Common Carpet Cleaning Mistakes and Fixes

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Many homeowners might not know that their carpet hides dirt, debris, and allergens. The only way to remove these pollutants is with thorough carpet cleaning, which you might not perform on your own. Find out some of the common carpet cleaning mistakes and fixes to clear your carpeting of these pollutants and leave your home feeling cleaner.

Not Cleaning Enough

Most homeowners feel that their carpet is clean after regular vacuum cleaning. However, washing and deep cleaning a carpet is the key to removing deep, set-in dirt, debris, and stains. Don’t hesitate to schedule regular carpet cleaning treatments with your local cleaners. One of the benefits of a professional carpet cleaning service is that they have all the equipment needed that you might not have at home.

Slow Reaction Times for Spills

Sometimes you spill something on your carpets and don’t realize it at first. Other times, you might not have time to clean up spills immediately after they occur. Whatever the circumstances, waiting too long before cleaning up carpet spills can be a big mistake. When dealing with a stain on your carpet, time is of the essence. Quickly identify the stain and determine which cleaning technique and substance will work best. The sooner you clean the carpet, the less likely you’ll have a set-in stain.

Over-Scrubbing

While you might want to thoroughly scrub your carpet after every stain, you may be over-scrubbing it. Scrubbing a stain can push some of the food, drink, or other debris deeper into the carpet, leaving an even trickier stain to remove. When working with a carpet stain, your goal should be to lift the stain rather than scrub it deeper. Use a vacuum cleaner nozzle to pick up dry materials and a dry cloth to soak up liquids before they can soak deeper into your carpet.

These are some of the most common carpet cleaning mistakes and fixes that you need to know as a homeowner. If it’s been some time since your carpet’s last cleaning, try a DIY solution yourself or contact your local carpet cleaning service for a fresh start.

What are the factors you should consider while carpeting your house?

Are you planning a new carpet for your home? It is an exciting experience for all of us. Making the right choice brings in that extra energy, freshness and glitz. You can literally transform the look and the feel of the space. 

Now there can be many reasons for getting a new carpet for your house. It can warm up your room and enhance the décor of the living area. However, choosing a carpet can be challenging and making the right decision is vital to get the desired results. 

It would be best if you considered several factors ranging from budget to the look and the maintenance. Let's help you with the important ones here. 

Types

There are different types available in the market, and the carpet that you choose necessarily needs to depend on your budget and requirements. The carpets differ based on density, fibre type and twist type. While the carpet's density determines its thickness, it's the twists in the carpet that determines its quality. Higher the twists in the rug, better is the quality. 

Colours

It is important primarily from two aspects. The first one is that the colour of the carpet can augment your house's overall décor if chosen right. It has to go well with everything else in the room: the furniture, wall paint or even the decorative items. Generally speaking, the light colours will make your room look more extensive, and dark colours will make it look small. The second aspect comes into play when you have to clean your carpet. The lighter tones require frequent cleaning compared to the darker ones. 

Patterns

When it comes to carpets, there can be as many patterns as you may ever think of, and that poses a lot of challenges when you go about picking one. Think of an ideal design for your home that goes well with it. Remember, choosing the right pattern will add to the beauty of the space and manipulate its size. It can make your room look cosier as well. 

Cost

When considering this factor, think about the upfront cost and the expenses that you will bear in its maintenance. The upfront cost will include every expense associated with the carpet itself, its installation, among other things. You also need to pick the right material as the softer textures and lighter tones, require frequent maintenance, which adds to the overall cost. 

Maintenance

You will never like to buy a carpet that won't last for a reasonable time and gives you headaches when it comes to maintenance. Ideally, you should consult an expert or the store salesperson for the relevant inputs. Also, consider the traffic in the area where the carpet will be installed. Certain tones and material are more prone to stain and odour and its best to avoid those. Find out if the maintenance of the carpet can be done on your own or requires professional services. The new carpets come with warranties, therefore make sure that you know the details that entail it. 

5 Tips To Disinfect All The Nasty Germs In Your Carpet

A beautiful summer afternoon of binging your favorite series or warm winter nights of wine and Gouda on the sides, carpet is the solace that completes a picture of a beautiful home. Indeed the hardwood floor gives a classy look to the living room, yet nothing feels more homely than a soft-squashy carpet. Whether it is a comfortable or stylish look, people always loved having soft flooring in their homes.

