The carpet in your home puts up with a lot during its lifetime. With good maintenance, it can handle general wear and tear throughout the years, however, there comes a time when it’ll face substances that can’t be banished with a quick vacuum.

While none of us can avoid accidental spills and stains forever,  between regular professional cleaning by Super-Clean PRO Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning you can lessen the effect they have  – if you know what to do!

To avoid a DIY Carpet Cleaning Nightmare, here are the most common mistakes to avoid when cleaning carpets.

WAITING TOO LONG TO CLEAN UP A SPILL

This seems like common sense, but sometimes it’s easy to put off cleaning up a spill, especially if you are entertaining guests when it takes place. However, often the speed at which you react to spills on your carpet can make a significant difference in the end result.

By acting straightaway, you’ll have a better chance of fully removing both the stain and the odour from your carpet. Never let a hot spill cool, or a cool spill dry!

RUBBING THE CARPET

 

When addressing a spill or spot on your carpet, it might be first instinct to grab a damp tea towel and start frantically rubbing or scrubbing the area.

Rubbing a stain is one of the top carpet cleaning crimes, as it can actually force the substance deeper into the fibres, as well spreading the discoloration. It can also damage the carpet fibres themselves, causing them to fray. Never use scrubbing tools or brushes.

NOT DOING A TEST WITH CARPET CLEANING PRODUCTS

This is especially important when using stronger cleaning chemicals. Always read the label carefully, as some products are not suitable for all carpets, and other DIY carpet cleaning techniques can be overly harsh.

The last thing you want to do is cause even further damage to your carpet, so pick an inconspicuous area and do a small spot test before addressing the main stain.

USING A COLOURED CLOTH TO CLEAN YOUR CARPET

 

While you might grab the first towel or rag you see lying around to attack that spilled tomato sauce, think twice before you use it to clean your carpet. This is because you may run the risk of the dye from a coloured cloth bleeding into the carpet as you clean, meaning double the mess!

OVER DAMPENING THE AREA

You don’t need to drown a stain to remove it. In fact, applying too much moisture can actually be detrimental to your carpet, resulting in issues from discolouration and damp odours to carpet lifting.

When cleaning, avoid soaking the area with water or cleaning product, and ensure that you absorb any remaining moisture with a white bath towel or a wad of paper towel. Press firmly into the carpet, or stand on the towel for extra pressure.

ALREADY TOO LATE TO SAVE YOUR CARPET?

If you’ve committed one of the DIY carpet stain removal mistakes above, or your carpet is past its best, it may be time to call Super-Clean PRO Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.  We are always here to help!