Asked on Apr 03, 2015

Carpets are sticky

Sscogbill
by Sscogbill
I cleaned carpets, used Dawn, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, now the carpet looks clean but is sticky. How do I neutralize or remove the sticky feel? Can I use straight vinegar for this?
  11 answers
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Apr 04, 2015
    @sscogbill it is probably just still soapy rinsing with water or water vinegar will help xx
  • Janet Glabas Janet Glabas on Apr 04, 2015
    I NEVER EVER wet my carpet when I had carpet....I kept it fresh and clean by using damp powdered cleaners........RESOLVE is my favorite......you sprinkle it on,brush in all directions,let it sit,then vacuum. My brush fit on a handle. Works for spot cleaning too. Wetting carpet actually sets in the stains, Get some RESOLVE and freshen it up. Always got compliments on my carpets.
  • Sscogbill Sscogbill on Apr 06, 2015
    powdered cleaners don't work when you have pets. they have accidents which are wet and smelly. I've had the carpets clean professionally and they used a spray plus a dry shampoo and it helped spots but soiled very quickly. My carpets are very light cream colored and seem to get dirty very easily. I clean carpets about every 3 months.
  • Sally Barney Mangan Sally Barney Mangan on Apr 06, 2015
    The Dawn is the problem. You probably used too much (don't feel bad, it happens to us all." You need to get the soap out. Try renting a carpet shampooer and just use clear hot water until the water is clear.
  • Sscogbill Sscogbill on Apr 07, 2015
    instructions were to use 1 T Dawn, 2 T vinegar, & 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide to a tank of hot water (about a gallon). I have a carpet shampooer which uses hot water, then keeps it hot. The rinse water is not soapy or foamy. If the problem was the Dawn wouldn't the rinse water be soapy of foamy?
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Apr 07, 2015
    @sscogbill well if you google sticky carpets it will tell you most of the time it is still soapy,so if it isn't that have no idea good luck
  • Sandra Whittier Sandra Whittier on Jul 21, 2015
    Baking soda, if you spill something put baking soda then vacuum. The baking soda kills odor, moisture, and whatever just vacuum. Swap you dust for baking soda and it is in with the carpet deodorizers in the store. I mix half deodorizer and normal baking soda. (cheaper)
    • Beth Selby Beth Selby on Oct 24, 2020

      Use caution with baking soda. I put some over a couple of dog accidents. I allowed it a few days to dry. I vacuumed it all up, but the baking soda ended up clogfing up my Shark vacuum. It even left a powdery residue on the in the brush housing.

  • Jessica Dailey Jessica Dailey on Jul 21, 2015
    Just go back over it with plain water and that should neutralize some of the dawn you got a bit too much sweet heart the vinegar breaks it up. or you can use a water and vinegar mix to break down the dawn but do not use to much vinegar.... its also a great disinfectant and kills lots of germs we typically wouldn't think of! Good luck hun! let us know what happens pretty please?
  • Sscogbill Sscogbill on Jul 21, 2015
    thank you for all your suggestions, but Dawn doesn't seem to be the problem. More than likely it's that the vinegar dissolves the acidic crystals in the puppy's urine and leaves the residue making the carpet sticky. I just never seem to get the stickiness out. I've rinsed the carpet for hours with warm clear water, a solution of half vinegar and warm water, and a mix of baking soda, vinegar, and warm water. I've given up, I'm having laminate installed this week-end, jerking the carpet out of the bedroom and living room. Thanks again to everyone.
  • Julia Julia on Feb 29, 2016
    you can use vinegar and water in you shampooer it works great it will get any dirt that left you room will be fresh
  • Elizabeth Fluhrer Elizabeth Fluhrer on Oct 10, 2017

    what if you can't use vinegar due to allergy? what if you don't know the source of the stickiness?