Indeed carpets are the symbol of coziness; however, this feeling should only be limited for you, especially not for the nasty germs. If not taken care of properly, carpets become a breeding ground for many microbes. They already are dust magnets that hold on to many atrocious things like fungus, bacteria, dead skin, and even pollen. But with ignorance, things could get a lot worse.

All those things not just spoil your beautiful carpet but can give you some severe infection. You have to take good care of your home carpet to avoid these gate-crashing guests. So, here are five tips to disinfecting all nasty germs in your carpet.

1. Vacuum Cleaning

This is one of the best ways to keep the carpet from getting dusty. To prevent bacteria and fungi’s growth in your carpet, you should vacuum the carpet at least twice a week. Vacuuming removes all the visible and invisible dirt from the carpet. Vacuuming makes the carpet dust-free and removes all those dead skin cell particles, which can be a habitat of disease-causing bacteria.

2. Using Professional Services

As a home maintainer, you also deserve a break. Yet sometimes, household responsibilities make it hard to catch even a breath. That is why you should consider getting professional help every once in a while.

Although you can be a cleaning-pro, your carpet needs professional care. Besides, it can be your day-off from all the chores when you just summon the professional cleaning-masters like Woodard Cleaning & Restoration and let them do their magic. They have specialized tools like steam cleaners that deeply cleanse all the carpets of your house and are equipped with environment-friendly cleaning tools that can destroy the pathogens to maintain your carpet for a long time.

3. Using Strong Carpet Cleansers

If you decide on cleaning your carpet on your own, select a cleaner containing enzymes and surfactants. Such cleansers simplify your job as they wipe away the dirt and germs effectively. You must choose the cleaner having disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Such cleaners come with a registration number, which you can find in the product ingredients.

4. Using Anti-Fungal Sprays 

Mold is the toughest one. Carpets soak moisture like anything, and eventually, they become a paradise for fungus and mold. The spilled food and drinks provide them the source of nutrition, and within a few days, they cover a large part of your flooring. Many times, they do not leave stains or odors but just keep destroying your carpet slowly.

Molds multiply, so you must regularly check areas like corners and below the carpet for their signs. The damage can happen more rapidly when you are living in hot and humid climatic zones. You can use anti-fungal sprays to prevent the growth of fungus and mildews on your carpet. However, it is ideal to take professional help when the damage is too much to handle at home.

5. Adopting No-Shoes Policy at Home

Everyone knows that shoes bring all kinds of stuff stuck to them. From animal feces to mud and litter, just a stroll outside, and you can get the essence of all dirty things outside of your home. Now, with the flooring like marble or hard-wood, you can clean it with the mop. However, when it comes to carpet, things get complicated.

Whatever stuck to your shoes gets transferred on the fibers of your carpet and starts decaying there. It leaves tough stains and generates an unbearable odor if you fail to clean them on time. If you have children at your home, things can get messier. The germs breeding on the carpet can cause infection. You can avoid all these troubles by simply keeping shoes outside.

Final Thoughts  

The Coronavirus pandemic has made us aware of how exposed we are to germ attacks. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, microorganisms are omnipresent. Indeed not all of them are bad, but many of them can cause serious infections. Therefore, taking proper precautions is one of the wisest options. The carpets that seem alright on the surface can be a hoarding house of many harmful bacteria and viruses. Whether these are dangerous strains of bacteria like MRSA or allergy-causing pollen, the carpet at your house must be properly cleaned time-to-time. You can use the above tips to keep the rug from germ infestation, and do not think twice before booking an appointment at professional cleaners.

Guest Post - Bliss Cleaning: Top 6 Types of Carpet Cleaning Methods

We partnered with cleaning company. for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Carpets give a royal look to the house. Today, numerous flooring options like tiles, marble, stone, wood, bamboo, etc. are available in the market. But, carpets continue to be one of the most irresistible kinds of flooring. In fact, in many countries, the total holdings of carpet flooring in the flooring industry is much higher as compared to other flooring options. 

People love carpet for its looks, softness, and warmth. Generally, cleaning and maintenance of carpet are quite easy. Vacuuming your carpet daily and scrubbing frequently can quickly suck dirt, dust particles, etc. leaving your carpet look clean, tidy, and fresh. But, these techniques might not work in case there is any kind of splash, spill, or any other messy mishappenings.  You might need to work harder to get those stains out of your carpet. You can either do it yourself or can hire professionals to clean your carpet. 

Using the expertise and the knowledge of cleaning professionals working at  "Bliss Cleaning Warnham in Horsham" we have come up with some of the most commonly used and effective methods of carpet cleaning.

