Chicks On Lit discussion
Non Book Talk
>
Cleaning Tricks?
message 1:
by
Mandy
(new)
Jul 20, 2009 08:47AM
So, we will be moving and I want to clean my carpets and couches. Does anyone know of any tips to do it without purchasing some monstrous machine?
reply
|
flag
Are you wanting to shampoo and steam them kind of clean?
Yes, I have a steam blaster. Do you think it would work? My husband has a bad habit of keeping his boots on inside even though I tell him over and over not too. So needless to say, my kids and I walk around with black feet. (Okay maybe a little exaggerated...but they are dirty!) So, even though I clean the floors it doesn't help so it has to be the area rugs. Just want to get them clean before the move because I told my husband that if he thinks about walking into the new place with his shoes on he might as well keep his things packed. LOL
I'm not too sure what the steam blaster does but it sounds like it should do the trick for sure!!
Stanley Steamer did a great job for us, (on the couch too) but if the stains have gotten into the carpet padding and couch padding, the stains will eventually re-appear (faster during the warm & humid months than during the cooler months).
The steam blaster doesn't look like it does carpets. Only little areas really. boo.Jo ~ I will figure something out. I know my husband has fallen asleep many of nights on the couch with his beer in hand. So I refuse to pay for his negligence.
If you have some small stains on your carpet try windex with viniger. I use it on pet stains and dirt stains. Also, try woolight carpet cleanner. I just spray an even layer on the carpet let it sit for a little bit then just vacume it right up! Cleans all the dirt and smells great!
This has to do with cleaning..but not necessarily what was originally posted..hope that's ok :)I have let my room become a disaster area. It's to the point that it overwhelms me everytime I look at it..so I don't. I shut my door and go elsewhere in the house until I have to sleep. It literally looks like how you would imagine a room to look like in the aftermath of a tornado. Clothes everywhere. and who knows what else. Mostly clothes..(ps. Confessions of a Shopaholic is my life story. haha) Anyways..I keep putting it off further because I don't know where to start and I know that there is junk in there that I should get rid of from college and stuff that I didn't even TAKE to college with me in all my years there..but every time I go to start cleaning..I take one look at my room and panic and start to feel overwhelmed and anxious about where to start. Any tips? I need to do like one big "spring cleaning"..but I just don't know where to start.
Mandy Sue, most supermarkets rent carpet cleaners. If you have a Price Chopper or something like that near you, you can rent one by the day. It works well, and you can use it on the couch too.
Jamie,I am a firm believer of breaking things into small steps. What I would do is buy some heavy duty bins, they are always on sale at Walmart. Go through your room and sort things (ie tshirts in one bin, pants in another) When you sort everything, they will be neatly placed in separate bins and your room will look a lot cleaner. From there, take one bin at a time and clean out what you don't need per bin. I would suggest only doing one bin at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed. Also, make sure you label each bin. this really works,. good luck
Jamie wrote: "This has to do with cleaning..but not necessarily what was originally posted..hope that's ok :)I have let my room become a disaster area. It's to the point that it overwhelms me everytime I look ..."
the first step is the hardest and after that you will be surprised at how easy it is. My son has just spent the past 3 weeks helping a friend of ours regain control of her home. They started with one area of a room and worked from there. Honestly our friend has 6000 sq ft filled up! I have the pictures to prove it. My son is doing it out of the goodness of his heart and he wants her to want to come home to her home...not shudder when she walks in the front door...or rather pushes herself thru the bags to get into the house. She is a shopaholic and won't return anything. Returning is the next step that they will tackle. The old rule is if you haven't used it in the past 6 months you don't need it UNLESS it has great sentimental value and only you know if that is true. Good luck....
Great advice you all for Jamie! I've always cleaned rooms like that by starting at one point in the room and working my way around it in sections. I make piles as I go and then I sort through those piles. If I haven't used it or worn it in a year and there is no use for it in my life right then I toss it. If I want to save it I put it in a bin and store it.
and IF you pile the "unknowns" on the bed you have to clean it or you can't sleep there...ha.
Jamie ~ I have the same problem as you with the bedroom. I use my room as storage so I am looking forward to this move to get a fresh start. I just have a problem throwing away. I'm not a pack rat with anything but clothing. For some reason I become sentimentally attached to my clothes....and shoes.
Holli's is good advice if you don't want to invest in the tubs. Honestly, I think the best thing you can do is just to get in there and get it done. Put on some music. Make piles. Then deal with the individual piles. Yeah, it can be overwhelming, but you'll feel tons better when you finish. Aside from just getting started, the hardest part for me is getting rid of stuff, but I'm trying and getting better at it.
Teri ~ That sounds affordable and worth it. I could bring the rugs to the new apt and clean them there to make sure no one goes on them. Thanks!! Home Depot is right down the street. Now how did you quit smoking? I could use that advice!!
