OS Cleaning Tips and Quick Questions...

EagerLearner

Brilliant thanks very much, will check it out!!

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, I have searched about on the forums but cant really find an answer to this one.

I have got a large rug in the hall which is looking a bit grubby. I know it will stand getting wet because I once spilt a bucket of water over it and it survived!

My question is can I clean it without spending money on specialist carpet cleaners? What would you use?

BitterAndTwisted

1001 and a scrubbing brush. Failing any 1001 I'd give any mild soap a go, even very diluted washing-up liquid

Penelope_Penguin

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

My question is can I clean it without spending money on specialist carpet cleaners? What would you use?

Do you know anyone who'll lend you a Vax or other wet and dry cleaner?

savemoney

I have a white rug in the hallway and I wash it by hand in bath and washing liquid. It cleans fine but the problem is drying the damn thing. I try and leave it to dry on a metal clothes thing outside to drip dry and then hang over a chair near radiator to dry off takes around 3 days

This may not work for all rugs

valk_scot

What's it made of, and are there any washing/cleaning instructions?

If the answer is no idea and no, then the first thing I'd do is take it into the garden, hang it over the line and give it a good wallop with an old tennis racquet or similar. Hoovering is all very well but it doesn't get out all grit and grot. If no garden line, turn it upside down for a couple of days and let folk walk on the back. An astounding amount of grot will fall out. Then hoover well, both sides.

After that give it a good swab with a damp cloth wrung out in water plus a small amount of washing up liquid. Swab in one direction and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat at a 90' angle. Then go over it again with damp cloth in only water. Finally blot out all excess by laying a dry old towel on it and walking over the towel. Then drape it over something to dry. Don't walk on it with shoes on while still damp.

savemoney

Washing lines want normally take weight of a rug unless it a light one, I know my old one broke. Now have a steel line with plastic on it but even then wouldn't use a rug over a washing line unless is a small light rug

kochi1

Thanks for the tips - I got a bargain in M&S recently, a £129 rug for £9!!! Ex-display (wrapped up and couldn't see inside it) and thought just buy it at that price!! Its light colours and needs a good clean so hopefully will come up a bit brighter

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi,

Thanks for the ideas. No, I dont know anyone with a vax I could borrow unfortunately.

There is a label underneath with care instructions but the writing has worn off so thats no help. I did think it might be better to wait until the weather gets better to get it dry outside if I wash it. Its quite a large rug.

Like the idea of turning it over for a couple of days and letting people walk on the back to get all the debris out. Wouldnt have thought of that. I do hoover it most days but as you say it wont get all the bits out. Maybe that would be a start.

Kimitatsu

Have you got a washing line YL? Theres a lot to be said for chucking it over the line and giving it a good beating - cricket bat will do if you have nothing else!

You will be amazed (and horrified) at the amount that comes out of it and how much cleaner it looks. I bought a bissell off ebay for £50 last year to do the carpets in my house, so may be worth looking there for the long term.