Common home remedies...

crash_override · 03-31-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veridical Fiction

Hey Crash,
I'm working on a house to sell it and I'm almost at the point where I'll be calling Stanley Steamer, but this carpet is EFFED up big time. No blood or fecal matter or anything like that, but there are a lot of deep stains.
What's the likelihood that all of it will come out?
I'm going to get a quote for 3 rooms, probably looking at around 2-300 dollars I'm guessing, but I'm wondering if it'd be better to re-carpet.

Any advice?

Edit:
The carpet is medium gray and fluffy, for lack of a better term.

Ok well first of all, let me start my saying. Your expectations are the main thing here. Seconded by the nature of the stains. Are they soda, beer, wine, soap stains from self cleaning etc.? Anything red is not going anywhere, forget that. Along with things that contain dyes or tannin acids. These things, if left untreated for an extended period of time, can find their way into tiny micro scopic holes found in carpet fibers (nylon) that are normally called 'dye sites'. This is where they insert the dyes of the carpet to begin with, then they add the stain and dry soil protector apllications, thus filling these dye sites. Now keep in mind these dye sites are meant to retain these colors under extremely excruciating conditions and once you develop
a traffic pattern or just wear in general, you are essentially stripping the protective coating from the fibers, which leaves the dyes sites vulnerable to the extreme abrasion that a sandpaper like substance we like to call soil. Now soil abrades these fibers causing the 'sheen', or shiny appearance of the general area of the carpet to fade, resulting in the faded areas in your walkways we call traffic patterns.

Now back to the stains. Like I said, once these dye sites are exposed with the protective coating removed, foreign dyes and other staining substances can find their way in to these dye sites. Which, like i said are meant to retain what they take in at any cost. If your rug has gotten to this point, then some stains might not be effected by a cleaning at all. But like I said before, your expectations are the most important determining factor here. If you expect it to look new, buy new. But if you expect it to be clean, and livable. Then call Steemer. You can expect to spend anywhere from 120 - 140 dollars american, depending on your area. Thats just for cleaning, as extra products won't be necessary as you are selling the home. They will give you that price over the phone, keep in mind rooms over 330 sq. ft. count as two areas. SS also does all their spot treating for free. So that can save you big money compared to other services.

In conclusion I say, if you want your carpet to look new, buy new. But depending on your stains and what they are (im expecting you to get back with me on this) you may be able to "save" the rug for a fraction of the price.

crash_override · 03-31-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 333

Damn. I'm sorry that i offended your carpet expertise with that shaving cream remark; however, I have tried this myself with FRESHLY spilt wine. I appreciate your thoughtful suggestions and comments, but there is no need to trash mine. It wasn't something I simply heard - I tried it.

As for the piss marketing - sarcasm, people, sarcasm. I am not trying to fu.do with anyone.

Its ok, it is not the worst thing ive heard of people doing to their carpet. Believe me. It gets pretty ridiculous sometimes. I used to joke we should have our own reality show lol.

Freebase Dali · 03-31-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_override

Ok well first of all, let me start my saying. Your expectations are the main thing here. Seconded by the nature of the stains. Are they soda, beer, wine, soap stains from self cleaning etc.? Anything red is not going anywhere, forget that. Along with things that contain dyes or tannin acids. These things, if left untreated for an extended period of time, can find their way into tiny micro scopic holes found in carpet fibers (nylon) that are normally called 'dye sites'. This is where they insert the dyes of the carpet to begin with, then they add the stain and dry soil protector apllications, thus filling these dye sites. Now keep in mind these dye sites are meant to retain these colors under extremely excruciating conditions and once you develop
a traffic pattern or just wear in general, you are essentially stripping the protective coating from the fibers, which leaves the dyes sites vulnerable to the extreme abrasion that a sandpaper like substance we like to call soil. Now soil abrades these fibers causing the 'sheen', or shiny appearance of the general area of the carpet to fade, resulting in the faded areas in your walkways we call traffic patterns.

Now back to the stains. Like I said, once these dye sites are exposed with the protective coating removed, foreign dyes and other staining substances can find their way in to these dye sites. Which, like i said are meant to retain what they take in at any cost. If your rug has gotten to this point, then some stains might not be effected by a cleaning at all. But like I said before, your expectations are the most important determining factor here. If you expect it to look new, buy new. But if you expect it to be clean, and livable. Then call Steemer. You can expect to spend anywhere from 120 - 140 dollars american, depending on your area. Thats just for cleaning, as extra products won't be necessary as you are selling the home. They will give you that price over the phone, keep in mind rooms over 330 sq. ft. count as two areas. SS also does all their spot treating for free. So that can save you big money compared to other services.

In conclusion I say, if you want your carpet to look new, buy new. But depending on your stains and what they are (im expecting you to get back with me on this) you may be able to "save" the rug for a fraction of the price.

I think the stains are mainly soda, wet food, non-red juices, and wet shoe debris. I never lived there, so I can't say for sure.
There is no wear on the carpet in terms of color loss.
I don't need the carpet to look new, but clean and livable is a must. The stains themselves are of great contrast to the carpet, and potential buyers just won't agree to the asking price knowing they'll have to do work. If Stanley Steamer can get things at least homogeneous looking, it's a start.
200 dollars is affordable to at least see whether more drastic measures are necessary.
I'm showing the house in 14 days, so as soon as I finish re-flooring one of the bedrooms, I'm getting the outside pressure washed and the carpets cleaned, which will be the last item. If I end up having to replace any carpet, it's going to screw with my time line. that's why I was asking your advice.

Thanks.

Nation · 03-31-2009, 07:11 PM

Ginger works as a motion sickness medicine if your opposed to drugs or don't have time to get medicine.
And there's always the Essential Oils.
Go look them up, their the oils taken from plants in which they make medicine out of, but their all natural and not harmful. You could drink a whole bottle and be fine. And they all do different things too.
Like Eucalyptus is the base for Vicks, and works just as well and is more natural, and there is no limit.
Also their very good pro-biotics, and helpful with Reflexology (which isn't utter crap, it's real and helps).
(this is a long post, I'll shut up now.)

03-31-2009, 07:11 PM	#24 (permalink)
Nation Groupie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 40	Ginger works as a motion sickness medicine if your opposed to drugs or don't have time to get medicine. And there's always the Essential Oils. Go look them up, their the oils taken from plants in which they make medicine out of, but their all natural and not harmful. You could drink a whole bottle and be fine. And they all do different things too. Like Eucalyptus is the base for Vicks, and works just as well and is more natural, and there is no limit. Also their very good pro-biotics, and helpful with Reflexology (which isn't utter crap, it's real and helps). (this is a long post, I'll shut up now.) __________________ My music channel Nation's the name, Music is my game.