A product recommendation, someone may have been mentioned this before,
maybe not...
 
Bissell has a small carpet shampooer called the "Little Green Plus".  It
weighs maybe 10 lbs fully loaded and is very nicely designed.  This is an
improved model, replacing the older "Little Green Machine" shampooer, and
has a stronger engine, larger capacity, and better design.  I bought one
this weekend (plus a 128 oz bottle of Bissell's "Allergen Removal" shampoo)
and used it to shampoo the carpet under my desk and in front of my kitchen
door, where the ferrets have decided to make into bathrooms (despite having
a litterbox mere inches away) and it works BEAUTIFULLY.  (Bissell also says
it works equally well on upholstery and -- with an included attachment --
windows and mirrors, but I didn't use it for that.) Cleaning an area
roughly 3'x6' took about half an hour and left it CONSIDERABLY cleaner than
it was with my previous method (409 Carpet Cleaner and a scrub brush) and
leaves behind a pleasant scent.  The machine cost about $80 and the bottle
of shampoo $20.  The shampoo is used in 8 oz increments (and is diluted
with hot water) so it lasts awhile; that 3'x6' area almost exactly used up
one shampoo/water blend.  Setup and cleanup of the shampooer is only
slightly more difficult than your typical vacuum cleaner; the only real
difference is that you have to fill the thing with shampoo and water
beforehand, and rinse out the containers afterwards.
 
Anyway...$100 to keep the Ferret Bathrooms clean and stink-free is a small
price to pay, IMO. Throw in a bottle or two of "Fabreeze" afterwards and it
should be even better.  :-)
 
[SE]
[Posted in FML issue 2644]