Everyone makes mistakes. While we have it in our heart to forgive you, your carpets might not be as merciful. When it comes to carpets, timing and consistency are everything. On a daily basis, your carpets are bombarded by a jaw dropping variety of particles, (e.g., dirt, dust, food, pet dander, fur and bodily waste, beverages, chewing gum, glitter, paint, markers, peanut butter, nail polish etc.). Now imagine all of these ingredients mixed together and then trampled on and pressed into your carpets by several hundred pounds of force every day and night for years. If you don’t have a regular and effective cleaning routine, your carpets are in some serious trouble. In this article, we are not only here to remind you to clean your carpets regularly, but more importantly offer a hand to guide you around and through some of the most common carpet cleaning mistakes that everyone, even the pros, have fallen prey to.
If you think you may have damaged your carpet or you are about to start cleaning and aren’t sure what you are doing, get in touch with a professional carpet cleaning company, a high quality, honest company will be happy to walk through it or give some helpful tips and tricks. Without further adieu, Let’s dive into some common blunders and see if we can’t come out clean on the other side.
Neglecting Regular Vacuuming
Regular vacuuming is arguably the most powerful (and easiest) way to increase the life of your carpets. As mentioned above, your carpet takes in quite a lot of bits and pieces of the world around it. As dirt and debris of all kinds accumulate, they act as an abrasive (think sandpaper) that quite literally grinds your carpet’s down with each footstep. Once a carpet has accumulated a few layers of grit, those layers become more or less infused into the carpet fibers, rendering regular vacuuming inept. It is at this stage that deeper, more intense, cleaning methods are required.
Not Testing Cleaning Products
This is another crucial component of carpet cleaning that is commonly ignored or overlooked. One of the reasons people, DIY’ers in particular, skip this step is because it requires a bit more patience, and potentially a few extra trips to Home Depot. If you are a DIY’er about to start cleaning your carpet, it is absolutely essential that you not skip this step. If the wrong cleaning solution is applied to the entire carpet or rug, it may end up in the dumpster.
We highly encourage you to follow a step-by-step checklist process like the one below:
- Select an inconspicuous area: Choose a small, hidden area of the carpet or rug, such as behind furniture or in a corner, where any potential damage or discoloration won’t be noticeable.
- Properly dilute the cleaning solution: Mix or dilute the cleaning product according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s essential to use the recommended concentration to simulate how you would apply the product to the entire carpet or rug.
- Pick a test area: Use a clean white cloth or sponge to apply a small amount of the cleaning solution to the test area. Blot the solution onto the carpet rather than rubbing it in to avoid spreading any potential damage.
- Wait and watch: Allow the cleaning solution to sit on the test area for a few minutes according to the product’s instructions. Avoid agitating or disturbing the solution during this time.
- Blot and check for color transfer: After the specified time has elapsed, blot the test area with a clean white cloth to absorb the cleaning solution. Check the cloth for any color transfer, which may indicate that the cleaning solution is causing the carpet dye to bleed.
- Check for damage or discoloration: Examine the test area for any signs of damage, discoloration, or adverse reactions to the cleaning solution. Look for changes in texture, color fading, or any other visible damage to the carpet fibers.
- Rinse and dry the test area: If the test area appears unaffected and there are no signs of damage or discoloration, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to remove any residue from the cleaning solution. Blot the area with a dry cloth and allow it to air dry completely.
- Monitor the test area: After the test area has dried, monitor it over the next 24 hours to ensure that there are no delayed reactions or adverse effects from the cleaning solution. If any damage or discoloration occurs, discontinue use of the product immediately.
This approach may seem a bit militant, but if you follow it, it will spare you many a tears and tearing of hairs.
Deep Cleaning DisastersAs we move into the territory of deep cleaning, we need to be especially careful as you can ruin your carpets before you’ve realized what’s happened. Before we get into it, let’s define what we mean by “deep cleaning.” For our purposes, when we say “deep cleaning”, we are referring to any method of cleaning that penetrates the fibers to get to the roots and the bed of the carpet. Some common deep cleaning methods include Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning), Dry Cleaning (Chemical Cleaning), Bonnet Cleaning (motorized machine with spinning Cleaning Pads), Shampoo Cleaning and Encapsulation (foam detergents that crystallize to powder to be vacuumed up). Cleaning disasters arise when you pair the wrong type of cleaning method with the wrong type of carpet or rug.
If you or your carpet cleaner are considering any of the above methods of cleaning, we would caution against using these methods if your carpets or rugs are made out of these types of materials:
- Natural Fiber Rugs: Carpets or rugs made of natural fibers such as wool, silk, jute, sisal, or cotton.
- Antique or Delicate Rugs: or those with delicate materials, intricate patterns, or fragile dyes.
- Handmade Rugs: Particularly those with glued-on backing or delicate weaving.
- Rugs with Water-Sensitive Backings: Some carpets or rugs have backings that are sensitive to heat, moisture and chemicals.
- Oriental Rugs with Natural Dyes: Oriental rugs often feature natural dyes that may bleed or fade when exposed to moisture, heat and harsh chemicals.
- Sisal or Seagrass Rugs: These natural fiber rugs are generally not recommended for any of the above methods as they can shrink, warp, or become discolored when exposed to moisture, heat and harsh chemicals.
- Silk Rugs: Silk rugs are delicate and prone to damage from moisture, heat, harsh chemicals and forceful machine cleaning. These methods can cause the silk fibers to become weak, distorted or discolored, leading to irreversible damage.
It’s crucial to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and care instructions for your carpet or rug before attempting any of the above deep cleaning methods. If you’re unsure about the suitability of any type of cleaning method for your rug, it’s best to consult with a professional carpet cleaner who can assess the material and recommend the most appropriate cleaning method.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a DIY’er or a professional, this is essential knowledge for anyone involved in the cleaning of carpets and rugs. If you’ve hired a pro, make sure you understand the types of cleaning solutions and equipment that will be used, and if something doesn’t line-up, do not hesitate to step in and speak up.