In our apartment we have really, really shitty looking carpet. I don't have any pictures of it currently, but its horrible.

I've talked to our landlord and he doesn't want to get it replaced because he already has us committed for the year, but then again we really want the place to look good so he is going to come out and take a look at it. Like, the first week of September

So, what are the options for getting a carpet professionally cleaned? Any experiences? Is it worthwhile? We are considering carpet cleaning instead if the price for replacement is really high or the landlord won't budge on replacement.

8/11/2008 6:48:51 PM

A professional steam cleaning can definitely make a marked improvement in a dirty carpet.

However, many college carpets are pretty much dirty beyond any point of reason. Some of the stains will probably be permanent and will be even more prominent after the carpet is cleaned (as the stuff that won't come out just sort of pops out at you since the carpet around it is cleaner).

It's worth a shot if the landlord is being a dick and won't replace it.

8/11/2008 7:21:28 PM

I don't know about professional cleaning, but I've had decent results with Milliken's Capture product.

8/11/2008 7:22:05 PM

can't you rent those like self steam cleaner carpet cleaning things at like food lion? i know the one on avent ferry has them but i think a lot of grocery stores have them.

i've never used them but it seems like a cheap idea that COULD work. who knows.

8/12/2008 12:10:25 AM

carpet cleaner rentals from uhaul are pretty cheap:

http://www.uhaul.com/toolrentals/

8/12/2008 12:17:39 AM

i got a free cleaning for renewing, they dude did a good job

8/12/2008 12:22:54 AM

I'm talking like, using chemicals and shit to burn the unholy fuck out of there. Not sure how well a steam cleaner would work, but yeah, it could help.

8/12/2008 1:14:24 AM

If it's really that bad, and I can relate - the carpet that was installed by the builder in the townhouse I own now BLOWS obviously, a good (professional) cleaning will only temporarily make it better. When it gets dirty again, you'll be back to looking just as crappy. There really is no substitute for replacing it - even if it's cheap carpet and only for a year or two - if it's in bad shape.

Doing it yourself just never seems to turn out as well as if you just get a pro to do it - and a lot of the non-corporate one-man-shows aren't really expensive anyway.

8/12/2008 1:40:34 AM

Quote :

"a good (professional) cleaning will only temporarily make it better. When it gets dirty again, you'll be back to looking just as crappy"

this just made my head explode. please tell me you didn't mean to say this.

8/12/2008 6:14:46 AM

one year my roommate and i rented a rug doctor (you can get them from the teet iirc) and shampooed the downstairs. it made a huge difference, of course the carpet was that bad to start with. we ran over it a couple times and it practically looked new. it didn't cost very much and it was well worth it.

8/12/2008 7:31:06 AM

Quote :

"Doing it yourself just never seems to turn out as well as if you just get a pro to do it - and lot of the non-corporate one-man-shows aren't really expensive anyway."

^Absolutely.

We have the rental cottages at the beach that I manage professionally cleaned- ususally twice a year, and it makes a huge difference:

1. It will make a noticable difference in the feel and look to the carpet.
2. Some stains may resurface after the carpet dries, depending on their severity.
3. It helps to do it when you really want your security deposit back.
4. The price will usually depend on the # of rooms in the house and if you're having the entire caprets done or just the high traffic areas (entries to rooms, halls, stairs, etc.)

[Edited on August 12, 2008 at 8:58 AM. Reason : /]

8/12/2008 8:57:18 AM

i got one off tww classifieds for 30 and the shit worked great...aksnoopy had a dog and it always would pee or dooky inside, and one day she went to work and i re did the entire apt and when she came home she was like damn...

8/12/2008 9:00:50 AM

find out how long the carpet has been there. They are required to replace it every 5 years.

8/12/2008 9:36:30 AM

I can get you some cheap olefin berber for around 5.99/sqyd

8/12/2008 10:37:49 AM

you can rent a little machine thing from Food Lion too

8/12/2008 10:43:20 AM

^^^ No they're not.

8/12/2008 10:58:56 AM

Depends on the material but you could look into professional carpet dyeing to either fix spots that can't be removed with steam or just wall to wall dyeing, which usually includes the cleaning.

8/12/2008 11:05:21 AM

^^When I was a maintenance tech at Archstone Olde Raleigh off of Duraleigh, we were required to replace the carpet after 5 years.

8/12/2008 11:36:01 AM

^ That may have been you employer's policy, but it certainly isn't written in any law.

8/12/2008 2:47:28 PM

Quote :

"one year my roommate and i rented a rug doctor (you can get them from the teet iirc) and shampooed the downstairs. "

My mom has said that above all else, to not shampoo/steam clean the carpet, since it makes the apartment smell like a wet dog and apparently has all sorts of other problems. She defintiely knows what she's talking about so I'm sticking with her.

I could take a picture of the place tomorrow to showcase the really bad spots...and its horrible.

Any recommendations for professional cleaners?

8/19/2008 12:26:54 AM

Quote :

"My mom has said that above all else, to not shampoo/steam clean the carpet"

uh, what exactly do you think the cleaners are going to do?

8/19/2008 1:26:43 AM

get a spray on cleaner, a sponge, a brush and go to town


there are tons of stains that won't come out with a professional cleaning that you can get out with a little scrubbing--don't waste your money.

8/19/2008 1:37:36 AM

we always use stanley steamer. they do a good job and are in and out pretty quickly.

8/19/2008 7:10:22 AM

I rent a Rug Doctor once a year, and it does a great job. There is debate that cleaning the carpet this way necessitates more cleaning down the road, but it is a quick fix.

8/19/2008 9:09:37 AM

I really want to have my carpets cleaned, but I have tooo much shit to move around

8/19/2008 10:41:00 AM

throw a multiple kegger

5 bucks a cup

dont worry about people spilling beer or anything else


...PROFIT

8/19/2008 11:33:31 AM

Quote :

"uh, what exactly do you think the cleaners are going to do?"

She mentioned something about using chemicals and basically dry cleaning the place (as in not use water).

8/19/2008 1:57:37 PM

my brother's had the "dry" treatment before, they use an alcohol-based cleaner so it dries faster, but the carpet's still wet basically all day. either way, it might leave a residual "musty" smell, but it'll be gone in a few days

8/19/2008 2:03:34 PM

we used "carpet dryclean" in our old house. it does not make the carpet wet- they use a powder solvent that works into the carpet and then they super suck it back out, along with the stains n such. i've never had a carpet steam cleaned where it's wet all day so this was my first experience with it, but we had several stains from when our dog was a puppy that they could not get out. i vote no.

8/19/2008 2:45:35 PM

Spot shot is the best carpet cleaner spray I have tried.

Otherwise +1 for renting a rugdoctor. Smell goes away as soon as it dries.

I'd suggest spot shot on the worst parts, then rug doctor all over, then buy an area rug. Home depot has cheap area rugs, some of them are pretty nice. They are carpet ends that are finished off so if you see what you like buy it then. I think the 6x8 I got was $20.

8/19/2008 3:07:56 PM