I've finally finished re-decorating the hall and stairs - all three floors
of it having got through 22 rolls of wallpaper, 8 litres of emulsion, and
7 litres of 'wood' paint. And am sorting out the carpeting. It's pretty
old but good quality - a sort of oatmeal colour. Mostly it's fine but
there are some worn bits on some treads. No way can I afford to replace it
all. I've used new Cloud 9 underlay throughout, and have enough spare from
the original fitting to repair what's needed. But the spare has been kept
in a light free area so hasn't faded like the original. Unless it's just
good plain old dirt - it's only ever been hoovered and never shampooed.

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the original
colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour isn't vast.

--
*Who are these kids and why are they calling me Mom?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
I've finally finished re-decorating the hall and stairs - all three floors
of it having got through 22 rolls of wallpaper, 8 litres of emulsion, and
7 litres of 'wood' paint. And am sorting out the carpeting. It's pretty
old but good quality - a sort of oatmeal colour. Mostly it's fine but
there are some worn bits on some treads. No way can I afford to replace it
all. I've used new Cloud 9 underlay throughout, and have enough spare from
the original fitting to repair what's needed. But the spare has been kept
in a light free area so hasn't faded like the original. Unless it's just
good plain old dirt - it's only ever been hoovered and never shampooed.

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the original
colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour isn't vast.

It might, but there is a fair chance what is down has just faded a
little in the light.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 20 May, 18:50, John Rumm wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
I've finally finished re-decorating the hall and stairs - all three floors
of it having got through 22 rolls of wallpaper, 8 litres of emulsion, and
7 litres of 'wood' paint. And am sorting out the carpeting. It's pretty
old but good quality - a sort of oatmeal colour. Mostly it's fine but
there are some worn bits on some treads. No way can I afford to replace it
all. I've used new Cloud 9 underlay throughout, and have enough spare from
the original fitting to repair what's needed. But the spare has been kept
in a light free area so hasn't faded like the original. Unless it's just
good plain old dirt - it's only ever been hoovered and never shampooed.

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the original
colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour isn't vast.

It might, but there is a fair chance what is down has just faded a
little in the light.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| * * * * *Internode Ltd - *http://www.internode.co.uk* * * * * *|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| * * * *John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk * * * * * * *|
\================================================= ================/

When you say there are worn bit on some treads, I assume they are on
the stairs? If so, could you refit the carpet by sliding it up/ down
the staircase by the width of the tread? This way, the bits that were
on the risers will now be on the treads so you probably won't notice
the wear so much. Also, if you repaired one bit, again it wouldn't be
as noticable.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
I've finally finished re-decorating the hall and stairs - all three floors
of it having got through 22 rolls of wallpaper, 8 litres of emulsion, and
7 litres of 'wood' paint. And am sorting out the carpeting. It's pretty
old but good quality - a sort of oatmeal colour. Mostly it's fine but
there are some worn bits on some treads. No way can I afford to replace it
all. I've used new Cloud 9 underlay throughout, and have enough spare from
the original fitting to repair what's needed. But the spare has been kept
in a light free area so hasn't faded like the original. Unless it's just
good plain old dirt - it's only ever been hoovered and never shampooed.

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the original
colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour isn't vast.


Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.


NT

wrote:

When you say there are worn bit on some treads, I assume they are on
the stairs? If so, could you refit the carpet by sliding it up/ down
the staircase by the width of the tread? This way, the bits that were
on the risers will now be on the treads so you probably won't notice
the wear so much. Also, if you repaired one bit, again it wouldn't be
as noticable.

That works well if its a stair runner with stair rods. Not so easy with
a fitted stair carpet.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the original
colour? If so any recommendations?

