Carpet Cleaning

[Stasia]

Our apartment complex sends in a carpet cleaning company each year to clean our carpets. I have no idea though what to do about my fids. This is the first year I have had them. Would it be alright if I put them in one room and closed the door? I suppose I could just tell them not to clean our bedroom rugs and keep them in there. How long should I wait before letting them back in the main rooms? Thanks!

Stasia

[Freedomoflight]

You could always board them someplace, get the whole apartment cleaned, then air it out before letting the fids come back... that way if its aired out nicely you will not have to worry about fumes escaping under the door harming your fids, how long your fids have to be in the room, etc.

[Monica]

It's far better to board your birds somewhere for 2-3 days after the carpet cleaning... someone had their floors cleaned, and had the birds outside on their porch... Well, the windows were open to let the house air out, and the birds were too close to the windows and had died... The owner took the carpet cleaners to court, and she ended up loosing her case.... It's not worth the risk of putting them in another room and expecting them to be fine...

[The Outlaw]

Actually, Monica, they were having their wood floors refinished, but the end result was the same.

I would absolutely board your birds for at least 2 days after any commercial cleaning is done. Forget about the "safe for pets" crap. Its not safe for BIRDS.

And, insist that NO stain protector be used. That is what usually kills and cripples birds.

[Monica]

Thanks for correcting me! I had thought it was wood floors but felt too lazy to check it out! I'd still be worried myself if it was just simple carpet cleaning because sometimes you don't know what is in the chemicals, and even if they say it's safe, sometimes they can go behind your back and use harmfull chemicals....

[Stasia]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will definitely board them or skip the cleaning all together for now then. Much rather safe than sorry of course!

Stasia

[kensbuns]

YOu could always clean your own carpets with oxy-clean. I actually use Tide-Unscented and oxy-clean.