Originally Posted by
DallasTaxLawyer
A couple of weeks ago I bought one of those gas station machine cappuccinos. When I put it in the cup holder, the stupid claw thing punched a hole in the cup--resulting in sticky cappuccino all over my console and the carpeting inbetween the console and driver seat.
I was able to clean up the console with a lot of effort and cursing, but the cappuccino dried into a hard-plastic-like substance on the carpeting (which incidentally makes me never want to drink the stuff again).
Two Questions:
1- Can anyone recommend a
good carpet cleaner that will remove this disgusting residue without damaging the carpet?
2- I'll probably need to remove the driver seat to get to all of it. How hard is it to remove and then reinstall the seat and reconnect the seat motor, etc?
Thanks!
-Rob
Hello,
Tips for Making Your Carpet Cleaner Work for You:
1.) Vacuum first.
While carpet cleaners can handle pet hair, they can clog up if you don’t prep the surface. Plus, excess pet hair can be discharged in goopy clunks behind the machine.
Make sure you do as thorough a vacuuming job as possible beforehand. Your carpet cleaner will probably pull out more deeply embedded hair afterwards, but it’ll be less of a mess.
Plus, the less surface dirt your cleaner has to pull up, the less passes you’ll need to make (and fewer trips to the sink to empty dirty water).
2.) Pre-treat stains.
While you’re choosing a machine and cleaning solution, make sure both are compatible with your carpet. Some natural fibers don’t do well with carpet cleaners, and some detergents can harm certain carpet materials.
Read your carpet warranty, and look online for other creative solutions. Savvy bloggers have posted all sorts of tips online, such as using vinegar on stains before carpet cleaning.
3.) Check frequently for clogs.
Most problems that users encounter with carpet cleaners involve the scrubbing brushes. Check them regularly for loose threads, pet fur, or other debris. Some models feature detachable brushes for easy cleaning. In any case, you want to check frequently, so you can deal with snags before they cause any real damage.
4.) Follow the manual.
Some carpet cleaners look deceptively simple. Because they ship ready to go, it seems like you can figure everything out with common sense. However, they all have their idiosyncrasies. It’s important to take the time to get to know the manual before you use it.
5.) Take your time.
Most carpet cleaners have scrubbing brushes, and they work best if you give them time to work the cleaner into the carpet fibers. You’ll also get better drying results if you let the hot air reach further into the floor.
6.) Make it easier for yourself.
Try going over your carpet with plain hot water first, then doubling back with detergent. According to a buyer review, this draws detergent to the already damp fibers, like a watercolor paintbrush.
We love this tip. Buying brand name detergent is important, and it’s the only cleaner that won’t void a machine’s warranty. However, it can be quite expensive. This is a great way to save some money, and get an even deeper clean.