Your coming at it from the wrong angle - stomp up and down the new bits
in your gardening shoes :-)

Failing that, it's surprising what carpet shampoo will do to what
appears to be a clean carpet. I've got a Bissell on loan at the mo
(t'was to de-fag a 2nd hand car and it's now got squatters rights) and,
combined with £10 of Screwfix carpet cleaner, whenever I point it at
some grubby spot of carpet I end up with a slightly lighter patch. I
should really bite some ammo and do the bloomin' lot!

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

In article
,
wrote:
Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour
isn't vast.


Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the replacement.
But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the hired cleaner systems
any good?

--
*Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 20 May, 22:17, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
* wrote:

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour
isn't vast.
Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the replacement..
But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the hired cleaner systems
any good?

--
*Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental

* * Dave Plowman * * * * * * * * London SW
* * * * * * * * * To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Hopefully the Medway Highway Man will be here soon, anyway I used
Prochem chemicals with a Vax and Rug Dcotor and had some excellent
results.

In article ,
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article
,

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the replacement.
But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the hired cleaner systems
any good?


I hired a rug doctor and it was pretty impressive. Not sure it'd be as
good on stairs though - it seemed to be the aggressive brush that helped
and you wouldn't be able to use that on the stairs.

If you do hire one, don't consider Homebase - *much* cheaper from Morrisons
I found.

Darren

David wrote:
On 20 May, 22:17, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
wrote:

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in
colour isn't vast.
Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the
replacement. But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the
hired cleaner systems any good?

--
*Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Hopefully the Medway Highway Man will be here soon, anyway I used
Prochem chemicals with a Vax and Rug Dcotor and had some excellent
results.

Oi! Highwayman indeed. Who dear? Me dear? Highwayman dear? NO dear. How
very dare you.

Most hire shops have the Escort/Haggarty/Karcher extractor or the Rug
Doctor. With the latter you need the extra hose & stair tool.

Yes it will help. Bear in mind most carpet cleaning products contain a
fabric brightener which will make the cleaned area look better - for a
while.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article
,
wrote:
Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour
isn't vast.


Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the replacement.
But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the hired cleaner systems
any good?

The rug doctor is pretty good IME. (B&Q etc - about £24 for the day iirc)

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article
,
wrote:
Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in colour
isn't vast.


Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the replacement.
But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the hired cleaner systems
any good?

Apparently. However they do seem quite dear to me - if you've not got a vast
area to do it might be as easy to get a man in. OTOH if you want to spend
all day doing the entire house...

On 21 May, 00:37, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
David wrote:
On 20 May, 22:17, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
wrote:

Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in
colour isn't vast.
Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the
replacement. But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the
hired cleaner systems any good?

--
*Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Hopefully the Medway Highway Man will be here soon, anyway I used
Prochem chemicals with a Vax and Rug Dcotor and had some excellent
results.

Oi! *Highwayman indeed. Who dear? Me dear? Highwayman dear? NO dear. How
very dare you.

Sorry I done that purposely to see your reaction ;-)

Most hire shops have the Escort/Haggarty/Karcher extractor or the Rug
Doctor. *With the latter you need the extra hose & stair tool.

Yes it will help. *Bear in mind most carpet cleaning products contain a
fabric brightener which will make the cleaned area look better - for a
while.

Doki wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article
,
wrote:
Would steam cleaning or some other type of cleaning restore the
original colour? If so any recommendations? The difference in
colour isn't vast.


Cleaning certainly lightens oldish carpets significantly.

I've just tried some spot cleaning with an aerosol of 'Vanish' carpet
cleaner and it has made those bits cleaned look closer to the
replacement. But there's an awful lot to do like this. Any of the
hired cleaner systems any good?

Apparently. However they do seem quite dear to me - if you've not got
a vast area to do it might be as easy to get a man in. OTOH if you
want to spend all day doing the entire house...

Indeed. He will have a machine many times more powerful than anything you
can hire, a huge range of specialist chemicals & a great deal of
experience - assuming he is a NCCA member http://www.ncca.co.uk/ bearing in
mind there are more cowboys in the carpet cleaning game than Dodge City ever
saw.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk