Carpets are a cozy addition to any home, and, to most homeowners, keeping them clean isn’t a new thing. However, this doesn’t necessarily make them a pro carpet cleaner unless they acknowledge a few mistakes to avoid while cleaning their carpets.
Hence, in this blog, we’ll unveil common mistakes to avoid at any cost while cleaning your carpets so that you can clean them like a trained professional and help them look fresh and new for longer.
Seven Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Carpets
1. Using A Faulty Vacuum
Regular vacuuming is essential to refresh your carpets from the brunt of daily use. However, vacuuming can yield good results only if you utilize good quality vacuum appliances, as poor or out-to-date vacuum cleaners can place zero-to-no impact on the carpet, let alone cleaning dirt, dust, and other contaminants.
Therefore, use high-quality vacuum cleaners to trap and remove maximum contaminants from the fibers and maintain their pristine appearance.
2. Delaying Cleaning The Stains
There’s no need to worry if you’ve accidentally spilled food or drink on your carpets, as spills can’t deteriorate the fibers unless treated quickly. Spills, if they remain untreated for hours, can embed further deep in the fibers only to discolor a small portion of your carpet, so make sure you clean them as early as possible.
3. Using Harsh Chemicals
While cleaning the carpets, ensure the chemicals you apply are safe, as harsh chemicals can discolor or fade the carpets beyond any hope of restoring their vibrancy again. One such classic example is Bleach. If you are not sure which chemicals or solutions to use, don’t hesitate to consult a professional.
4. Avoiding Spot Testing
Just because a cleaning product is considered ‘Top-notch’ doesn’t necessarily mean it can be suitable for your carpet. Carpet fibers are delicate, and randomly applying any solution (before testing them) is like deliberately allowing the fibers to deteriorate, as they can’t bear the brunt of all solutions displayed on the top-trending list of the market.
Henceforth, always test the solution in an inconspicuous part of the carpet first to check whether it’s safe to apply or not.
5. Scrubbing Instead Of Blotting
When cleaning carpet stains, make sure you do not indulge in harsh practices like rubbing or scrubbing. Forget expecting better results, such practices, in fact, can brittle the fibers. Hence, always practice blotting, as it can soak and remove the stain without affecting your carpet.
6. Using Excess Water While Cleaning
There is a common misconception about water usage when cleaning the carpets. Most homeowners think excess water can help absorb a stain. But that is completely wrong.
Overwetting the carpet can result in fiber shrinkage or moisture attraction, which, in turn, can pave the way for mold growth, so always use water as required.
7. Steam-Cleaning Wool Carpets
Carpets come in different types, and not all have the strength to take the strain of different carpet cleaning methods. Let’s take an example of wool carpets, which should never be steam cleaned, as high heat from steam can shrink or weaken wool fibers.
Moreover, wool has a natural oil called lanolin that repels dirt. Steam cleaning can strip this, making the carpet more susceptible to future soiling. So, if you have a wool carpet, avoid steam cleaning it on any given day.
Conclusion
With a little care, you can keep your carpets fresh for years. Carpet cleaning might seem like an arduous task, but in reality, it is not actually, as by avoiding a few common mistakes, you can clean your carpets like a pro and help maintain their beauty.
