Well it happened AGAIN, my dogs met up with another skunk. This time my husband let the dogs into the house which means that every single thing the dogs touched, walked on, brushed up against now smells like Pepe Le Pew! Not fun! But I thought I would pass on some of my tricks for rug cleaning.
I generally clean all my rugs at least once a year. I like to steam clean the rugs outside because the rugs dry so much better and you can line all the rugs up one after the other and get the job done quickly. Watch the weather and if you can clean the rugs on a very hot day so that the rugs thoroughly dry before you bring them back into the house.
For small rugs I do drape the rugs over the fence to dry. But for the large, room-size rugs you can just leave the rugs laying on the pavement. The heat from the sun and the radiate heat from the driveway both do a great job to dry the rugs.
Most Steam Cleaners use 2 gallons of liquid at a time. For the cleaning mix I use:
2 gallons of water
1/2 c. steam cleaning detergent
1/4 c. OdoBan
1/4 c. ammonia
The Odo-Ban and the Ammonia will eliminate any odors in the rugs.
Here's another very easy way to remove odors in small areas like your car or a small room. Take any plastic container with a large surface area, I use an old tupperware bowl, fill it with about 2" of ammonia. Sit the container of ammonia in the area you want to deodorize and shut the doors and windows. Leave the container of ammonia in the area for a few days and the ammonia will absorb all the odors. This even works great in larger areas like a garage, but the area must be enclosed so you can shut off any air circulation.
For large areas like a basement, just fill several containers and scatter them around about 1 container for every 20'by20' area. Then completely shut any doors or windows and let the ammonia do it's magic.
I know I didn't believe it either but it worked great when one of my dogs vomited in my car..well actually vomited several times in my car. The ammonia removed every trace of odor in 2 days!
And now for my Thrifty Treasure............
About a month ago I was at a little flea market and I found this darling tractor and cart. It's about 36" long and totally made of wood, even the wheels are wood. And if you turn the steering wheel the front wheels turn too!
How I wish I was a kid again!
I could not resist picking this up for my 2 year old nephew, Joshua! I hope he loves it as much as I do! A huge bargain at $25!
Metamorphosis Monday is hosted by Between Naps on the Porch. Please visit Susan's site and you'll find some fabulous ideas freely shared by many gracious and highly creative people.
And Thrifty Treasures is hosted by Rhoda of Southern Hospitality. Please visit Rhoda's site to find some super treasures all for a bargain price!
All Rights Reserved 2008-9 © Big Black Dog
32 comments:
Thanks for posting your steam cleaning formula! I recently bought an entire storage building at an auction and it had several stinky rugs. Poor puppies getting sprayed!! Yuck!
Awww, what a cute tractor that is. I just know your nephew will love it. Thanks for playing today!
the tractor & wagon are so adorable. i'd love to find something like that for my grandsons.
Great, thanks for the rug cleaning tips ! That tractor and trailer is so cute !
Kammy
I don't even have kids or grandkids, and I'd buy that fabbo tractor in a heartbeat!
"spend-a-buck farm" caught my attention! LOL! gonna share that one with my hubby! precious tractor/trailor... my little one would have loved it too!
All my grands are girls -- but I believe that they would love that tractor too -- I would have never guessed about the amonia -- great tip!
Oh no!! Poor doggy.
That tractor is ADORABLE!
Your Banner is beautiful!!!! I assume that is your home. WOW! LOVE IT!!! Thank you for the tip on cleaning the rugs! I have to try this. We bought a rug from Pier One for the bedroom & I love it. But, it has an odor. Sometimes when things are made in China or India.... Anyway, I couldn't sleep in the room with the odor & it caused me to have asthma. I am going to try this. Does the amonia remove the color from the rugs? Thanks for sharing!!!!
What a cute tractor.... It would look good as a plant holder...
xoxo
Julie
Very cute blog. I enjoy it very much.
