Tips for living: Carpet Cleaning

I have decided to put tips I learn along the way into this category, so tomorrow next year, when I can't remember what I used to do, I have a place to go, and remember again. Sad. True. 

Alright friends, in this post, we'll be keeping it real. No staged pictures with perfect lighting here. But you won't be sorry.

I came across the Most Amazing carpet cleaning tip yesterday that I must share.  Unfortunately, I have to keep digging to find the source, because someone (Mister) closed all of my open tabs I was getting ready to link over. In the meantime, I will share the awesomeness. 

 

Tools you need to clean stubborn stains:

Ammonia

Water

Spray Bottle

Iron

White Towels

Mix 1 part ammonia to 1 part water in spray bottle. (Note: Be careful with ammonia fumes when mixing and steaming, stay out of the steam and try not to inhale. Wear a mask and goggles if you are sensitive). Also, you may want to test this somewhere not obvious. I have cheapo builder carpet, and it didn't hurt my el-cheapo carpet at all.

Ready?

Find Stain(s):

In this case, a GIANT red and brown dog throw up spot (remember, we are keeping it real) in the front living room, right in front of the couch...(why don't they ever do that on the tile?). We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. It was still there. 

Iron and mixture

Stain - sprayed heavily

Put white towel on stain, iron with steam setting

Stain is absorbed into towel (double ew)

Not perfect in this case, red is HARD to get out. But WAAAY better

So, understanding red dog throw up spots are almost impossible to get out, I decided that dishes could wait, and I went searching for spots. Next stop, my bedroom. Some Crystal Light fell off the nightstand and spilled on the carpet. Again, red spots - GONE! 

        Before                       After

I'm getting excited now - I remembered a strange spot in the boys room. It's hard, like a shell. I've chipped away at it, I've soaked it. I have NO idea what it is, but no one would take the blame, and it wasn't going anywhere. This was the real test - Completely GONE!

   Before                                                         After

 I carried on this way for about an hour. I cleaned every spot I could find. This will keep my sanity in check until I can have the carpets ripped out carpets professionally cleaned again. 

Try it on some stubborn spots in your house! I hope I didn't gross you out and you come back and visit again!

xo-

Chris