Carpets add warmth and character to our homes, giving them an endlessly welcoming look. However, as one of the most used items, they often endure a lot of wear and tear, from muddy footprints to accidental spillage.
Keeping your carpets clean is important, but more crucial is how you do so, as improper cleaning methods can severely damage your carpets and even make stains worse.
This blog aims to explore the dos and don’ts of carpet cleaning so that you can clean your carpets the right way and avoid the wrong methods, helping them look as fresh and pleasant as when they were first installed.
Dos Of Carpet Cleaning
1. Boost Your Vacuuming Frequency
As per the data, most homeowners indulge in vacuuming their carpets once or twice a month. If you fall into this category, it’s time to emerge as an exception.
Dirt, dust, and other contaminants, as you know, stain or soil your carpet heavily over time. But what most homeowners don’t realize is that these very same contaminants can actually damage the carpet fibers due to their abrasiveness, leading to premature deterioration.
To protect your carpet from early damage, it’s important to vacuum it not monthly, but on a weekly basis. This will help capture as many contaminants as possible to keep the fibers fresh and prolong the lifespan of your carpets.
2. Tackle Spillage Timely
Accidental spillage on the carpet is a common mishap in almost every home. But it doesn’t necessarily have to become a concern, unless not treated appropriately on time.
This is because the more you delay in cleaning a spill, the more it can get embedded deep into the fibers, only to potentially damage your carpet by discoloring a tiny patch of it, emitting musty odors, or worse, allowing mold growth.
Hence, it is extremely essential to clean up a spill as early as possible to prevent unwanted and permanent damage to your carpet.
3. Indulge In Pre-Treatment Process
It’s important to remember that the effectiveness of cleaning a stain doesn’t just depend on the quality of the solution or appliance you use, but also on the pre-treatment process. In simple terms, pre-treatment processes ensure the effectiveness of tackling a solution at its core.
Let’s take an example of enzymatic cleaners. Enzymatic cleaners contain enzymes that help break down the stain-causing molecules (especially in the case of pet urine) in the first place, allowing you to tackle it effortlessly with the help of your commercial-grade solutions. And that is something you’ll definitely like to consider.
Note: Do read the care label and follow the steps accordingly if you are using a commercial-grade pre-treatment solution.
4. Employ Appropriate Cleaning Tools
When cleaning the carpet, it’s important to invest in safe-to-use tools to reduce the risk of damaging the fibers. Some cleaning tools that may seem suitable for carpets can actually end up causing damage.
For example, steel knives can cause accidental cuts and tears in the fibers, while hard-bristled brushes and steel wool can fray or distort the fibers, potentially ruining the appearance of the carpet.
Instead of using these damaging tools, it’s best to use safe-cleaning tools such as plastic knives or a rubber spatula to scrape solid stains, especially for dried chocolate or candle stains.
5. Ensure Though Drying
After cleaning your carpets, it’s important to allow them plenty of time to dry. Typically, carpets take a minimum of 6 hours to dry, especially if you steam-clean them. Although waiting can be tough, it’s essential for the carpets to regain their shape.
During the drying process, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, avoid walking on the carpet until it is completely dry. Walking on a damp carpet can push in more dirt and dust, potentially causing stains and undoing the cleaning work.
Secondly, it’s advisable to turn on overhead fans or dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process and reduce the risk of mold growth.
Don’ts Of Carpet Cleaning
1. Never Scrub A Stain
At times, it is understandable that certain stains can be too rigid to get rid of. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to resort to scrubbing them. Scrubbing is one of the worst carpet cleaning mistakes an individual can ever end up making, as it can brittle or distort the fibers, let alone banish a stain.
Rather than scrubbing, ensure practicing blotting. Blotting (with microfiber cloth or dry towels) helps soak and remove common carpet stains without affecting the fibers negatively.
2. Keep Bleach At Bay
Several homeowners think the harsher a solution, the more the chances of them destroying a stain to its core. But contrary to such popular perception, it is not true at all.
Harsh cleaning solutions, such as bleach and ammonia should be avoided, as they can cause irreversible damage to your carpet. Bleach, known for its discoloration properties, can end up robbing the vibrant color of your carpet.
Meanwhile, ammonia, on the other hand, can not only cause damage but can also release fumes, harmful to your health. So, it is recommended to use gentler cleaning solutions that are suitable for your carpet type, especially if you have kids and pets.
3. Avoid Excess-Moisturization
Water is crucial for carpet cleaning, but using too much water is definitely not. Excessive water can saturate the carpet, leading to additional problems.
Over-usage of water can make the carpets consume hours to dry, which ultimately increases the risk of mold and mildew growth. These organisms thrive in damp environments and can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and even damage the carpet itself.
In addition, wet carpets increase the risk of wicking, where stains resurface and cause musty odors despite effective cleaning. To avoid these issues, it’s important to use water sparingly.
4. Make Sure Not To Over-Deodorize
Deodorizing carpets is beneficial to keep them smelling fresh and pleasant. However, the choice of deodorizer is crucial because certain deodorizers contain harsh chemicals such as fragrances and volatile organic compounds.
Overuse of these deodorizers can result in respiratory irritation, headaches, and allergies, particularly for individuals with sensitivities. Additionally, it can contribute to poor indoor air quality.
The chemicals may linger in the air and be inhaled, potentially leading to health problems. Therefore, it is important to deodorize as needed and opt for a safe deodorizing product.
5. Don’t Over-Rely On Green Solutions
Although it is wise to invest in green cleaning solutions, at times, they are not sufficient to target and remove a stain to its core. This is particularly true in the case of pet urine stains.
Moreover, despite their insufficiency, homeowners often resort to repeating the cleaning process without realizing the potential harm they are causing to their carpets.
If a stain is resistant to green cleaning solutions, consider using high-quality commercial-grade products or seek professional help from Integrity Cleaning & Restoration LLC for steam cleaning or other deep cleaning methods.
Equipped with top-notch cleaning tools and solutions, they provide excellent deep cleaning services to remove stubborn stains from your carpet and restore its lost appearance.
Wrapping Thoughts!
Most homeowners, including you, are familiar with carpet cleaning techniques. However, this doesn’t make them trained professionals unless they know the correct way to clean their carpets.
The internet often contains several pieces of misleading information about carpet cleaning, leading homeowners to follow that way without carrying out a simple fact-checking, resulting in severe damage to their carpets.
Therefore, it is important to understand the basic Dos and Don’ts of carpet cleaning and clean your carpets accordingly to achieve your aim and prevent damage by all possible means.