Gah

We've had another Learning Experience, a term always presented in airquotes around here.

Who knew that shampooing the carpet remnants, salvaged from our landlords' resort, oh, so many years ago, would actually make them worse? Jorge hired a machine to rid the area rugs of what he deemed doggie smell along with the visibly muddy remains of the wet season, but after they were completely dried and replaced back inside the house we discovered the new odor of icky rug shampoo overpowered by cat urine and stinky feet. Apparently thirty years of nasty hotel guests' dirt had been encapsulated in the fine grit that filtered in from its new place up here on a red clay mountain, and Jorge released it all when he blasted it with the steam cleaner.

How bad was it? A thorough spraying with carpet deodorizer didn't lessen its noxious power. We even smelled it in our sleep.

He is now on his way to the dump with both sections of carpet.


This taught me a lesson, but I'm not quite sure what it is.

-- John McEnroe