Natural carpet cleaner?

[JamesMama]

My MIL gave us her steam cleaner (we live in an apt, with 2 dogs and 2 kids I'd like to keep the carpets from being completely ruined).

I also have a floor baby (DD is just crawling...7 months) so I'd like to keep the chemicals off my carpet (living room, both bedrooms).

What can I put in the steam cleaner that will 1) Get the stink up (I also live in an apt that is attached to a horse barn so the house smells of horse...plus we have 2 puppies that aren't 100% potty trained just yet) and 2) Get the stains out (again, puppy and 2 kids) and 3) work in my steamer?

Would vinegar be okay? With some baking soda and TTO to get rid of some of the stink? What about the stains?

Thanks!!

[tracyhos]

I haven't used this personally, but I swear I've read it here or somewhere...Bio-Kleen Bac-out.

I thought about getting some the other day, saw it at my local grocery store (Hy-Vee). I don't have a steam cleaner, but I think it might (?) work for just spot cleaning too. I have a dog that just randomly barfs.

[margob73]

I was thinking about bac-out too! We love it for wet beds and such.

[Meems]

bac out

it is terrific.

[columbusmomma]

So can it be used without having a steam cleaner? I am desperate for something!

[JamesMama]

Thanks!! I'll see about finding it.

DH used chemical cleaner this weekend and I swear, I can *smell* the chemicals. I douced the floor with baking soda yesterday and vacuumed again, don't smell it as bad. Considering going over it with just water to get the chemicals up.

[lab80]

I have used Bac-Out in the steam cleaner once...worked just as well as the chemical cleaner. I used it with hot water not thinking, I hear it needs to be used with cold water. After I went over the area, I refilled the cleaner with just hot water and went over the area again so there wasn't bac out all over the floor. It smells so much better than chemicals!

I e-mailed Charlies Soap and asked about using the liquid detergent in a steam vac, they said they hadn't tried it for that, but it would probably work just as well...but that the All Purpose Cleaner would work best for that kind of cleaning. I will probably try that out next time I get a chance to vac.

[amber913]

I use Charlie's Soap in my steam cleaner. Half as much as other cleaning solutions, though. I know I read somewhere that that's how you do it. ??

Another idea: After you steam clean, sprinkle carpet with baking soda and vacuum once it dries (2-4 hours; we do it before we go away). That's what we do when our dog has an accident, but you can do it every time if you want. You can even mix some essential oils with the baking soda, or so I've heard.

[motherbirth]

This doesn't help with the steam cleaner, but as for icky smells: mix baking soda and essential oil of your choice, vacuum up. I also put a lavender oil scented cotton ball in my vacuum cleaner bag to combat the nasty dog hair smell.