If you want to live a comfy and classy life in Singapore, covering the floors of your home with carpets is one of the critical things you need to do. Walking shoeless on your carpets’ soft cloth after spending several hours at work in closed or high-heeled shoes is an amazing experience. However, keeping your carpets clean and in good condition is not a walk in the park. You must clean it on a regular basis to keep it neat and looking new.
Accumulation of dust and grime on the carpet fibers creates favorable condition for mold growth. All these not only increase the risk of an allergy attack on you and your loved ones but also destroy the fabric in your carpet. Improper or inadequate cleaning and maintenance can also significantly lower the lifespan of your carpet. Here are 10 common carpet-cleaning mistakes you must avoid to keep your carpet clean and extend its lifespan.
1. Not Cleaning Your Carpet Routinely
Dust and debris are trapped in the carpet with ease, and they serve as abrasive material that destroys your carpet fabrics. Leaving your carpeted surfaces dirty for lengthy periods will wear them out faster. Frequent vacuuming is one of the effective ways of keeping carpets clean. Use a quality vacuum to give your carpeted surfaces a thorough cleaning.
• Vacuum at least once a week. Don’t forget to vacuum under furniture and mats.
• Pour some baking soda into your vacuum container to combat the smell.
2. Excessive Scrubbing
When you notice a stain in your carpet, you may decide to scrub the mark in an attempt to remove it. Excessive scrubbing damages the carpet fibers and severely affects the lifespan of the carpet. The ideal method of removing stains from carpets is scrapping.
3. Failing to Test Cleaning Products
The wrong form of cleaning product can trigger permanent damage to your carpet. Thus, you should test any cleaning product before using it.
• Pour a drop of your cleaning solution to a hidden corner of your carpet to test if it won’t bleach or discolor the fibers
4. Not Wiping off Spills and Spots Immediately
Carpets absorb fluids at a fast rate. When you leave a spill to sit on your carpet for a lengthy period, it soaks into the carpet as well as pad below it. Always clean spills and spots immediately to prevent them from drying and becoming harder to remove.
• Scrape the affected part.
• Using a soft brush cover the affected area with a spot cleaner and remove the excess cleaner.
• Dry the carpet using a white bath towel and brush the fibers of the carpet until they resume their standing position.
• If you see a wet spot, lay on it a pile of paper towels with a load on top.
• Get rid of stubborn odors by applying odor removing powder, allowing it to sit for a few minutes, followed by vacuuming.
5. Not Handling Special Stains Correctly.
When you fail to handle special stains appropriately, your carpet will look old and awful. It will also emit unpleasant odors. Therefore, understanding how to deal with special stains is critical to improving the cleanliness standards of your carpet.
• Urine: Use mild detergent, followed by a mixture of warm water and white vinegar
• Coffee: Scrap, then wash with mild cleanser, white vinegar, and hand-hot water. Lastly, apply dry cleaning fluid.
• Vomit: Clean with a mixture of baking soda and seltzer, followed by a solution of water and ammonia mixed in a ratio of 10:1.
• Mud: Allow mud to dry, scrape it off, and then wash with a mixture of detergent, warm water, and vinegar.
• Chocolate: Scrape, wash with mild detergent, and rinse with a mixture of warm water and white vinegar.
6. Unsuitable Cleaning Products
Each kind of carpet requires to be cleaned with unique cleaning products that perfectly suit the materials. Cleaning your carpet with inappropriate cleaning solution could result in damage and discoloration. You need to conduct some research when purchasing carpet cleansers to ensure that is the ideal product for your specific carpet.
7. Ignoring Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning your carpets at least twice a year is a practice recommended by carpet manufacturers. Dust, grime, and other debris tend to accumulate deep in the carpet fabrics, and it takes thorough cleaning to get rid of this deeply rooted debris. Deep cleaning will not only prolong the life of your carpet, but it will also boost its appearance. You can leave the deep cleaning project to a professional or do the job yourself. If you choose to do it yourself:
• Start by vacuuming and spot cleaning.
• Following the manufacturer’s instructions, prepare the cleaning machine. Then, use the cleaning machine to make single lashes over the carpeted surfaces.
• Apply the cleaning product on the carpet with a light touch and clean up any cleaner from woodwork and furniture.
• Gently brush the fibers and leave the carpet to dry.
8. Renting Defective Cleaning Equipment
Rented cleaning machines are sometimes defective due to poor servicing, and they can damage your carpet. These machines can also use excess cleaning solutions, and you may end up incurring unnecessary expenditures.
• Always rent cleaning equipment from a reputable company.
• Read reviews posted by clients who have in the past rented similar equipment from that company.
9. Excessive Use of Deodorizing Powders
Deodorizing powders are efficient when it comes to getting rid of disgusting smells from your carpet. However, you shouldn’t use them as an alternative to cleaning. Excessive use of these deodorizing powders can result in backlogs in your carpet, particularly if your vacuum fails to eliminate them effectively.
10. Over-shampooing
Over-shampooing occurs when you use an excess amount of shampoo to clean the carpet, or you fail to rinse it adequately. Both cases are unavoidable with certain do-it-yourself techniques. That is why it is critical to hire a professional cleaner from time to time, even if you are a staunch do-it-yourselfer. If you fail to rinse your carpet adequately, it will accumulate an impossible to clean soapy residue. This soapy residue will turn your carpet into a dirt magnet.
Avoiding these 10 common carpet cleaning errors can be instrumental in prolonging the lifespan of your carpet, improving the quality of indoor air, and keeping your home clean and stylish. Consider enlisting professional assistance from a reputable carpet cleaning company occasionally to supplement your do-it-yourself efforts.