Just a comment about the cleaning solution:
If you have cats and there is the possibility of cat urine in rugs or carpets, do not use ammonia in a cleaning solution. It will actually attract the cat(s) back to the same area.
Sylvia
Nice post.
I hope I never have to deal with skunks!!!
This is a good recipe for that problem though.
God bless,
d
PeeeUUUUU for the doggies! Poor things and poor YOU! The tractor is awesome! I can't believe it's all made of wood. Great workmanship. Thanks for sharing!
Oh you poor thing! All that stinkiness but sounds like you really know how to get rid of it! What do you do to get the smell off the dogs! That little wagon is adorable.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
That little tractor is sooo cute. Any little boy or girl would love it. Love all your rugs too. Soooo Beautiful!
Great tips on the ammonia. I've never tried that before but will certainly mark this post for future reference. CUTE tractor! I'm sure it will bring hours of fun for your nephew! Thanks for sharing.
What a great treasure -- can't believe that it was only $25! Great tip about the amonia. Good tip, too, about the rugs.
I never one time thought about cleaning my rugs outside. What a fabulous idea.
So sorry for the skunk thing..whewwww...so glad you know how to get rid of that smell.
That little tractor and wagon is too cute...
What a great way to clean your rugs! I am going to remember the ammonia trick. We once had orange juice spilled in our car during the summer and didn't realize it right away...and oh, was that awful...finally got the smell out. Bet your doggies weren't happy about the skunk incident!
:-) Love the darling tractor...soooo cute!
Susan
I just love that picture of all your gorgeous rugs lining that fence. Beautiful! Thanks for the tips on rug cleaning. Most of ours are vegetable dyed, leaving them a real expense to clean ... but for the ones that aren't I think this will help tremendously! Thanks for sharing! Artie (Niartist) Color Outside the Lines Blog
The tractor and cart are adorable! It was a great bargain at $25 ... think of the time that was spent making them! Thanks for sharing.
The photo of your rugs hanging over the fence is great! That tractor is just too darn cute.
♥, Susan
That tractor is adorable!!!
http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/09/room-month-is-back.html
Love that tractor!
That tractor and cart is so precious!
Jane
Thanks so much for the information on the rugs, there is always something going on here that need smell control,dog and cat...Love the blog and your writings, if you have a chance please stop by mine as I am new and I would sure like to have you visit...thanks phyllis
Love the look of all the rugs on the fence, big job huh...Thanks for the information on the smell removal, with a dog and cat, there are just some days I need that...I love your home and your postings. Please stop by for a visit, I am new with only 2 posts, but I am excited and appreciate all visitors. Thanks phyllis
Michelle, I always used vinegar instead of ammonia. 1/2 cup of Vinegar can also be added to a cold rinse in the washing machine (add it before adding your clothes). This works great when you have bed wetters, or when the cat peeded on somebodies clothing ....
That tractor and trailor are ADORABLE!!! Are you sure you want to give it away? Set it out front with a small scarecrow on the seat and pumpkins in the trailer ...
And I promise not to tell if you do decide to drive it down the driveway ... ;-p
To heck with being a kid - I'll take that tractor NOW!
Besides, kids get all the best toys.
(What is that saying ... youth is wasted on the young!)
Cheers!
I knew amonia (sp?) did cleaning stuff--like oven racks in a platic bag with amonia--but I didn't know about the odor stuff!! What happens if you walk into the room with those fumes?? I am wondering if I can use this in a secret room I have--hmmm. I might try it.
I would like the red rug I see hanging on the fence. ;-)
Cute tractor thingy for the kiddo!! what a deal!!
I don't have homey throw rugs like that, but how kind of you to post how to clean them. I LOVE the weathered fence they are drying out on. I came back in to see if they're were new photos, so I'm looking in your archives. I see you have not only an adorable doggie, but tinkerbelle is a velvet beauty of a cat. That is the SAME name as the cat my grandparents owned. :)
OOps, no it's not the same name;
they called her LuLu Belle. Where is my brain LOL?
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