Normally such speechlessness surrounding carpets stems more from, “What in the name of all that is pure and spotless is that?” Which is exactly how this situation started. It had been a while since my sons’ floor had seen the light of day. There are times where days pass and as long as the mess is confined to their room, I pretend I don’t see it. But then a wave of awareness passes over me and I realize that such chaos is bound to sink into and wreak havoc on their very souls. Oh my stars. How did that happen?! Who did that?! Naturally, my boys gazed down at it in complete mystification. They truly hadn’t noticed it before now, so they pointed all fingers at the usual culprit who lives deep in the recesses of my house: “I Dunno.” Someday I’d like to meet him.
In this context, the Regina steamer carpet shampoo approach blends a combination of DIY methods and cautious product use to tackle tough stains and odors. I ruled out the horribly obvious first possibility because firstly, my sons are, ahem, very well potty-trained. Secondly, I think the dog would have found it much more interesting if it were THAT. My second thought was chocolate, and while I’m not entirely certain that it wasn’t, I still think the dog would have been interested in it. My last two thoughts were rust or dye. Both involve something wet-swimsuit? bath towel? afternoon snack? makeshift pool for LEGO boats?-being dropped on something metal or dyed and then left there for hours. Or days.
- Out came my carpet cleaner and my Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray. I’ve waxed poetical before on how well the All-Purpose Spray with either Sal Suds Household Cleaner or Castile Magic Soap works, but not knowing how long these stains had been there, much less what they were, I was dubious that it would work this time.
- I promise it’s the same room. How to clean carpets with Dr. I usually opt for Sal Suds on carpets because it is slightly better at stain fighting, but the Castile Magic Soap also works really well. (Spot test your carpets before trying any of this by spraying an inconspicuous spot with one spray of All-Purpose Spray and rubbing vigorously with a white cloth. If there is any dye transfer, use another option on your carpets.
- 1. Pick up any loose soil. If liquid has soaked in, use a highly absorbent cloth like microfiber. Lay it over the spot and press on it with your shoe to draw the liquid up.
- 2. Spray the spot sparingly with the All-Purpose Spray, made with 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Sal Suds or ¼ cup (60 mL) Castile Soap in 1 qt. (1 L) water. Do not saturate the carpet with the spray or else you’ll have too many bubbles in the spot. Alternately, if you want to spray more, make a “Lite” All-Purpose Spray by diluting the cleaner by half, using only ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) Sal Suds or 2 Tbsp.
- 3. Rub the spot with a wet (just short of drippy) rough cloth. Rub in multiple directions to scrub all sides of the carpet fibers.
- 4. 1. 2. Spray spots sparingly with one of the All-Purpose Sprays. 3. Fill the main compartment of the carpet cleaner with hot water. 4. Fill the cleaning solution compartment with roughly 2 cups of water and add either 1 drop of Sal Suds (Yes, one drop.) or ½ Tbsp.
- 5. Run the carpet cleaner over the carpet according to manufacturer instructions. 6. When finished, rub your fingers into the carpet to check for remaining bubbles. Optional: If you want to give your carpet a deodorizing treatment, fill the main compartment with hot water plus 2 cups (480 mL) distilled white vinegar. Leave the cleaning solution compartment empty, or if the machine doesn’t like it empty, just fill it with water. (If you’ve just cleaned your carpets with Castile Magic Soap, do this only after checking there is no residual soap in the carpet. *Note: If your carpet cleaner has a different compartment configuration, you may have to adapt these instructions. I am always simultaneously horrified and satisfied by how dirty my rinse water is. Clearly the carpet is getting cleaner.
- Also, using Sal Suds or Castile Magic Soap in your carpet cleaner may void your warranty. Mind you, I’m not saying that either of these cleaners will break your machine. However, it’s oftentimes a little footnote in the warranty that if you don’t buy that company’s brand of solution, they won’t honor the warranty. You’ll need to make your choice with this one. Regardless of which of the above methods you use, it is crucial that no Sal Suds are left in the carpet. Sal Suds and Castile Magic Soap-like any detergent or soap-attract dirt. That’s how they work-they hold on to it.
1. For a quick carpet freshening and deodorizing, baking soda is my go-to. It’s always good to spot test a new cleaning technique before embarking on the whole floor. In a bowl mix 2 cups (480 mL) of baking soda with about 20 drops of a favorite essential oil. Sweet orange is always a favorite of mine. You could try lavender or something woodsy like eucalyptus.
- Add the mixture to a big shaker jar-either a repurposed large spice jar or a mason jar with holes in the lid.
- 3. 4. 5. Follow the spot cleaning steps above. As a last step, saturate the area with a spray of distilled white vinegar spray cut in half with water. Let this air dry. The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the alkaline salts that give cat urine its distinctive smell.
Carpets are the largest horizontal surface in our living spaces. They need your attention. If you need the place to look clean fast, clean the carpets. If you don’t have time for a full-on carpet-cleaning, at least give them a thorough vacuuming. Cleaning Patio Furniture with Dr. Mopping with Dr. This use and many more are in my book, Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr.
