DIY rug cleaning?

[Dixie]

What's the most practical, and cost effective, way to clean my 13 x10 rug? Can I take it outside and wash it using a hose and detergent? I'm asking because my local rug cleaner wants almost as much to wash it, as it cost to buy. It's from Lowe's, and woven from polyester.

[rwest]

Test a small spot first to make sure the colors aren’t going to fade or run.

Try and get it to dry as quickly as possible afterwards.

I think you’ll have very good luck cleaning it yourself.

[Tobra]

Rutager has it.

You are going to want some help, that thing is going to get HEAVY when it is wet.

[HobieMarty]

Carpet shampooer, perhaps, ya know, it puts the water and cleaning solution down and pulls it back out, heated ones work the best. Go over it a few times and keep extracting water, and it will be nearly dry by the time you are finished.

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[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Rutager has it.

You are going to want some help, that thing is going to get HEAVY when it is wet.

What if I just leave it laying to dry?. I mean, aside from the rainy season beckoning.

[911 Rod]

Maybe it just needs a good beating?

[stevej37]

In this area, Lowes, Menards, and HD rent out HD carpet cleaners for $40 for 24 hrs.
If you have carpeted rooms that need cleaning...do both at once.

I've never rented one....but heard they work well.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by stevej37

In this area, Lowes, Menards, and HD rent out HD carpet cleaners for $40 for 24 hrs.
If you have carpeted rooms that need cleaning...do both at once.

I've never rented one....but heard they work well.

Not to be difficult, but I can't see fitting one in a Camaro.

[Steve Carlton]

New carpet- Camaro tax. Maybe a 13x10 pool table?

If you leave it out to dry, I'd drape it over those chairs or something.

[jyl]

Buy a Bissell carpet cleaner, around $200 and Amazon will deliver. We have a large one (for annual deep cleaning) and a small one (for spot cleaning). These are home versions of the carpet shampoo'ers that you can rent, and work well. There are limits, if you've spilled ink then don't expect it to come up, but for normal dirt and stains, you should be able to get them out or mostly out. No need to move carpet, you clean in place.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by jyl

Buy a Bissell carpet cleaner, around $200 and Amazon will deliver. We have a large one (for annual deep cleaning) and a small one (for spot cleaning). These are home versions of the carpet shampoo'ers that you can rent, and work well. There are limits, if you've spilled ink then don't expect it to come up, but for normal dirt and stains, you should be able to get them out or mostly out. No need to move carpet, you clean in place.

I did this 20 years ago and even thought I only use it once every couple of years, I have no regrets.

[gregpark]

I recently bought a Bissell carpet cleaner that employs steam. They claim the only one on the market. It does work really well. I got it because I have a new puppy. Now she's house trained thank God

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Dixie

What if I just leave it laying to dry?. I mean, aside from the rainy season beckoning.

I would try and get at least some kind of spacers underneath to help speed up drying. You don’t want to get mold on it- maybe get a fan under an edge. Put a few plastic pails or bins under it randomly to allow air to circulate.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Dixie

What's the most practical, and cost effective, way to clean my 13 x10 rug? Can I take it outside and wash it using a hose and detergent? I'm asking because my local rug cleaner wants almost as much to wash it, as it cost to buy. It's from Lowe's, and woven from polyester.

If it's polyester, then it's unlikely to change colors (unless it's just that dirty).

Originally Posted by rwest

Test a small spot first to make sure the colors aren’t going to fade or run.

Try and get it to dry as quickly as possible afterwards.

I think you’ll have very good luck cleaning it yourself.

But still always good to test just in case.

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Carpet shampooer, perhaps, ya know, it puts the water and cleaning solution down and pulls it back out, heated ones work the best. Go over it a few times and keep extracting water, and it will be nearly dry by the time you are finished.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

You should be able to rent a carpet cleaner from Home Depot, and maybe Publix.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Maybe it just needs a good beating?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

Buy a Bissell carpet cleaner, around $200 and Amazon will deliver. We have a large one (for annual deep cleaning) and a small one (for spot cleaning). These are home versions of the carpet shampoo'ers that you can rent, and work well. There are limits, if you've spilled ink then don't expect it to come up, but for normal dirt and stains, you should be able to get them out or mostly out. No need to move carpet, you clean in place.

Yep, you can get them relatively inexpensively, and those work pretty well.

[gregpark]

Over the years I've seen this many times. People put pails and cans and whatever under the rug or carpet to help it dry after a plumbing leak or whatever. The problem is the backing stretches over the paint can and sometimes it's impossible for me to get it flat again, even with a power stretcher. More times than I could count I've had to tell the home owner they need to buy new carpet

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rwest

I would try and get at least some kind of spacers underneath to help speed up drying. You don’t want to get mold on it- maybe get a fan under an edge. Put a few plastic pails or bins under it randomly to allow air to circulate.

Definitely. Elevated is the way to go.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Over the years I've seen this many times. People put pails and cans and whatever under the rug or carpet to help it dry after a plumbing leak or whatever. The problem is the backing stretches over the paint can and sometimes it's impossible for me to get it flat again, even with a power stretcher. More times than I could count I've had to tell the home owner they need to buy new carpet

Interesting, and good to know. So likely what needs to support is something full length, like a long railing or something like that.

Or maybe just lay it on the roof of the camaro

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Not to be difficult, but I can't see fitting one in a Camaro.

HD rents trucks for $29 for 90 minutes.

But I’d get a couple cans foaming carpet cleaner and a brush. Drag it outside and scrub then hose. Wait till it’s dry then drag it back in. You already said it’s poly so it’s not going to curl up and die from a bit of moisture.