Am I the only one who thinks that clean carpets are magical? I truly believe that the writers of the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” knew that this weekend was going to be carpet cleaning weekend for me.
Don’t get me wrong–I find toasting marshmallows and caroling out in the snow to be magical, as well. But I think Edward Pola and George Wyle should have added a line about how wonderful it is to watch the steam cleaner suck the dirt out of your soiled carpets. And oh how plush they feel after they dry!
I told Mr. Handsome that the $50 I spent to rent the Rug Doctor brought me just as much joy as the $50 I spent on a manicure earlier this year. Not that he should rent me a carpet cleaner for my next birthday in lieu of a gift. I’m not that much of a nerd!
In all seriousness though, it does feel amazing to have clean carpets. Do you agree? I try to clean ours every nine months, or at the very most once a year. It also helps maintain the quality of the carpets so they last longer, so definitely a double-win.
Anonymous
I won’t use one of those DIY machines. I was told by a carpet dealer long ago that that kind of carpet cleaning is bad for carpets, breaks them down more by creating deeply-embedded dirt, leaves sticky, dirt-attracting residue, and can put nasty things in the air. I use Capture dry powder carpet cleaner, which is recommended by carpet dealers. My carpet is 28 years old and still looks great. It was dense, good-quality carpet to begin with and commercial-grade padding, but I’ve taken good care of it and never used a wet cleaning machine. I also make sure we have door mats at all entrances, but I don’t make people take shoes off in the house. Capture will remove anything quickly.
Lisa
I love clean carpets too. Unfortunately we don’t get them cleaned as often as you. Maybe you would want to consider purchasing a carpet shampooer for yourself. It would be an initial investment but you would save the rental cost. We did that and our children have used it in their homes, too. Ours does a very good job.
Ellie
That’s a good idea, Lisa. What brand do you have?
Lisa
We have a Hoover Steamboat. We have had it 20+ years. We bought it from Sears.
Gabrielle!
We also have a carpet shampooer!
Gabrielle!
I also think vacuuming your house is relaxing and then when its done seeing how much dirt you cleaned! Its so rewarding;)
Ellie
Yes it is! I love watching how much dirt and dust gets sucked up in the canister.
Anonymous
Hi
Hi Ellie. How many rooms of carpet did you clean? Do you remove all the furniture in the room or do you clean around furniture? My rooms are small, I still use foam carpet spray. Everybody have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Ellie
We only have carpeting in our bedrooms and hallway. Last time, we moved all the furniture. This time, I just worked around the furniture. Happy Thanksgiving!
Jo Ann
I just bought a carpet cleaner. During this pandemic, even pre-pandemic, there’s no way I’d use a machine on my carpets that’s been in multiple homes. It just creeps me out! No judgment! I just couldn’t do it.
Anonymous
It’s nice to have a clean carpet for sure! However in my over zealousness for this state, I used the shown product on a carpet in a rental apartment. Guess what I found out?!
There was a hardwood floor under that carpet! The throughout the entire place it looked like an old fashion washboard! Protocols, due diligence whatever you call it do your homework into the downsides when chasing the upsides!
Ellie
Interesting! A house I lived in growing up had hardwood under the carpets. We learned that ours doesn’t when we replaced the carpets a few years ago.
Anonymous
Ask me about the time I brought furniture from a country thrift store (I thought was charming)and realized I’d transferred furniture infested with cockroaches. Protocols! Shortly after that I returned a toilet in a box I’d never opened to the hardware store, the staff which took two instead to open and look through the box to the bottom. I said I never opened it, they looked at me and said we do this every time because we have our store protocols. I’d learned a little lesson. Look very carefully at what you bring in your house!
Ellie
Oh my! Sounds like a similar thing that happened to us. When we got married and moved into our first place, we bought 2 beautiful, gently used couches…that we think ended up bringing brown recluse spiders into our house. It was awful.
Elizabeth
I’m super curious
Are you a no shoes in the house household or are outdoor shoes worn in the house? In Canada it’s rare to leave outdoor shoes on in the house:)
Ellie
I’m a no shoes in the house person. Although most people in the US leave their shoes on, so I usually try to find a nice way to ask people to remove theirs 🙂
Anonymous
Where is all your carpet dirt coming from if everyone is padding around in socks or slippers?
Anonymous
What if a guest has foot fungus and walks all over your floor with no shoes? Gross.
Eileen
I am with you on carpet cleaning! Love to know the floors are clean. I used to have an electrolux carpet cleaner, I don’t think that brand even exists anymore. I am looking for a new one. Any recommendations from anyone welcome, need it for furniture as well. I think it is well worth it to buy your own.
Eileen
PS. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the States. From a Canadian!
Ellie
Thank you, Eileen! 🙂
Justine Kessner
Ellie I love it when your place is clean from top, to bottom, and I bet because U have a toddler that is why it would mean more!!!! Do U know after my father/Mother, washed the carpet with the cleaner, they used a vinegar rinse to get the soap out of the carpet more!!!! After the vinegar rinse, the carpet would shine!!!! They tried it once without the rinse, and the carpet never was that clean feel!!! TRY IT!!!! Love U 3!!!!!!
Ellie
Interesting! Thanks for the tip 🙂