    1. Keeping your carpet clean

Carpets are like beauty spots on the face of the flooring. But, even an expensive carpet can fail to mark a statement if it’s dirty or has stains on it. A neat and clean carpet looks not only good but also smells fresh. Keeping the carpet clean is also vital for maintaining its longevity. 

Here are some simple steps that can be very helpful is keeping your carpet clean.

    • Use a doormat to scrub shoes. Scrubbing shoes on the doormat would help in keeping dirt, dust, and other unwanted things out of the house as well as your carpet.

    • Use carpet protection. Using carpet protection accessories can also help keep your carpet safe and clean. For example, a chair mat protects the carpet from getting damaged by wheels or legs of the furniture. Similarly, putting a rug in a place that gets too much of footfall would also help in keeping your carpet clean. Well, you might have to clean the rug more often, but it would still be a good idea. Cleaning a carpet is a lot easier than cleaning the carpet. 

    • Vacuum your carpets regularly. Regular vacuuming will keep your carpets dust and dirt free.

    • Change filters and bags of the vacuum cleaner regularly. Your vacuum cleaner will give better results if their filters and bags are routinely replaced. Any carelessness from your side and your vacuum may lose its efficiency and effectivity.

    • Deep clean your carpet once every six months. You can do this by yourself or can even hire a professional to do it for you.

    • Clean the stains immediately. Leaving stains unattended for a longer time would make the cleaning process more difficult. Deal with them as soon as they happen. 

    2. Here are the 6 methods of carpets cleaning:

Prices of good quality carpets are quite high. Hence, it is essential to use effective and safe cleaning methods. Also, well maintained and clean carpets tend to be healthier and also have a longer life. Some of the most commonly used carpet cleaning methods are:

    • Hot Water Extraction

This is one of the most popular methods of carpet cleaning. Many cleaning professionals use this method. In Hot water extraction, the carpet is cleaned by inoculating hot water between the carpet’s fibers. A mix of hot water and a gentle cleaner not only removes all kinds of harsh stains and spills but also restores the original look of the carpet. 

Method: 

The gentle cleaning product is mixed in the water. The mixture is heated in the extractor part of the device. Mostly, the detergent used is child-friendly and environment-friendly.   

With the help of the device, the hot water mixture is inoculated on the dirty and stained carpet areas under high pressure. When a hot mixture of detergent and water is released with pressure on the affected area, it softens the stains and breaks down the dust and dirt particles. Removing soften stains is a lot easier as compared to hard and stubborn ones.

Later on, professionals remove the softened stains and loosened dust particles using the same device. The equipment used for this process is very effective. It cleans the carpet without causing any harm to it. This carpet cleaning method is suitable for rugs made up of synthetic fibers, as well as woolen materials. 

Pros:

    • The method does not involve the use of any kind of harmful chemicals. It is eco-friendly and safe to be used by families with kids or people who have allergies or asthma.

    • The results obtained are long-lasting.

    • The quantity of the detergent used is quite low as compared to water. Hence the chances of product residues left after the process completion are quite low.

Cons:

    • An experienced technician needs to be hired to conduct the process. An amateur technician may end up leaving the carpet over-wetted, 

    • The drying of the carpet might take some time. However, the drying process can be speeded by using devices like Air Mover. 

    • Dry foam carpet cleaning

To carry out this cleaning process, the equipment used should either offer very low moisture or zero moisture. This method is very efficient in removing allergens, dirt, stains, sand, and grit. It can be used for cleaning carpets made up of natural materials. 

Method:

    • Firstly the carpet is vacuumed to remove dust particles, hair, bread crumbs, etc.

    • The technician applies a special mixture all over the carpet. The mixture is made by adding a special cleaning product to a solvent. 

    • Once the cleaning powder is applied all over the carpet, it is whipped to create foam. 

    • Using a special device, the foam is spread all over the carpet. The rotating brush of the machine makes the foam reach to the roots of the carpet fibers’. 

    • The foam is left on the carpet for at least 10 min. 

    • After 10 mins. The foam gets hardened. All kinds of dirt, grit, and sand particles that were stuck in between carpet fibers get stuck to the foam.

    • Finally, the hardened foam carrying dirt, grit, etc. is removed with the help of a vacuum cleaner. 

    • The carpet is left for drying. The drying of the carpet takes around 60 minutes. 

Pros:

    • This method is very effective and efficient. 

    • The drying of the carpet is much faster as compared to other cleaning techniques.

