I need to clean a plain, short pile carpet that is a pale blue colour
and, as a result, shows up the dirt all too well. It has accumulated
various stains over the years and, to be honest, only an area about 4
x 4 feet badly needs a clean.

What's the best way to achieve this CHEAPLY?

I've already tried getting down on my hands and knees with various
'safe' cleaning fluids, trouble is that it's not only hard work but
takes ages.

Is the best option to employ a professional to clean it, or is there a
better and, as mentioned, cheaper option?

Don't some standard vacuum cleaners also clean carpets?

Thanks

jamma-plusser wrote:
I need to clean a plain, short pile carpet that is a pale blue colour
and, as a result, shows up the dirt all too well. It has accumulated
various stains over the years and, to be honest, only an area about 4
x 4 feet badly needs a clean.

If you just clean that area (properly) the rest will show up how dirty it
really is. Best to clean all of it.

What's the best way to achieve this CHEAPLY?

I've already tried getting down on my hands and knees with various
'safe' cleaning fluids, trouble is that it's not only hard work but
takes ages.

Most of the products used by hand are so 'safe' they are relatively useless.

Is the best option to employ a professional to clean it, or is there a
better and, as mentioned, cheaper option?

Check out the cost of hiring a Rug Doctor machine - excellent results.
http://www.rugdoctor.co.uk/index.htm

My local B&Q and Morisons hire them out.

Don't some standard vacuum cleaners also clean carpets?

Numatic 'George' is the best option here
http://www.numatic.co.uk/products4.aspx?id=28

You might find some useful info here
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...t_Cleaning_FAQ

HTH


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

On 14 Aug, 21:02, "The Medway Handyman" davidl...@no-spam-
blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
jamma-plusser wrote:
I need to clean a plain, short pile carpet that is a pale blue colour
and, as a result, shows up the dirt all too well. It has accumulated
various stains over the years and, to be honest, only an area about 4
x 4 feet badly needs a clean.

If you just clean that area (properly) the rest will show up how dirty it
really is. *Best to clean all of it.



What's the best way to achieve this CHEAPLY?

I've already tried getting down on my hands and knees with various
'safe' cleaning fluids, trouble is that it's not only hard work but
takes ages.

Most of the products used by hand are so 'safe' they are relatively useless.



Is the best option to employ a professional to clean it, or is there a
better and, as mentioned, cheaper option?

Check out the cost of hiring a Rug Doctor machine - excellent results.http://www.rugdoctor.co.uk/index.htm

My local B&Q and Morisons hire them out.



Don't some standard vacuum cleaners also clean carpets?

Numatic 'George' is the best option herehttp://www.numatic.co.uk/products4.aspx?id=28

You might find some useful info herehttp://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Carpet_Cleaning_FAQ

HTH

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Yes, the rug cleaning machines work well. Even the mickey mouse one we
have. Depends on what chemical you can get hold of. In the last
resort you can hire steam cleaning machines for carpets. Some carpets
don't like them.

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:52:19 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys.

Regarding RugDoctor - some FAQs that I've read about carpet cleaning
say that it's best to use a dry powder as with a 'wet wash' moisture
can become trapped in the carpet and mildew is the result. Is that an
issue with the Rugdoctor?

What's the best cleaning solution to use with the RugDoctor?

And finally, if I decided to use one of the dry carpet cleaning
powders with my Dyson DC04, which powder would you recommend?

Ta. :-)

On 15/08/2010 in message jamma-plusser
wrote:

And finally, if I decided to use one of the dry carpet cleaning
powders with my Dyson DC04, which powder would you recommend?

If you do use a Dyson get some spare filters in before you start. My ex2
ruined a Dyson by using shake and vac.

--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.

jamma-plusser wrote:
On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:52:19 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys.

Regarding RugDoctor - some FAQs that I've read about carpet cleaning
say that it's best to use a dry powder as with a 'wet wash' moisture
can become trapped in the carpet and mildew is the result. Is that an
issue with the Rugdoctor?

The moisture/mildew thing is an urban myth put out by the dry powder
suppliers. Dry powder cleaning is at best a light surface clean.

The Rug Doctor is a spray extraction machine. With reasonable ventilation a
synthetic carpet will be bone dry in an hour, natural fibre around 4 hours.
No mildew problems whatsoever.


What's the best cleaning solution to use with the RugDoctor?

Rug Doctor cleaning solution.

And finally, if I decided to use one of the dry carpet cleaning
powders with my Dyson DC04, which powder would you recommend?

I wouldn't. Waste of time.


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

harry wrote:
On 14 Aug, 21:02, "The Medway Handyman" davidl...@no-spam-
blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
jamma-plusser wrote:
I need to clean a plain, short pile carpet that is a pale blue
colour and, as a result, shows up the dirt all too well. It has
accumulated various stains over the years and, to be honest, only
an area about 4 x 4 feet badly needs a clean.

If you just clean that area (properly) the rest will show up how
dirty it
really is. Best to clean all of it.



What's the best way to achieve this CHEAPLY?

I've already tried getting down on my hands and knees with various
'safe' cleaning fluids, trouble is that it's not only hard work but
takes ages.

Most of the products used by hand are so 'safe' they are relatively
useless.



Is the best option to employ a professional to clean it, or is
there a better and, as mentioned, cheaper option?

Check out the cost of hiring a Rug Doctor machine - excellent
results.http://www.rugdoctor.co.uk/index.htm

My local B&Q and Morisons hire them out.



Don't some standard vacuum cleaners also clean carpets?

Numatic 'George' is the best option
herehttp://www.numatic.co.uk/products4.aspx?id=28

You might find some useful info
herehttp://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Carpet_Cleaning_FAQ

HTH

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Yes, the rug cleaning machines work well. Even the mickey mouse one we
have.

Rug Doctor is the brand name of a particular self contained brush extractor.

Depends on what chemical you can get hold of.

Rug Doctor chemical.

In the last
resort you can hire steam cleaning machines for carpets.

No such thing as a steam cleaning machine for carpets, never has been. The
original hot water spray etraction machines were called 'steam cleaners'
because the spray looked like steam - they don't go over about 60c.

What you can hire are 'spray extraction' machines.

The 'dry' steam cleaners alledgedly clean carpets by using an absorbant pad
to collect the dirt loosened by the steam. A light surface clean at best.

Some carpets
don't like them.

99% are fine. Wouldn't clean an antique Persian rug with one, but modern
carpets will be fine.


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

p,s. I have no connection to Rug Doctor, its simply a widely available
system that works well IMO.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:30:02 +0100, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:


The moisture/mildew thing is an urban myth put out by the dry powder
suppliers. Dry powder cleaning is at best a light surface clean.

The Rug Doctor is a spray extraction machine. With reasonable ventilation a
synthetic carpet will be bone dry in an hour, natural fibre around 4 hours.
No mildew problems whatsoever.


What's the best cleaning solution to use with the RugDoctor?

Rug Doctor cleaning solution.

And finally, if I decided to use one of the dry carpet cleaning
powders with my Dyson DC04, which powder would you recommend?

I wouldn't. Waste of time.

Advice noted, many thanks.