Question about carpet cleaning

[emeraldeyez02]

Ok I have a bissel quick steamer, I'm out of soap and its about $20 a bottle and I'm low low low on money. So I read somewhere to use white vinegar instead of soap it will be cleaner than using the soap cause the soap stays in the carpet and attracts more dirt?

So my question is has anyone done this?
Can I use vinegar and hot water to clean my carpets?
Will it actually remove stains?
I don't have many a few coke and juice stains in the living room.
And is it ok to use in kids rooms who play on the floor?
I thought I read some where to use a few drops of dish soap with hot water?
Which one would be better to use, or should/can I combine the soap and vinegar?

I'm full of questions any help would be great!!! :smile77:

Guess the better question would be how long is my house going to smell?

[papadsgirls]

You can pretreat stains with shout. You can use vinagar. Use a in your shampoo compartment. You can also use laundry detergent. Not the bleach altern. kind. (it will bleach your carpet). The cheap stuff will work too. My mother has rental homes and I have to clean when the renters move out. I like to use tide with febreeze. It leaves the home smelling so good. If you have pets I would use the vinagar. It kills pet odors. It is safe with kids. It's just what ever your happy with. Try a small area and make sure carpet doesn't with what every you choose.
I have played with all of the carpet cleaners and for the price they stink. They are too strong odor wise. So I went to the laundry det. If you use a kero. heater. The vinagar will remove the soot in the floor. So play with it and see. You can mix the vinagar and the laundry det. Just make sure there is no baking soda in the laundry detergent.lol. I found out the hard way......
Use what you have just test a small spot first.
I also use laundry det. to clean the couch and chairs... If this will help.

[gldolezal2]

Thanks for answering the question, I use laundry soap, bleach, amonnia(sometimes) or whatever is avaliable :)
I have a cat in the house, can't find out where the spot where he spends time (dinning room, I dropped a plant 2 years ago, and the cat smells the dirt and thinks its outside time! :( I used Fabreeze refill liquid in the machine but still can't get the smell out of the carpet. Nobody smells it but me. It drives me crazy.
I will try to use Vinegar and water again, but if that don't work.....? rip upthe carpet?!? or throw the cat out LOL
THANKS :)

[Cynthiabutterfly]

DH has always shampooed our carpets, and we have never bought special soap. He's used dish detergent, laundry soap and AP cleaner - ie, lysol, 409, mean green. You only need a TINY amount and you have to rinse well, at least 2-3 times.

When he used the mean green my carpets looked new even with juice/koolaid spills, doggie accidents, etc.

Disclaimer: We have really cheap off-white carpets. I don't know how these things will work if you have colored carpet or nice carpets. Try an area in the corner or under the furniture.

[Rene S]

I have a cat in the house, can't find out where the spot where he spends time (dinning room, I dropped a plant 2 years ago, and the cat smells the dirt and thinks its outside time! :( I used Fabreeze refill liquid in the machine but still can't get the smell out of the carpet. Nobody smells it but me. It drives me crazy.
I will try to use Vinegar and water again, but if that don't work.....? rip upthe carpet?!? or throw the cat out LOL
THANKS :)

Some ideas for you:
To find the urine spots, use a black light. The urine will glow in the light.

You'll need to use an enzymatic cleaner once you find the spot(s). Be GENEROUS in the amount of cleaner you use. Soak it and let it sit. I really like Petzyme brand (sold only at Petsmart). It works well and is more affordable than other brands, about $14/gallon.

[slb1023]

You can pretreat stains with shout. You can use vinagar. Use a in your shampoo compartment. You can also use laundry detergent. Not the bleach altern. kind. (it will bleach your carpet). The cheap stuff will work too. My mother has rental homes and I have to clean when the renters move out. I like to use tide with febreeze. It leaves the home smelling so good. If you have pets I would use the vinagar. It kills pet odors. It is safe with kids. It's just what ever your happy with. Try a small area and make sure carpet doesn't with what every you choose.
I have played with all of the carpet cleaners and for the price they stink. They are too strong odor wise. So I went to the laundry det. If you use a kero. heater. The vinagar will remove the soot in the floor. So play with it and see. You can mix the vinagar and the laundry det. Just make sure there is no baking soda in the laundry detergent.lol. I found out the hard way......
Use what you have just test a small spot first.
I also use laundry det. to clean the couch and chairs... If this will help.

I am glad that I found this post! I am cleaning my carpets tonight and I am going to try the vinagar instead of the carpet shampoo stuff! When you say you can pretreat the stains with shout do you let it sit on there and then clean it up with the carpet cleaner or clean it by hand first and then go over it with the carpet cleaner? Also my carpet cleaner I mix the cleaning solution with the water so would it still be ok to use vinagar??

[beth119]

Vinegar?? How neat!

How many parts to water?

[loladooder99]

I am not sure if it would work although I too have the same machine. I got my soap when a coupon came out months ago. Vinegar should be safe for kids to play on the carpet because i mean you put in in bbq sauce and you can use it to soften the laundry. Its great for rinses out detergent buildup in sheets that give baby red cheeks when sleeping on them.