Carpet in the Kitchen and Cooking

[karenpepper]

It is my own fault but I moved into an apartment that had carpeting in the kitchen. Believe me, the rest of the place is great. Here is my problem – I cook a lot and I have a bad habit of always knocking food on the floor. It was easy to clean up before – grab a broom and the floor was clean in two seconds. Now, it has become a hassle, and I am sad because I like to cook but this problem is making me not want to go in the kitchen.

[mudbug]

oooh, carpet's bad in the kitchen. Could you stand to put some towels or newspaper down? Or get some carpet runners? Or try to be more careful?
You don't want to lose your security deposit.

[buckytom]

those cheapo home depot self sticking tiles work well, if you can get your landlord to agree to pull up the carpeting (they could save it to re-install when you move out). so long as the sub-floor is fairly smooth and level, they are very easy to install. just a suggestion... :D

[Paint]

I would get plastic carpet protectors, either the runner type that you can cut to size, or the sort that you put under wheely chairs in offices and put them in the areas where you spill food the most (usually near the sink, stove and chopping/prep areas). You will then be able to just wipe up most spills as you would with a hard floor.

Paint.

[SizzlininIN]

Oh I remember when mom and dad had carpet in the kitchen when I was little. Mom had these long plastic runners ..... kind of like those clear plastic pieces you might have under your computer chair to protect your floor.

What I remember most is when she would sweep and have those dog gone things flipped over and I'd come running through there and those pointy things on the backside of the runner would be face up........talk about hurt. I think she may have done this on purpose to keep us from running through the house..........maybe this was her amusement through the day I can just see her snickering

[Michael in FtW]

I had carpet in a kitchen once and I totally hated it - and it was indoor/outdoor carpet so it was fairly easy to clean - but it was a pain!

Check to see if the carpet is "attached" to the floor in any way - glued, tacked or taped. Chances are, since it's an apartment, it might not be glued or tacked ... so you could roll it up and stick it in a closet somewhere.

If you can't do that ... or get the apartments to remove the carpet ... mudbug had a great idea, plastic carpet runners. It depends on what kind, and how big, of messes you make in the kitchen.

[luvs]

i'd get the vinyl mats. i have one so my floor so i can scooch my computer chair around and i always spill stuff on it. it can be cleaned in a minute or two with some cloth diapers (to sop up the spill) and a few disposable disinfectant wipes(to get rid of the stickies). i'd recommend cutting it into smaller lengths; that way if you spill something like flour, you can fold the length in half and dump it outside or in the john. or the trash, oops, forgot about that one, lol. BTW, if you drop an egg, pour lots of salt over it and leave it for awhile. it will clean up much more easily.

[Darkstream]

A carpet in the bedroom is OK.

A carpet in the kitchen is not only a disaster, it is a SELF IGNITING house fire waiting for an excuse to start.

Tell your landlord that if he does not remove it and replace with non inflamable, cleanable tiles, he will be reported for building and fire control offences.

AND if you have not yet been in two house fires, and wondered if you were gong to make it to ground level and breath again, then you have not lived. BUT do not accept this **** from your landlord.

[norgeskog]

KP it depends on the carpeting. I had that in-out type of carpeting once in my kitchen and everything wiped up great. That stuff is designed for easy cleanning and for kitchens and patios. If it is real good carpeting, bummer

[ApplePie]

I agree with the plastic carpet protectors but I personally don’t like the way they look and often you have to nail them down (ugly). We have carpeting in our garage – I know, but you have carpet in your kitchen – and I bought a robotic vacuum called the Roomba. It cleans whenever there is dirt and I don’t have to operate it. This way when you drop food on the floor the Roomba will start and clean up your mess while you are still cleaning. Otherwise you will have to clean your spills on your hands and knees and no one deserves that punishment. Happy cooki