Cons:

    • The cleaning is limited only up to the top surface of the carpet. 

    •  Vacuum

A vacuum cleaner is a must for every house owner who wants to keep their cleaning efficient, effective, and fast. A vacuum cleaner can be a convenient device when it comes to keeping your carpet clean, tidy, and free of dirt, dust, and other unwelcome particles.  Vacuum cleaners have come a long way since their time of inception. Nowadays, a vacuum cleaner is equipped with accessories like steam, spray jets, rotary vacuum head, and agitation. 

Method:

Switch on the vacuum cleaner. The dirt and dust particles embedded in the carpet fibers are sucked up in the vacuum cleaner, which gets collected in the dirtbag. Regular vacuuming keeps the carpet clean and tidy. 

Pros:

    • Convenient to use

    • Cost-effective

    • Cleans unwanted dry particles from the carpet efficiently and very fast.

Cons:

    • It won’t be effective on rugs with tightly woven fibers.

    • It cannot be used to clean stains, spills, or other dried in messes.

    • Der vacuum works only for cleaning dry messes.

    • Carpet Shampooing

This is one of the oldest and most commonly used carpet cleaning techniques. For this, you just need to have a brush and a bottle of carpet shampoo. 

Method:

    • Carpet cleaning shampoo is applied to the carpet. 

    • With the help of a brush, shampoo is spread into the fibers of the carpet. You can use a regular brush or a motorized one.

    • All the dirt and other debris particles get separated from the carpet threads, which are then easily removed using a vacuum cleaner.

Pros:

    • Cost-effective method.

    • Easy and quick way to clean the carpet.

    • You can do it yourself.

Cons:

    • Drying time is quite high. It is around 12 hours to even a day.

    • If not done correctly, it might result in excessive wetting of the carpet.

    • This technique might not be a good idea for high-pile carpeting.

    • Bonnet Cleaning

This carpet cleaning technique is generally used to clean the top surface of the carpet. In this dirt stuck in carpet top layer is cleared off using a heavy-duty motorized device. The device has a spinning pad. The pad is immersed in a mixture made up of a cleaning product and carbonated water. This cleaning method is widely used in places where the footfall is very heavy. For example, hotels. 

Method:

    • A mixture of a carpet cleaner and carbonated water is prepared.

    • The mixture is then spread on the carpet as a mist. 

    • A circular rotating buffer known as the bonnet is then run over the rug. 

    • All dirt particles stick to the absorbent covering over the bonnet. The covering needs to be replaced as soon as it becomes grimy. 

Pros:

    • Quick-drying.

    • Cost-effective

    • Very efficient in spot cleaning.

Cons:

    • Works only for cleaning the carpet’s top surface.

    • The results obtained are not long-lasting.

    • Stain Removal

Stain removal is again a do yourself way of cleaning carpet. Cut grass and tea leaves were earlier methods to remove dust and stains from the carpet. Some other techniques are:

    • Lemon or hartshorn and oxalic acid can help in removing ink stains.

    • Pipe clay or white bread for removing oil stains.

    • Turpentine for removing grease fats

    • Acid discoloration by using Ammonia and Chloroform. 

    • For insects- Alum and Benzine.

Traditional methods of removing stains are very effective and eco-friendly. 

 3. Hiring a professional Carpet Cleaner

Cleaning tough stains can be time-consuming and a tedious job. Also, some carpet cleaning equipment and products are either too large or too costly to be used for residential purposes. An easy way to overcome these hurdles is by hiring professional cleaning services. Getting the carpet cleaned by professionals at least once in 12 months, keeps the carpet clean. Fresh and germ-free for quite a long time. 

"All fabric surfaces act as filters," explains Sal Hernandez of Beyond Eco based in Austin, TX. "They absorb dust, dirt, germs, viruses, and molds, day in and day out. For your home or your business, it’s important to clean these fabric surfaces regularly."

Hiring a carpet cleaning company will no doubt save you lots of time and effort. However, you need to be careful while selecting the carpet cleaning company. Select a professional company with expert technicians who have know-how about various cleaning techniques.

Make sure that the company has all the necessary devices and cleaning products. For the safety and longevity of your carpet, hire a cleaning company with experience, reliable, and have a good reputation. 

Author Bio:

Jessica Max is an expert writer who writes on different categories like carpet cleaning, home cleaning, bedroom furniture and many more. His writings are not only descriptive but also meaningful. He loves to share his ideas on different categories.