It may sound counterintuitive that cleaning a carpet shouldn't involve soap, but it's for a good reason. Soap requires A LOT of water to rinse out, even when only a tiny amount is used. Since you can't rinse your carpeting like you can wash your hands or a dish (you should never get it that wet, and logistically it's not practical), there will always be leftover residue you can't remove if you apply soap to your carpet. Since soap attracts dirt, the affected area will get dirtier faster. For this reason, it's best to use a soap-free spotter. We use soap-free detergents specifically designed for carpet cleaning to break down dirt and soil without leaving behind residue.
Carpet Care Tip: Avoid DIY Carpet Cleaning Machines
DIY (Do it yourself) carpet cleaning machines bring to mind the saying “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Advertisements make them look easy to use and more economical but in reality they oftentimes cause more harm than good. Home carpet cleaning machines lack the power truck mounted units provide, and with limited extraction ability, the carpet can easily be left too wet and full of solution. This can be disastrous as carpet that is overwet can mildew, grow mold, and the damage can permeate the padding and into the subfloor as well, which would result in the need for replacement (which costs $$$). Other issues lie with the products used in conjunction with the machine and the human error when using it. Carpet cleaning is a science that heavily relies on chemistry. Using the wrong chemical or mixing chemicals can result in permanent discolorations caused by the cleaning processes and set in stains that would have been able to be removed by a cleaning professional. They’re also time consuming to use so they’re not as economical as they appear to be when you factor that in. If you’ve had a mishap from a home carpet cleaning machine or want to save yourself the time/money/effort/panic by booking a professional cleaning, let us know. We can help!
How to Get Sunscreen Out of Your Carpet
Summertime means warmer weather and the need for lots of sunscreen! If your sunscreen application goes awry with some product ending up on the carpet, here are a few tips to keep in mind when cleaning it up:
1. Use a dull knife or a spoon to remove as much of the sunscreen from the carpet as possible. Don't try to wipe it up because that could cause it to embed deeper into the carpet fibers.
2. Use the HomePro spotter we provided at the time of your last cleaning to spot clean the area. Make sure to read the directions on the bottle first and spot test in an inconspicuous area. If you don’t have one of our spotters, let us know and we’d be happy to set you up with one.
3. Use a dry white rag to blot the wet area and remove any excess dampness.
4. Let the carpet air dry. You can put a fan in front of the treated area to expedite the drying process. The key thing to keep in mind with spills of all kinds is to clean it up as quickly as possible.
If you need any additional help, give us a call. Our expert technicians would be delighted to lend a hand!
One Important Reason Not to Use Over the Counter Spotters
We warn about the dangers of using over the counter spotters quite frequently on our blog and social media posts due to the potential for color loss to your carpet. We see color loss often as carpet cleaners but it might not sound like that big of a deal if you haven't personally dealt with the disappointment of realizing you inadvertently ruined your carpet. This carpet had quite a few areas of color loss. Since color loss can't be fixed with cleaning (cleaning makes no improvement as the dye has already been removed from the carpet), the only ways to "fix" color loss are to have the carpet dyed (depending on the carpet fiber) or to replace the carpeting. The best preventative measures you can take to avoid this is to refrain from using over the counter spotters and keeping products that remove color (think bleach, benzoyl peroxide, Resolve, etc.) away from your carpet.
Tips to Keep Your Carpet Clean During the Summer ☀️
1️⃣ Have a shoes off policy. The simple task of removing shoes before entering your home can go a long way in keeping the dirt, grass, and grime outside where they belong. 👞👢👡
2️⃣ Protect your carpet. When hosting an event where many guests are walking in and out of the home, consider placing mats, rugs, or runners throughout your home to protect the carpet and reduce wear. Don't forget a mat by the door!
3️⃣ Vacuum regularly. Vacuuming once a week is a great way to regularly maintain your carpet. It prevents dust and dirt from embedding in carpet fibers.
4️⃣ Spend time outdoors. Getting out of the house and doing outdoor activities is a great way to prolong the life of your carpet.
5️⃣ The best way to keep your carpet at its very best is to have it professionally cleaned. We can can help with that! Give us a call if it's time to freshen up your carpet. ☀️📞
Carpet Care Tip: Wear Slippers or Socks Indoors
If you’re a big fan of walking around barefoot, you may want to re-consider. Your skin naturally releases moisture which comes out as oils or sweats, which when you walk around barefoot transfers from your foot to the surface of your carpet fibers. This moisture attracts dust, dirt, and dander and over time it can build up and become noticeable. Wearing your shoes indoors isn’t the answer as that can track in far more contaminants. The best option is to wear socks inside or to have special indoor-only slippers by your front door to put on when you make the transition from outside to inside your home.