VACUUM FIRST, RENT A SHAMPOOER, 20$. Make YOUR OWN CLEANING SOLUTION AND DO THE WORK YOURSELF!
Yes, but what if it's an area rug on a wood floor? A frugal lister reader queries: "I have a large area rug, approximately 5x8' --a Persian 'type' rug. American made, or Chinese. Don't know which. Crummy but hey it does the job. Problem: I don't have a carpet cleaner (anyway I wouldn't use it in this case as carpet's sitting on a wood floor), but I need to find a way to get this thing cleaned! Anyone have any innovative ways to get this thing outside and cleaned up with a hose and some dishsoap/shampoo or something? It has a some animal urine on it that I want to get washed and rinsed out.
ANSWER: Vacuum it well, both sides, then two people carry it to fence, in the sun, sling it over the top. Hose it down. Once it's wet, bring a bucket of ammonia and detergent and water, brushing the suds IN all over. Distribute and 'work in' with stiff hand brushes. Hose well. Gravity provides runoff. Sunlight should dry very efficiently. Don't leave it out overnight as DEW re-wets it. Or TARP and uncover at first light.
ALT METHOD: Have a slanting driveway? Clean cement well first. Then, lay out carpet, do same, ammonia, detergent, hot water, brushes, then final rinse.. Gravity slides water out and down driveway to curb. Sunlight does rest. DO NOT drive a car up the driveway, in fact close the gate!. No kids walking on it or pets
When dry as you can get it ---bring to a clothes line. THROW rags over
line so you don't throw a permanent wrinkle or fold into your drying carpet
and put it up there to air dry. IF FENCE doesn't abut a street, you can
leave it there all day,
Pine oil type cleanser diluted with ammonia, detergent and lots of scrubbing on those nasty urine spots. Then, Shoot the dog. Guilty party was a cat? Put his litter box near enough the carpet that when it occurs to him to make a mess, he uses the right box. KEEP that box CLEAN. Also, leave a house door open full time. Cat prefers garden, anyway.
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