Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lowis on September 17, 2007, 10:32:52 am

Title: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lowis on September 17, 2007, 10:32:52 am
Hi

I have a cat at home who is recovering from cheamo and stomach cancer, the cheamo has scarred her gut wall so she tends to throw up about once a day as her tummy is now a little sensitive.  Being a siamese she is intelligent enough to have learnt that she can throw up on newspaper...but there are times when she doesn't get to the newspaper place I have prepared for her.

My carpet and sofa have become quite badly stained in places and I am looking into buying a steam cleaner to clean these areas as I was told they are very effective. Hand-held would be good, but what I really need is something that will do the job and is powerful enough. 

I hope someone here could recommend to me what model to purchase?  Thanks for your advice!
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: John Kelly on September 17, 2007, 11:13:40 am
Save your money.  These are worse than useless, unless it has a vacuum facility on as well. Even then they are a poor choice for cleaning carpets and fabrics. First of all steam is too hot for most fabrics and carpets. Unless you are actually sucking the dirt out, how would the steam get rid of the soiling. I have seen numerous suites ruined by people trying to clean them with these steam cleaners.
Best bet would be to find a reputable cleaner in your area and ask them to give you an opinion and a quote if its possible to do anything. Vomit has a mixture of chemicals which can be very damaging to fabrics, also if you have used any proprietory cleaners then the damage may be permanent. However a competent cleaner would even then be able to make an improvement.
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: Ian Gourlay on September 17, 2007, 11:18:12 am
My personal advise is that steam cleaning is not the answer.

Normally i would advise you to get in Carpet Cleaner but if the situation is on going this could be expensive.

We do not normally encourage DIY aproach but perhaps in your situation it might be woth considering buying a Rug Doctor.

If you are awake about 4am I think you will find an info commercial lasting half an hour on ITV 4  the cost is £495  or you could look at www.rugdoctor.com

I would not reccomend anything less.  As John says sick can cause all kinds of problems to the Fabric which you might not be able to deal with  even with a Rug Doctor.

Regards

Ian
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lands on September 17, 2007, 11:45:43 am
John, whats the cheapest spotting machine you have. This guy can't get a CC in every time his cat throws up, it'll cost him a fortune. Would've thought a little spotting machine would do the job with a bit of guidance on the right chemicals (which I am sure you would be happy to give this guy)

Pete
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lowis on September 17, 2007, 12:59:27 pm
hi everyone - thanks for the advice - it would ruin me financially to get the professionals in, my cat is sick pretty much every other day.  i just need a device that can get as much of the stain out as possible and clean the area as much as is possible until such as time as when the professionals can come in and do a thorough job...
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: misterrartois on September 17, 2007, 01:04:31 pm
lowis...i dont want to get off topic or even come across as unkind,but does it really seem kind keeping the poor thing alive?It seems its quality of life is not particularly good (no offense to you,im sure you are doing your best)but being sick every day?

Regards to you anyway.
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: markpowell on September 17, 2007, 01:09:28 pm
Hi,
Where are you located?
Mark
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: carpet guy on September 17, 2007, 01:51:51 pm
Makro sell Numatics for about £145

rob m
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: Joe H on September 17, 2007, 02:46:54 pm
Yep, A Neumatic George with the right fluid would probably do.

Or even a Bissell Powerwash and if he was close enough I would give him one I have here. Contact me lowis if you are near Cheshire - and Im a cat lover too.

Why dont people on the forum tell the area they live - even if its just the county.

Everyone go back to their personal details and fill a bit more info in - lets do it.

Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: murky on September 17, 2007, 06:10:55 pm
Yep me too I would recommend a George any day, can be a faf to change over from dry to wet, but once youve done it a few times they are very good.

Murky
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: stevegunn on September 17, 2007, 06:16:06 pm
Slightly off topic we had to have our cat put down on Friday, 21 years old she had a good innings.

Definitely don't use a steamer I have seen the damage these things do when people don't know what they are doing

Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: mark_roberts on September 17, 2007, 06:55:32 pm
A little spray and suck vac is what you need for little stains.

Perhaps keeping the cat in the kitchen (hard floor) may be the only answer until its better.

It its wool carpets the stains may be permanent unless you get to them as they happen.

Mark
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: markpowell on September 17, 2007, 07:21:39 pm
I have a neumatic George for sale, hardly used with all attatchments, will accept £50.
Mark
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lands on September 17, 2007, 10:54:25 pm
I have a neumatic George for sale, hardly used with all attatchments, will accept £50.
Mark

Iowis? I think Mark has your cheapest solution.
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lowis on September 18, 2007, 02:02:32 pm
thank you all!

misterartois - thanks for the 'advice'. the reason i don't put her down is because apart from being sick once every other day/36hrs - she is in remission and for all intents and purposes well.  it would be unethical to put her down and i don't think any vet in this country would do that to her right now as they do not put down animals that are not sick (unless they are homeless or vicious).

she is not in pain, she is not 'ill', she is not even nauseous (nauseous cats don't eat or interact with 'life').  the reason she is sick is because cheamotherapy damages the tissue where tumours lurk, in her case this was her stomach wall, hence the reason why she is sick sometimes is because her stomach has become a little sensitive - it is developing some scar tissue from the cheamo and this can also affect the motility of the food (speed at which it goes through her).  she is not sick due to feeling nauseous, it is more of a gut reflex - the fact she returns to her food bowl immediately after being sick is a sure indication that she is not feeling unwell.

believe me, if for one moment I thought she was in pain or her quality of life was compromised or absent, I would do the right thing - I am a responsible pet owner and have the guidance of an excellent vet. i really don't think death is the answer yet.  but cheers anyway!
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: lowis on September 18, 2007, 02:05:14 pm
Joe - thanks for the kind offer but I am down south :)

Mark_roberts - when you say  aspray and suck vac - which sort fo spray would you recommend and is a suck vac a regular vac?  i have a miele cat & dog one?


PS - I am in London and am female by the way! :)
Yes, I know, a female who has no idea how to clean!
rubbish eh?
 ;D
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: John Kelly on September 18, 2007, 02:10:14 pm
Marks offer is the best bit of kit you'll get for 50 quid.
Title: Re: Cat sick - Is steam cleaning the answer?
Post by: Joe H on September 18, 2007, 02:34:02 pm
Where does MarkPowell live??
If its too far away from London p&p is going to add. but the George machine would be ok.

Have a look at this on ebay - item  180159629212  its in Watford

its more then a George in power and probably more then what you need but it will do your carpets anyway or you sell again when finished with. May even start you up in business as a carpet cleaner. :o

Hope your cat picks up soon.