Cleaning the Rugs and Floors
A couple of weeks ago, I decided that we should clean our rugs. Do not ask my why. I now wish that I had left them alone. After all, they did not look dirty.
The first step was to move all of the furniture out of the dining room. Poor Douglas had other projects that he wanted to work on, but he ended up having to help me a lot.
Next, we needed a place to hang the rugs so that I could beat them. Since our clothes line is so high, Douglas strung a line on our hammock stand.
I used a small rake to beat the rugs. It was a workout. If you even need some exercise and do not feel like going to the gym, I suggest that you clean your rugs.
When I brought the rug back in, I vacuumed the backside of it. I had read somewhere that is the best way to finish getting the dirt out of the pile. Ponche and Crème made sure that I was doing it right.
Even though I had beaten it for a while, you can see that there was still dirt in it. This is what the floor looked like after I vacuumed the back of the rug the first time.
Every time there was less dust on the floor, but it was exhausting flipping the rug over and over again. I am showing you four pictures, but I flipped it and vacuumed it at least eight times.
Once I was satisfied that the dirt was out of the rug, I steam cleaned the floor. I have been hesitant to use the steam cleaner on the hardwood because I have read mixed reviews about whether or not it was good for them. In the end, I decided that it is the fastest and easiest way to clean them, and I have read advantages and disadvantages to any form of cleaning hardwood floors. How bad can it be?
After I finished in the dining room, I moved on the the living room. There was no place to put all of the living room furniture, so I had to clean one side and then the other.
When the floors were clean, we put everything back in the room. We made some minor changes. Douglas put pads on the bottom of the chaise that was scraping the floor. We took the one table downstairs, and I moved the gold box into the living room from the bedroom.
Douglas decided that the drum should get a new look as well as a new location. I brought up a bunch of fabric scraps that I had in the basement, and he picked this one. The drum is now nestled in the circular sofa.
The plants still have not moved back into the room because I need to re-pot them. Many of them are on the verge of dying. They did not survive the neglect of the summer well.
I do feel better now that the floors and rugs are clean.
Happy Homemaking!
I am a teacher, traveler, artist, writer, homemaker and a whole lot more. In January 2009, I bought the Cape of Dreams. It was the second house that I had ever owned, but it was the first that I bought by myself. I now live in the house with my husband Douglas, our dog Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, the cat. Because, what life is complete without a little Kahlua and Cream? I love arts and crafts of all kinds, and I refinish furniture as well. We are slowly redoing our entire house. You can read about my projects on my blog www.CapeofDreams.com
When we lived in LeRoy and had hardwood floors, i used the Bona system to clean them. Worked pretty well without damaging the floors..
Hmmm. Never heard of the Bona system. I will have to check it out.
What a hardworker you are and what a helpful husband,
I think the powdery stuff under the rugs is the residue from the backing, my daughter’s wool rug continually sheds, even through I’ve hosed it down outside
I’ve had good luck with cleaning rugs by hosing, soaping, massaging in suds with stiff-bristled broom, and rinsing, this done on cement patio, rugs not antiques though, hanging up to dry on porch railing, very heavy work
My mom has a wire rug beater, made of metal wire wound together, very satisfying to use, I would be afraid of breaking a plastic rake
I wash our wood floors with warm water with a little squirt of Dr Bronner’s lavendar soap
I thought about hosing them down, but I thought that it would take forever for them to dry. I would like to find a rug beater. The smell of lavender is heavenly. I actually put lavender essential oil in the steam cleaner.
You did a great job. Somewhere I have an actual rug-beater. It has a handle and is shorter than a rake but I don’t think it would make the job any easier in the long run. You and Douglas have done a wonderful job with your seasonal clean-up. Love the new drumhead. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
I was afraid that the pattern on the drum would be too much, but I am glad that Douglas chose it.
You did some HARD work! I need to tackle my rugs, too. I hate to tell you this, but much of that dust under the rug is dander! Yup, dead skin. I learned this when I ripped carpet out of my house years ago. Everyone sheds … it’s unavoidable. Gross but unavoidable. At least you can get rid of it if you don’t have wall-to-wall.
That is exactly why I will never have wall to wall carpet! I was horrified when we pulled up the carpets in my grandmother’s house and saw what was underneath them.
great job, Jessica! i need to wash our floors, too. the drum looks so festive and fun!
The best part was that it is easy to change. Maybe from now on we will have a new look more often.