Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaning

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My carpets needs to be cleaned. Bad.

The new puppy darts in front of me or my daughter goes screaming running from the new puppy and my coffee spills…every morning. It try for it to not happen but it does. The dog piddles way to much and I always catch him, in the middle of it. I guess I suck at this puppy training thing and my carpet is suffering because of it.

My carpets needs to be cleaned. Bad.

Being the green mom that I try so hard to be I’d like to clean my carpets with non-toxic cleaners but in my area this does not exist.  Trust me,  I’ve tried and called every single carpet cleaner two hours from my house. Do I need clean my carpet? I’ve considered this option.

My carpets need to be cleaned. Bad.

I have to share with you something I encountered today on my quest for non-toxic carpet cleaning. Something I believe many of us “greenies” run into daily if not hourly. A very pig headed, I’ve always done it this way, nothing is wrong with me and I’ve researched the chemicals and the government says they are safe, type of people.  Here is how my telephone conversation went:

” I’ve used your service before but do you now you a alternative to chemicals or do you still use chemicals during your carpet cleaning process?” OR something like this is what I said.

“Yes we use chemicals.” Chuckle. She chuckled at me like I was stupid. “Let me tell you what I tell everyone, I have two children. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and my one child has BLANK DEGREE and BLANK AWARD and my other child has BLANK DEGREE and BLANK TALENTS. They are fine and I’ve used chemicals for 35 years. You use chemicals to wash your clothes. You use chemicals to do your dishes and wipe your counter and you’re fine.”

My carpets need to be cleaned. Bad.

Deep breath. In through the nose out through the mouth. Let her finish. Okay…my turn. “Actually, no I don’t use chemicals to clean anything in my home, ever. I don’t use chemicals on my body. Besides the environmental impact I don’t believe that toxic chemicals are healthy for me or my family to breath and what you used 35 years ago do clean is probably not the same as what you use to clean with today, correct?”

Silence on the line. “Hello?” Did I scare her off?

“Oh. No they are the same BUT so and so researches them and they are safe.”

“Yes, I’m sure he does and the government says that when you mix this and this together you can sell it on the shelf or to you to clean my carpet but there are ZERO studies on how toxic and dangerous this is to my lungs and health, let alone my children. You see, my daughter has asthma and if you use chemicals I have to have her out of the home, open the windows and take some precautions. I assumed you did but I was hoping you had a safer more earth friendly option.”

My carpets need to be cleaned. Bad.

You see folks, not every area has earth friendly options. Not every person can choose chemical free cleaning. I want to. I’d choose to do this. How can I? Rent a machine and do it myself, I know. No, I need their suction, their hot, hot water and their experience for doing this.  I’ve done the own a Kirby and rent a machine thing…it doesn’t work as well. In my experience. So what’s a green mom to do? I’ll tell you what I wanted to do. What I wanted to say. Would that have really changed her mind? Her business? Her point of view? Nah. Everyday I run into something like this because for many going “green” is a new way of thinking. Besides…

My carpets need to be cleaned. Bad.

By Green & Clean Mom - September 16th, 2008 - Comments:
Filed Under: Green Cleaning, Green Health, Green Homes

10 Responses to “Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaning”

  1. 1 robin Says:

    We broke down a long time ago and bought a carpet cleaner. We have three kids, we had two dogs, a husband in construction… our carpets get really dirty really fast.

    We use Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds and it works out fine. Are our carpets 100% clean and sterile? Probably not, but they’re clean enough. Not as well as a professional would do it, perhaps, so I just clean them a bit more often. I don’t mind. I’m saving quite a bit of money, I’m guessing.

    robins last blog post..That’s a Lot of APLS

  2. 2 Courtney Says:

    Hello, I’m not sure where you live, but there is a small franchise called Citrusolution and they claim their cleaners are environmentally friendly. I’ve used them in my house a few times now and I am always pleased with the results. The house smells like oranges when they are done and he always shows me when he’s done the huge amount of pet hair he was able to get out of my carpets that day. Ew. But they are pretty small still, mostly in the south. Here’s the parent company website:

    http://www.c4.coop/cleaning_process.html

  3. 3 Michelle Gudmunsen Says:

    I’m in the same boat as you regarding the state of my carpet. Nature Brite works wonders on those spots, but what about the rest of the floor? I’m going to try to find out about options NOT in our area, and then maybe I can convince someone around here to go more “green”.

  4. 4 Gidget Says:

    i used a company called oxifresh- they claim to be a “natural, safe” alternative, but I didn’t actually ask them specifically like you did. But there wasn’t a strong fragrance after they left so that was encouraging.

    Gidgets last blog post..Weekly Surf Spots

  5. 5 Rebecca (Green Baby Guide) Says:

    Perhaps you should invest in a steam cleaner. You use just water–no chemicals or soap or anything. This is supposed to clean 99.9% of germs/bacteria/etc. I’ve also heard that you can rent those Rug Doctors at the grocery store and fill it with plain old water. Our real estate agent actually recommended that method. She said the soap leaves a residue and carpets get dirtier faster when you use it. Surely some professional could come over and steam clean everything?

    This is my advice, coming from someone who has never used a steam cleaner and doesn’t have any carpeting in my new house. I think it’s good advice, though!

    Rebecca (Green Baby Guide)s last blog post..Make Better Packed Lunches with a Copy of Vegan Lunch Box (Giveaway!)

  6. 6 admin Says:

    Very neat suggestions. The steam cleaning doesn’t actually remove the stains and that is an issue. My area is very not green on the company front.

  7. 7 Jackie B. Says:

    I received a free sample of a product called FIZZION recently. My boyfriend used it this weekend and was amazed at the results. It is an eco-friendly product that comes in tablet and you drop them in water and they fizz like Alka-seltzer. He spayed it on the spots then steam cleaned the carpets with water and it looks great! They have a website at fizzionclean.com.

  8. 8 misty Says:

    http://people-friendlyproducts.com/why.htm

    this is a “everything” product i came across last year. we haven’t tried it on our carpets yet but i have been able to do some other amazing things with it. i have gotten oil stains out of already washed and dried clothes. that is amazing to me! anyway, worth checking out the site cuz it’s organic and your child could eat it…that’s what sold me:) mine actually broke into the cleaning cupboard and sprayed it into her mouth and eyes(she has a thing for spray bottles). she was fine and it was nice to not have to worry. i called poison control out of curiousity for what they would have to say and they thanked me for choosing to have such a natural safe product in my home. i just tried there laundry bar and got old poop stains out of our cloth diapers…love it!

  9. 9 Kim Woodbridge Says:

    Vinegar helps remove stains and odors if you scrub it into the stained area. I think this needs to be done shortly after something is spilled.

    This isn’t a long term deep cleaning solution but you can deodorize your carpets with baking soda. Liberally sprinkle it all over the carpets and then vacuum it up - it really does work.

    I think the best solution is to not have carpets. :-)
    Kim Woodbridges last blog post..WordPress - How to Find the Best Free Themes

  10. 10 Jill Says:

    Not sure where you live but http://www.ecovian.com lists green cleaning services in a number of cities.

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