Worth sending stained $350 rug to a rug-cleaning service?

[Anonymous]

I have an area rug in DC's room that I spent $350 on five years ago, and it's fairly stained. Is it worth sending out to a rug-cleaning place, with no guarantee that they can get all the stains out, or would the cost of that cleaning be better spent on getting a new rug? I don't know what those services cost.

If you think I should send it to a rug-cleaning place, can you recommend a good one? I'm in NWDC. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What is the cost to clean it?

[Anonymous]

I'd just buy a new rug. Most likely, they won't be able to get all the stain out and it will cost almost as much as the rug.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't. Instead, I'd by a small carpet cleaning machine for $100 like this one from Bissell http://www.amazon.com/BISSELL-SpotClean-Professional-Portable-3624/dp/B008DBRFBK/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1392383943&sr=1-3&keywords=carpet+cleaner . If you don't have wall to wall carpeting, you don't need a big one, a smaller one would be fine. I have one similar to the one listed and it did an AMAZING job on a cheap Ikea carpet we bought when DS was a baby. It's mostly red and has a deep pile (but not shag). It's been vomited on, pooped on, all kinds of food spilled on it and can look really crappy. It also cleans really well and afterwards looks like new. It and the carpet cleaner were great investments. We also use the carpet cleaner on furniture. Even though we don't allow food on the furniture, it still gets stained and dirty (not to mention the dust!). I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Do you love the rug?

[Anonymous]

The 8:23 poster has a good idea. You can also rent these machines from a home improvement store.

[Anonymous]

You might also have a friend who owns a carpet cleaner. Ask around! Ask friends who have pets; they likely own one.

[Anonymous]

Did you know that you can clean up a soiled wool carpet by flipping it over - right side down - and moving it around on the snow?

The abrasiveness and the moisture in the snow, dislodges the dirt, without soaking the rug.

Give it a good shake and you are all set to go.

[Anonymous]

You could probably also take it outside and dump some dawn and warm water on it. Tell your kids to run around and scrub the particularly dirty parts and then rinse clean and let dry hanging outside somewhere (over chairs or on a rail).
I've done this several times with acrylic and wool rugs and it's worked well. Definitely worth a try before replacing it, though the portable carpet cleaners you can rent at Home Depot (or even our Shoppers) sound like a good option as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you know that you can clean up a soiled wool carpet by flipping it over - right side down - and moving it around on the snow?

The abrasiveness and the moisture in the snow, dislodges the dirt, without soaking the rug.

Give it a good shake and you are all set to go.

OMG. Not OP, but our dog's grimy squeaky tennis ball got cleaned this way in the snow, and I didn't put two and two together until your post but I'm going to try this with my rug before the snow melts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know that you can clean up a soiled wool carpet by flipping it over - right side down - and moving it around on the snow?

The abrasiveness and the moisture in the snow, dislodges the dirt, without soaking the rug.

Give it a good shake and you are all set to go.

OMG. Not OP, but our dog's grimy squeaky tennis ball got cleaned this way in the snow, and I didn't put two and two together until your post but I'm going to try this with my rug before the snow melts!

Go for it!
Though I have an image of you with your rug out in the snow and your dog madly chasing it and loving this new game!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. Instead, I'd by a small carpet cleaning machine for $100 like this one from Bissell http://www.amazon.com/BISSELL-SpotClean-Professional-Portable-3624/dp/B008DBRFBK/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1392383943&sr=1-3&keywords=carpet+cleaner . If you don't have wall to wall carpeting, you don't need a big one, a smaller one would be fine. I have one similar to the one listed and it did an AMAZING job on a cheap Ikea carpet we bought when DS was a baby. It's mostly red and has a deep pile (but not shag). It's been vomited on, pooped on, all kinds of food spilled on it and can look really crappy. It also cleans really well and afterwards looks like new. It and the carpet cleaner were great investments. We also use the carpet cleaner on furniture. Even though we don't allow food on the furniture, it still gets stained and dirty (not to mention the dust!). I highly recommend it.

We do the same thing. Once you do it a few times, you realize how easy it is to clean rugs and furniture. I like that water extraction it does. Sometimes that's enough and I don't have to use a cleaner on the fabric.