Carpet cleaning question.

[volvoguy87]

Over Thanksgiving, my family had 40+ people in the house. We also have light colored berber carpet in a high traffic area, circa 1996. The berber has dark tracks so you can see all the high traffic areas. The kicker is that someone spilled an entire bottle of red wine on it during Thanksgiving. We mopped up the mess, but haven't yet attempted to clean the stain (very difficult with 40+ people in the house).

The red wine stain really needs to be cleaned, but so does the rest of the carpet. It MAY have been either shampooed or steam cleaned once at some point, but nothing recently. What should we do to remove the stain and clean the carpet?

We don't have a Kirby or Rainbow. We do have an early 1990s Hoover shampoo/polisher (2 rotating brushes and a tank). Should we use the Hoover, rent something else, or call in the professionals? If we do rent something, should we use a Rug Doctor, or a steam cleaner from U-Haul (canister type for the same rental price, but with an internal heater), or something else? Would this be a good excuse to order some STPP?

What do y'all think?
Dave

 

[electroluxxxx]

I think you should rent the rug doctor with the combo of cleaning chemicals. the Chemicals are a little pricey but work really really well. there is also a chemical that takes out red wine from a carpet.
Just my words of advice
Mike

 

[maytagbear]

I would go with a local

professional, and not even try to do this myself!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jeffg]

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, red wine stains come right up by using oxygen bleach (e.g. Armor All Multi-purpose Cleaner is wonderful stuff). Either pre-spray the spill area with it, or put a few ounces in the Rug Doctor along with the carpet shampoo.

Armor All also makes a similar looking product (with an orange label instead of blue). It's crap, don't waste your money on it.

Here's the "good stuff":

http://www.amazon.com/Armor-All-Multi-Purpose-Auto-Cleaner/dp/B0006PSDHG

 

[whirlcool]

Doesn't Oxi-Clean work as well? They advertise it on their infomercials for this purpose with clothing.

 

[neptunebob]

Do you have a shop vac?

If you do, you might be able to use club soda on the stain and then suck it up just as soon as you apply it. That would help fade the stain and I don't think it would cause any difficulty if you end up calling a professional cleaner.

I don't like the Rug Doctor. I had to use one on a job and it is noisy, heavy, and I don't think works all that well.

Actually, this might be a good time to invest in an extraction carpet and upholstery cleaner, HSN has one as today's special.

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/hoove...attr=644&ocm=HW|644&prev=hp!sf!644&ccm=HW|644

 

[volvoguy87]

Oxy Clean did it!

Thank y'all. Oxy clean dissolved in warm water took care of the stain.

The dark stained tracks in the high traffic areas are next. They will require a machine of some sort. I am NOT going to get down on my hands and knees for a carpet!

Cleanliness will come eventually,
Dave

 

[mattl]

Funny, I was in my local Meijers ( regional superstore)tonight and I noticed a container of red wine stain remover on the shelf. So they make a product just for your problem, but it sounds like you solved it.

If I was going to rent anything I'd opt for the Rug Doctor all in one unit, does a very good job. There used to be two piece units, but they seem to be going away. Personally I really like my Bissell 9500, does a great job, actually got my traffic area cleaner than the pros did.

 

[turboace]

I would call in a professional for the rest of the cleaning. I'm all for trying to save some money by doing things yourself, but some things are better off left to professionals. They have chemicals available to them that we can not buy and equipment that is far superior to anything we can get our hands on due to budget limitations. Having the right tools and equipment to do the job and being trained to use it is why we pay people to do things. I think of it / justify it by likening it to the medical profession. If you need to have a mole removed, you go to a dermotologist or a plastic surgen, no questions asked. You don't go down to the local butcher and see if he can remove it for less because he has really sharp knives and knows how to use them.

If you like your carpet and it has wear left, I would have it done by someone who is trained.

I have always had luck with Bane Clean. Their website has a locator to find a someone close to you. Whereever I have lived they have always been a small family business type outfit. They have never tried to up sell me on this and that as the large companies like Stanley Steamer, Sears etc. do. They have also always been very knowldegeable about their equipment, they own and maintain it themselves as they are trained when they purchase it from the factory. I highly reccomend these guys as they have done great work for me over the years.

Andy

http://www.baneclene.com/