental machine. I got good results last time I rented the carpet cleaner from Home Depot. As I recall it was called the Big Blue Machine.

I have a Hoover carpet cleaner. It is fine for spills and to clean high traffic areas between thorough cleanings. It leaves the floor too wet in my opinion and isn't nearly as good as the powerful rental machines. I got rid of most of my carpet last year and haven't had a single regret.

[Bonnie Jean]

The extractor/cleaners that you can rent like the Rug Doctor aren't as powerful as the professional equipment. However, you may end up with a better job because you will spend the time to do a good job. As someone recommends here, use a garden type tank sprayer to apply the detergent and then agitate the surface. Let the detergent sit for a about 15 minutes, and then use clear water in the rental machine. I got good results last time I rented the carpet cleaner from Home Depot. As I recall it was called the Big Blue Machine.

I have a Hoover carpet cleaner. It is fine for spills and to clean high traffic areas between thorough cleanings. It leaves the floor too wet in my opinion and isn't nearly as good as the powerful rental machines. I got rid of most of my carpet last year and haven't had a single regret.

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I have off white Berber on my entire second floor plus stairs. Until I have the $5-7000 to replace it with hardwood, I was thinking of getting a professional cleaning. I use my Bissell cleaner frequently but after living here 3½ years and the carpet being 13 years old, I think it needs a pro-cleaning. I can't wait to get rid of all the wall-to-wall. It's so much cleaner.

[Vox Humana]

You might consider replacing the carpet with laminate flooring. It looks nearly as good as wood and is a fraction of the cost, especially if you can do the work yourself.