(no subject)

For the Brits reading, do you guys know if anywhere recycles video tapes? My spare room is full of hundreds of the things. I've got full box sets of various series but the charity shops don't tend to take tapes now. Googling suggested using them for crafty stuff, but that's not about to happen. I don't have a VCR and they're just taking up space. If I can't recycle they're getting taken to the tip soon.

For everyone. Any tips on cleaning a carpet runner? It's the one we keep in the kitchen and it's filthy with muck that Tex tracks in. It's far too big to fit in the washer so I suspect I'm going to have to take it outside for a good scrub. But with what? Detergent? Can I just leave it out there and hope the gnomes take pity and clean it for me?