Keeping carpet clean (or at least somewhat)?

Superchicy

The only place I can feed DD is in our dinette which has carpet.  She has taken to throwing food everywhere, and I just can't seem to be quick enough to pull the tray off before she goes at it.  I have plastic down under her, but she still gets stuff everywhere and our carpet is getting pretty nasty despite spot cleaning and whatnot.  Anyone have any tricks to keeping your LO's area cleaner or is my carpet just doomed until she is bigger?

Oh and seriously rather than save for college we needed to start a fund for Stanley Steamer to come on a regular basis.  I don't really like our carpet to begin with but we can't replace it as of yet either!

Missbollinger

I do a clean with my Bissell every 4-6 weeks.  Seems to work so far until all the kids are grown then I am tearing this carpet up and going hardwood throughout.  I also make sure I work at the stains when they are fresh, so chlorox wipe and then carpet cleaner and pad dry with paper towel.

hav2run

Maybe get some of those foam interlocking mats that are made for playrooms to put under her dining area?  At least you could wipe those clean as needed.  We have hardwood in the kitchen, and that is a pain to keep clean, but I can't imagine what DD could do to carpet.

Superchicy

hav2run:

Maybe get some of those foam interlocking mats that are made for playrooms to put under her dining area?  At least you could wipe those clean as needed.  We have hardwood in the kitchen, and that is a pain to keep clean, but I can't imagine what DD could do to carpet.

The mats are a good idea, I thought a huge piece of plastic would do the trick but that girl has some range, and she thinks it's hilarous to go nuts wiping her tray "clean".  I may also have to invest in a carpet cleaner, probably cheaper in the long run than paying someone to keep coming in when it gets bad.  I swear no matter how much I work at the spots, even when they're fresh, some of that stuff just doesn't come up easy.

Mrs.Cooley2bee

I can't imagine keeping carpet clean while my little food thrower is eating, I even got our basement carpet replaced with hardwood this year because I suck at keeping it clean between the animals and DD.... good lord! So I guess I am no help.

Mrs.Cooley2bee

Wait, maybe you could feed her on the back porch:) Hehe, kidding of course

Superchicy

Mrs.Cooley2bee:

Wait, maybe you could feed her on the back porch:) Hehe, kidding of course

Lol, I kept thinking the other day how I wish we had a basement, I could feed her down there and then close the door so nobody could see the mess.