Lori--- music always makes EVERYTHING better--- great advice on that one! Throw some music on really loud Jamie and make it more fun to tackle this project. :)
thanks for the advice everyone! I think tomorrow I'm just going to focus on getting things in piles when I get home and then on Thursday before work I'll tackle a pile or two.
In order to prevent mass clutter, I typically tend to go through purges once or twice a year. But it's done in phases.CDs, DVDs, books, clothes, shoes and knick-knacks. I've done clothes already. I start with my closet and go through the entire rack. Toss to the side what I haven't worn in a year or two. Why keep what you aren't going to wear? The exception to this are with particular dresses or suits. I'll box up what I tossed. Another day I'll tackle a chest of drawers and do the same. Slowly but surely I'll have gone through my entire room.
Most of the time what's for toss goes to Goodwill or the library. Tonight I'll attempt to ge through my DVDs.
Teri I would love the baby steps approach to quitting smoking as well - would you mind sharing how you did that?
Lori wrote: "If you have some small stains on your carpet try windex with viniger. I use it on pet stains and dirt stains. Also, try woolight carpet cleanner. I just spray an even layer on the carpet let it sit..."Lori - I've never heard of that mix, but I'm gonna try it! Thanks!
We have used carpet steam cleaners on our carpets but they just need to be replaced altogether. Like Jo said...in the Summer, it looks nice for a week but then it all comes back up to the surface. I'm gonna try the windex trick because I always have plenty of that around :)
My Mom worked in the carpet industry for the last 12 years or more. She swears by the windex! She doesn't mix it with anything, just sprays it right on the carpet.
Cyndi wrote: "My Mom worked in the carpet industry for the last 12 years or more. She swears by the windex! She doesn't mix it with anything, just sprays it right on the carpet."that is too cool. i'm gonna go home and try it tonight!
Cyndi ~ You know what, I remember when my parents put new carpets down they told them not to use anything else but Windex on the carpets. I forgot about that.
never heard of the windex treatment for carpets but will gladly give it a try.Now we can get her all cleaned up and back to reading...ha.
I will share this bit of mental therapy. The last visual you have each night is of your bedroom and it is also the first thing you see each day so it has to be the best you can afford. If you can't control another area of the house try and make your bedroom your sanctuary. I swear it will make a difference!
Great advice Teri! I quit cold turkey 5 years ago and never went back. I've never felt healthier in my life, even with all of my "issues"!
Wow, Teri, you actually make it (sort of) sound doable! I think you nailed it with not telling people, and not telling yourself you have to quit. I've been trying to cut down, not quit, because ultimately I want to quit but the word is so scary to me. Thank you so much for the advice! And congratulations to you and Holli for quitting!
This may sound really corny, but watching shows like Clean House or Home Made Simple always puts me in the mood to get rid of things and organize.I love to organize anyway so that's not too much of a struggle. Getting rid of things I don't need is another story.
I know Katie, there's always that "what if I need it" factor. I have a hard time cleaning clutter too.
Jcwillis53 wrote: "and IF you pile the "unknowns" on the bed you have to clean it or you can't sleep there...ha."That is exactly what I make my daughter do when she cleans her room--and no cheating and shoving it all under the bed!
Cyndi wrote: "My Mom worked in the carpet industry for the last 12 years or more. She swears by the windex! She doesn't mix it with anything, just sprays it right on the carpet."I have never heard of that--but I'm definitely going to try it tonight!
teri wrote: "Baby steps for smoking-I tried quitting smoking a few times and it didn't work. Here's how I succeeded. The first thing to do is to gradually decrease the nicotine addiction, and you can do that ..."
Great advice! I tried going cold turkey and that never worked. It wasn't the nicotine I was missing so much though. It was really just breaking the "habit". In the mornings before I did anything, I had a cigarette--I made myself have a cup of coffee instead; after meals, I always had a cigarette--I made myself get up from the table as soon as I was done. Just like with the whole cleaning your room thing, taking small steps worked the best for me.
The windex topic for carpets jsut maeks me want to watch 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding" ..Windex cures all, right? :)I totally agree o n the bedroom being kept tidy and being a sanctuary, but alas, mine is the collection of all un sorted laundry, and the forsaken "sockland"...where all mis matched socks end up!
Jamie wrote: "This has to do with cleaning..but not necessarily what was originally posted..hope that's ok :)I have let my room become a disaster area. It's to the point that it overwhelms me everytime I look ..."
Try Flylady...she is online with daily reminders...works great!
Rachelle wrote: "I know Katie, there's always that "what if I need it" factor. I have a hard time cleaning clutter too."Mine is more like "How many people out there don't have this, but want it? I should feel grateful and getting rid of it would be ungrateful."
