My dog has chewed my carpet has been fixed and the cat has picked at the carpet plus with two little girls the carpet is a mess, anyone have any suggestions on how to get it cleaned? I don't want to pay someone and I do have a bissel carpet cleaner, and I hate to replace it until my kids get bigger, anyone have any ideas on how to get it cleaned?
Add a cup of white vinegar to the water in the Bissel and take extra slow paths across. You may need to go over it a couple times.
What's underneath it? Our house is 108 years old and had gorgeous hardwood under awful WHITE berber carpet, so we ripped it all out and painted the floors for a temporary solution (until we can spend the $ to have them sanded). Is this an option? If not, can you just trim the bad areas and, if they are REALLY bad, cover them with an area rug? I'd hold off on steam cleaning it until you take care of rips and tears, meaning that you need to trim it back to the carpet backing if need be, and make sure there are no loose threads.
I would see what the bissel can do, it might take extra passes on the bad spots. Ours does a pretty good job, even on old stuff. You could also consider renting a rug doctor from the grocery store. As for the pet damage, you might have to live with it/cover it/cut it out and try replacing pieces, but I'd only cut as a last resort.
I would hightly recommend ripping it up and either sanding/painting if hardwood or staining if concrete.
A few well-placed area rugs for "warmth" and comfort and you are done:)
Cleaning is a breeze and they wear much better than carpet.
FYI: We are pulling our sons carpet and painting hardwood next weekend for a similar reason! (we have hardwood and tile in our house, except his room and ours. Ours is next!)
you can pull it up and then you can go to lowes, ollies, big lots, and get carpet squares for pretty cheap for them
I have 3 boys - ages 7, 4, and 3. We have a patchwork of rugs to cover all the crazy places that the boys have ruined.... and we don't even have pets yet! So, I suggest rugs. You can get them super cheap at walmart or check out some garage sales. I plan on getting carpet when the boys are in HIGH SCHOOL! :)
If you have just one room that really needs cleaning, I would call Kirby and see if they can send someone out to do a 'demonstration cleaning'. They will do one room of carpet for free - as long as you are willing to watch them do their demonstration :)
Don't replace it YET. I did that 4 years ago and wasted money :( The dogs and kids ruined this one too. I replaced it with intentions to sell the house with new cheap carpet. When you do upgrade the padding. I want to buy area rugs but don't want to waste the money on them either. I use our Bissel Pro X 2. Cleaning it helps but carpet is made to be walked on.
