Common Carpet Cleaning Mistakes To Avoid

Taking care of your carpet means that your carpet can take care of you too. Cleaning your carpet properly and keeping it well-maintained ensures that your carpet not only retains its perfect fluffy appearance but prevents potential health issues from arising.

However, while the importance of cleaning your carpet might already be known to you, you might be wondering: what are some common carpet cleaning mistakes to avoid? In this article, we will be exploring five main carpet cleaning mistakes to avoid, namely:

• Scrubbing stains
• Letting stains settle
• Using the wrong products 
• Using too much water
• Overcleaning
• Over-shampooing

1). Scrubbing Stains

Scrubbing stains can only do more harm than good. While immediately scrubbing at, say, a coffee spillage might seem like a normal knee-jerk reaction, scrubbing a stain can possibly force the stain deeper into your carpet’s fibres. 

Instead of scrubbing away at the stain,  consider using an absorbent, white cloth or paper towel and gently dab at the stain. This will allow the stain to gradually lift from the carpet instead of penetrating deeper.

2). Letting Stains Settle

An important rule of carpet cleaning is to not let stains settle. If you let stains settle they will have more time to deeply penetrate your carpet, leading to significant long-term staining. Once these stains reach the bottom of your carpet’s fibres, they will most likely not come out or may require a more professional carpet cleaning service to be removed. Therefore, in cases of stain removal, it is important to act quickly but efficiently. 

It is also recommended to inspect your carpet at least once a week to identify new stains that could have been overlooked. 

3). Using The Wrong Products

Using the wrong products is another very common carpet cleaning mistake. Buying carpet cleaning products from, say, common retail stores often contains harsh chemicals that can cause serious damage to your carpet. 

Therefore, it is recommended to consider using natural-based solutions for your carpet to avoid burning out your carpet or even changing the colour of your flooring. You can also consider testing products on a small, inconspicuous part of your carpet to see if it leads to discolouration or not.

4). Using Too Much Water

Water is a helpful carpet cleaning agent, but using too much of it can be harmful. If you use too much water together with a cleaning chemical, the adhesive that holds your carpet down can wear out. Excessive water can also lead to mould growth or even loosen the stain so that it spreads outwards.

When using water to clean your carpet, consider using a small amount of water to help loosen the stains. Going overboard with water can lead to several issues that you want to avoid. 

5). Overcleaning

While it is important to regularly clean your carpet, overcleaning your carpet can shorten its longevity. This is because overcleaning can lead to colour fading, worn out fibres, and looser piles, which generally affect the appearance of your carpet.

Therefore, the frequency of which you clean your carpet largely depends on several factors such as the area size of your carpet, the material of your carpet, whether there is a lot of foot traffic, pets and more. Consider all of these factors when deciding how often you should clean your carpet. 

6). Over-shampooing 

Over shampooing means using too much shampoo on the carpet and not adequately rinsing it. This is a common mistake especially if you are carrying out the job and not a professional carpet cleaning service. If carpets are not shampooed properly and soap begins to build up, it can lead to the accumulation of dust, the formation of mould, and more.

Final Thoughts

Carpet cleaning is critical to maintaining not only a brand-new looking carpet but a carpet that keeps you and your family healthy. Overall poor maintenance is damaging to your carpet therefore, it is important to know what cleaning techniques to avoid so that your carpet can last for many years to come. 

That’s why we have shared with you the most common carpet cleaning mistakes including scrubbing stains too much, letting stains settle, using the wrong products, using too much water, overcleaning, and over-shampooing. 

If you’re looking to have your carpets professionally cleaned by a trustworthy and reliable carpet steam cleaning service in Melbourne, then look no further than Monster Clean.

Please call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for all your cleaning needs, on 0478 250 900 or leave an enquiry.