I am ashamed [blush]

I keep my carpets clean with my doggie by putting her boots on to go and do her doggie business in the garden. It works a treat. Then she comes back in and puts her doggie slippers on!

I think it's quite normal for the water to be filthy after cleaning the carpet. (I don't use carpet shampoo because I think it attracts dirt)

Wooden or laminate floors are the way to go...!!

Me too Kim! My friend put me off shampooing the carpet because she said that once you've done it once, it gets dirtier again quicker so you have to keep on doing it! Mah!

We had the hall and dining room carpets cleaned this year, they had been down about 16 years. Apart from specific marks they didn't look dirty overall. We know the carpet cleaner, he uses only water, no chemicals. I was horrified when I saw the colour of the water when he'd finished. Because DH is diabetic with high risk feet he has to wear shoes with tailor-made insoles all the time and as he traipses in and out a lot (he smokes his pipe outside in the car port) and can't take off his shoes my carpets are a losing battle.

I totally agree with starlily.
Cleaning a carpet would not be anywhere near as satisfying if there was a minimal amount of dirt, and the result would not be so startling.
I also add a few drops( no more as it is very concentrated )of floral Zoflora disinfectant in the water as it leaves a gorgeous fresh smell too.

I agree with Wobblybits

I don't bother to look at the water colour when I shampoo, I know how dirty water is when I do Wet Room floor (not helped by cat feeding in there as it's only place with no carpet)

Me gardening (no matter how much I used doormat still get bits on carpet, Diabetic so can't go round barefoot & can't be bothered to have indoor shoes at both front & back door) & a cat - can't train him to wipe his feet !!!!! no wonder my carpet has lots of marks on it -no I didn't choose light fawn, plain carpet, it was only just over a year old when I moved in

To illustrate how dirty cat's paws are, I have fleece on settee & my bed - I'm always washing them so heaven help my carpets

Have to hoover daily as have a hairy dog. Had the carpets cleaned professionally last week for the first time. The man insisted I look in the bucket before he threw it away and I was horrified! But as others have said on the other thread I really don't want to start asking guests to walk around in their socks.

Vowed never to have kitchen carpet again after moving house .....thought my carpet was clean until I moved units etc and saw the colour it originally WAS !!!! .......

Kim

I hoover every year whether it needs it or not!

Why are so many of us surprised to see the colour of the water. You only have to look at the water after mopping the floor to see how mucky it was, why are the carpets any different?

No shame in that - they're all the same!

I shampoo (smaller areas only, have to get someone in for a big clean) and use only hot water - no detergent. Water is still pretty mucky. The brown colour is normally from OH's latest coffee spill! I have to pounce and water-shampoo it fast, before the colour sets

SHANMA---only thin gravy? Mine is more like the Tony Hancock variety. He liked the gravy to move around a little bit!

It could also be the dyes coming out of the various fibres in the carpet. Not all dirt.

Whenever i shampoo my carpets I'm amazed at the colour of the water afterwards, but very pleased as i feel i have done a good job. I would be disappointed if the water wasn't so filthy. It wonder what that says about me. lol.

It is my belief that a colourant is put into carpet shampoos, it turns sludge like when applied so as to convince us that we need to do it all the more.............don't get suckered in.

I have vinyl almost everywhere now,not as cosy but far easier when I have a dog and grand chidren.......and feet of my own.

Ooh can I join your 'marketing ploy' conspiracy group please Wobblybits even though I've never cleaned a carpet.

Surely the dirt falls to the bottom where it doesn't matter, except for the obvious, food, playdoh, bluetac etc which you just scrape off!

Smells from spilt milk, juice, baby wee, wine (who me?) etc eventually disappear without intervention. Muck also helps to develop our immune systems remember!

Just seen your post Wobbly...I will go with that theory now. I like it

We don't wear shoes in the house, but we do have a Dog/ Yes I have shampooed my carpet, and it isn't very old, but good heavens the water was a bit like a weak gravy!! Ugh

My carpets were grey to begin with!!

I kept shampooing mine but had to give in and buy new ones in the end
I gave myself rotor cuff injury

I must be weird because I love to see the dirty water after cleaning my carpets