That's why I try to either donate or give away things I don't want anymore, but that are still in functional condition. I also eBay a lot of things that are still in good shape and in demand. Getting the money or knowing that someone else is getting use out of something definitely motivates me.
Teri ~ THank you for the smoking advice. I think I am going to start trying with baby steps sometime soon. (Not telling anyone when. *wink*)
My thing to avoid addiction was to never ever purchase my own pack of cigarettes or cloves. This way I never developed the idea that they're easy to get. Second, I always bummed. Then I felt cheap by always bumming. Third, I looked at the savings I could make by using that money toward a vacation or something shinier. And fourth, I kept a pen in hand for that sensation of holding a clove and lit a smelly candle in the house. Gradually, I was able to distract my mind through other activities. Then again I wasn't /too/ addicted.
I get overwhelmed by cleaning and decluttering as well. Because of my health, I can't always keep up on things as often as I should and then it gets to the overwhelming. I'm great with procrastination and avoidance at that point, lol! Honestly, I quit smoking 'cold turkey' in 1994 and with the exception of less than a dozen 1/2 smoked cig's between then and now, I've been smoke free for over 15 years. I was a chain smoker. I smoked every chance I get for 5 years. I know it doesn't work like that for everyone, lol! I have no idea why it worked for me. I agree with Teri, I didn't tell myself I HAD to quit, I just wanted to.
Thanks for the Windex tip Cyndi! I'm going to give that a try.
I have a tip for kitchen counters, floors (that aren't wood), kitchen cabinets (that aren't wood or painted), your fridge, microwave and pretty much everything in your bathroom: SoftScrub. Squirt it into a bucket or large bowl (not used for eating), add hot water, use whatever kind of sponge is appropriate for the surfaces you are cleaning and wipe the area's down. Then use paper towels to wipe off the surface after letting the watered down SoftScrub sit for a few moments. Cleans and disinfects everything so well! Brightens the surfaces too.
Jo, I never thought to dilute the Soft Scrub; that's a great idea.I used the Windex on the makeup stains on my daughter's carpet and it all came up! Thanks for bringing this great idea to my attention; nothing else got it up as well. Thought the carpet was shot.
Meg wrote: "Jamie,
I am a firm believer of breaking things into small steps. What I would do is buy some heavy duty bins, they are always on sale at Walmart. Go through your room and sort things (ie tshirts..."
Meg, I love this idea! I will have to borrow it for my home.
I am a firm believer of breaking things into small steps. What I would do is buy some heavy duty bins, they are always on sale at Walmart. Go through your room and sort things (ie tshirts..."
Meg, I love this idea! I will have to borrow it for my home.
teri wrote: "Now THIS is my subject-- cleaning. I hate to clean so I've gotten it down to a science.
Mandy Sue, I agree with Meg about renting the steam cleaner for the rugs. I have rented them at Home Depo..."
Teri - I love your advice! I think I am going to print your post out and hang it in my craft room. Right now, I have a path from the door to the desk and I need to get it under control. Thanks!
Mandy Sue, I agree with Meg about renting the steam cleaner for the rugs. I have rented them at Home Depo..."
Teri - I love your advice! I think I am going to print your post out and hang it in my craft room. Right now, I have a path from the door to the desk and I need to get it under control. Thanks!
I have a trick worth sharing. When I worked at Tiffany & Co I learned it. You know how things come with a sticker on it and you peel it off and the glue sticks to it? How do you get it off quick and easy without struggle?!?!? Rubbing Alcohol. Works on every surface!
teri wrote: "I love these cleaning hints. Now what about stainless steel refrigerators. I hate streaks..."Olive Oil, baby oil...oil is the winner!
Olive oil, is that what I need to be cleaning my stainless appliances with? My fridge looks awful right now :)
Hairspray works great for ink stains on both clothing and solid surfaces.I HATE FINGERPRINTS!!! That's the main reason we don't have stainless steel appliances. I love the look, but I would constantly feel the need to clean them.
Hole in your stockings or screen door? Clear nail polish.Didn't vinegar with some water work on a streak free flatscreen?
Mandy, Do you rub the oil into the appliance; rub it on and wipe it off? Do you use baby oil or olive oil either one? I can just picture a greasy mess and my magnets falling off my slick refrigerator! Ha
Cindy, yes. It gives it a high shine, gets rid of those tough streaks, and hides little scratches too. You could use either or. Just dab and work in. Club soda also works well for polishing. Vinegar applied to a terry cloth works for heat stains too. All natural products you probably already have in your home.
My aunt used to work at a furniture store and she recommends using vinegar in place of any cleaning solution for a carpet cleaner. It doesn't leave the soap residue that attracts more dirt. It may not smell that wonderful, but it does work.And I use oil olive on my stainless steel appliances, and it seems to work. With a toddler in the house, fingerprints on everything is unavoidable, but oil olive does work pretty good.
