Cleaning carpet in student accommodation?

deedums

My DS wants to clean the carpet in his room before he goes back for new term(okay I lie I want to!!) because he can't stand the smell! And neither can I.

He obviously can't shampoo it because it would take too long to dry and they've had a bit of a problem with damp smells before:eek:

Does anyone have any suggestions other than the smelly powders you sprinkle on the carpet please?

nearlyrich

Is it halls of residence? Surely the landlord should replace it if it is offensive?

Might be worth asking, it costs enough to live there doesn't it?

Pink.

Hi deedums,

Here are a couple of older threads that may help:

how do I

Any alternatives to Shake and Vac?


Pink

deedums

Thanks for replying.

He is in halls so I doubt that they will do anything, plus he is a typical student/boy! Everything gets done tomorrow and he doesn't like to make what he sees as a fuss.

Student jokes aside ... it has been bothering him and there is a definite smell on his clothes which is the same as the one on the carpet

I will try the bicarb etc solutions, it's got to be worth a go!

Thanks again

Lara

Have you thought about hiring a carpet cleaner machine from a local place or do any of your friends have one you could borrow? My sister has just bought a Vax and it's brilliant.

bj-sailaway

If you go over the carpet really thoroughly VAXs don't leave it too wet.

My preferred method is to make-up a strong solution of soda crystals and warm water, go over the carpet by hand with a scrubbing brush and the solution, then sprinkle soda crystals over the carpet, leave for an hour, then hoover up. The soda crystals really clean, and also the dry powder you sprinkle on after will absorb alot of the moisture before you hoover.

If the smell is that bad, I would guess there may be a damp problem in the building, which is really bad for their health, or it could be that there are gremlins lurking in the underlay! (Old spills or nasty accidents of times gone by!).

How big is the room? Is it worth you considering buying a remnant yourself? It may be worth it for his healths sake.

black-saturn

Theres a new product on the market called 1001 No Vac Carpet Freshener. The idea is that spray the mousse on the carpet and it dries and disappears in about 5 minutes and leaves the carpet smelling fresh. If he's only doing 1 room a can will last ages.

Alternatively he could try bicarbonate of soda but will need a powerful vacuum to pick it up afterwards.

Having said that, if it is that bad the landlord should replace it.

tr3mor

Try hiring a steam cleaner for the day. They're really good and dont seem to leave much dampness behind. Although to be fair it should be the responsibility of the Halls to clean it if it's that bad!

deedums

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I've been out and bought loads of bicarb & soda crystals etc and I think we'll probably try one of these - if not all of them!

My husband thinks that there is probably a bit of a problem with damp in the building but my son is really reluctant to do anything about it, particularly as the other 3 students on the ground floor with him don't like the smell but are prepared to live with it.

Anyway we're off tomorrow so if anyone sees a car on the M4 loaded up with buckets, scrubbing brushes, vacuum cleaner, boxes & boxes of bicarb etc you'll know it's us!

Thanks again

bj-sailaway

Good luck!

brummybloke

home bargains sell that neutragina floor powder stuff, very cheap ( 60 p i think) i got some as it was so cheap and it gets rid of any pongs, just got to get him to remember to vacum it up after leaving it down for as long as he likes.