Q&A: Non-toxic carpet cleaning

Your eco-questions answered:

Question: I am wondering if you could discuss non-toxic carpet cleaners in the LA area. I've done some googling but it's difficult to figure out. Any help on the matter would be great! ariadne

Answer: You can go a few different routes, depending much of your own elbow grease you want to put into the job. Let's start with the lazy option first: Hiring someone to clean carpets for you. Pick from a couple green carpet cleaning companies in the LA-area:

• CoolEarth Cleaning. Jessica of Low Impact Living personally recommends this company, which also offers general cleaning services. Carpet cleaning costs 25 cents per square foot. Contact: (323) 683-2063.
• Big Time Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners. This Redondo Beach company's recommended by Green Clean L.A., mentioned here. Carpet cleaning costs $1 per square foot if unfurnished , $2 per square foot if furnished. That may sound expensive, but Medwin of Big Time -- who turned his cleaning company green after developing health problems from the toxic "conventional" cleaning products -- says his services are more thorough and the results longer-lasting. In addition, this price includes all aspects of carpet cleaning services, as opposed to the cheaper quotes given by other companies that then charge extra for anything but the most basic cleaning job. Contact: (310) 372-8121.

Want to save some money and get a little exercise while you're at it? Try the DIY route, like my friends have:

• Steam clean green. My friend Traci of Sustainable Santa Monica rented a steam cleaner from Home Depot -- about $20 for a few hours -- then filled it with hot water and ASM carpet cleaner (available at Livingreen and many other stores). Then she just ran the machine over her dirty carpet. The result? "It was amazing," Traci says. "[The dirty water at the end] was so disgusting -- that's how amazing it was."
• Spot clean green. My friend Summer didn't need to clean her whole carpet, so she just got a bottle of Biokleen cleaner from Wild Oats, sprayed it on the spots that needed cleaning, then wiped with a rag a few minutes later. I went over later that day and can attest to the fact that her carpet did indeed look remarkably clean! It did, however, seem like an awful lot of work.... I've never cleaned the whole carpet this way, but I've found that Begley's Best carpet stain remover works wonders on wine spills --

Photo courtesy of Home Depot Tool Rental

Comments

[Catherine Shaffer]

I have sold a water based environmental vacuum called a Rainbow for over 15 years. The machine replaces a vacuum and uses a little base of water instead of a bag. I have demonstrated it in the finest homes in LA and without an exception everyone always says "THAT"S AMAZING." Regular vacuums do very little other than to pollute a home because they clog up so easily. Rainbow is the exception. For a free in home demonstration call Rainbow in Glendale and ask for Catherine. I would love to show you, in your own home the difference owning this machine can make. We also have a wonderful shampoo attachment for the vacuum.

[Summer]

Yes, I love the Biokleen. In came in really handy today when I unknowingly stepped in cat barf and walked around my apartment. Great for pet related stains.

[Carey Okrand]

The best spot cleaner for carpets is this recipe:
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar

Cheap, biodegradable and effective!

[Carey Okrand]

Better yet...

Here's an inexpensive biodegradable alternative to spot cleaning carpet:

1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup borax washing soap
1/4 cup vinegar

It really works!

[jean]

For many spots (I do this a lot with hairballs) I've used seltzer /sparkling water successfully to "lift" the stain and often it's enough. If the spot's been there for a bit and that's not enough i might add baking soda or a drop of gentle dish washing liquid.

[Siel]

I'll try your methods next time, Carey and jean :) But do they work on wine stains? The seltzer thing I've tried on clothes with wine stains, but it hasn't really worked --

[Beverly Hills Carpet Cleaners]

The Beverly Hills Carpet Cleanes offer this type of service, infact they offer a Chemical Free Carpet Cleaning Procedure. This company has over 15,000 clients and generaly services the West Los Angeles Area. http://www.BHcarpetCleaners.com/ Availible 7 days per week. (310) 621 4856