THE MOST COMMON DO-IT-YOURSELF CARPET CLEANING MISTAKES
Ideally, your carpet should be professionally cleaned at least once a year, even if you do regular vacuuming. However, many people try the do-it-yourself carpet cleaning instead of hiring a professional, trying to save money. While the DIY approach is usually less expensive, it's almost never as effective as professional cleanings, and involves a good bit of time and hard work. Being inexperienced also makes it easy for the do-it-yourselfer to damage the carpet. Here are some ways to avoid carpet cleaning mistakes.
Here are some common ways do-it-yourselfers can cause damage to carpets:
Too Much Shampoo
Over-shampooing occurs when either too much shampoo is used, or the carpet is not rinsed properly. Both are very common with some wet do-it-yourself approaches. This is the biggest reason why even regular do-it-yourselfers should occasionally use a professional. If they don’t, the build-up of soapy residue can be impossible to remove, leaving a carpet that is basically a dirt attracting magnet. Have you ever heard the saying that once you get your carpet cleaned, it will get dirty even faster? This is actually true with wet cleaning methods. That's because the soapy residues used in the wet cleaning process haven't been properly removed. With the sticky soap residue, you will see your carpet soil very quickly afterwards, especially in the traffic areas.
Too Much Water
Over-wetting occurs when too much water soaks into the bottom of the carpet, & even the padding. Carpet dries from the bottom up, so any kind of dirt or spill in the padding can eventually wick back to the top, causing carpet to turn brown or spots to reappear. Some backing materials also cause the carpet to discolor if they get too wet. Some carpets will even shrink. Drying the backing & pad can be very difficult if they're too wet, and you run the additional risk of mold, mildew & bacteria problems.
Replacing Furniture Before
Carpet Is Dry
Many kinds of wood or metal furniture will cause stains if left on wet carpeting. Unfortunately these results are usually permanent. Do-it-yourselfers usually encounter these problems because they don’t remove all the furniture from the room while cleaning, and they don’t have access to the styrofoam blocks and plastic tabs that the professionals use when the furniture is replaced.
In some cases, DIY can actually cost you more money than hiring a professional. This may also be the case when it comes to cleaning the carpets in your home.
Some jobs are just better if left to the professionals, & carpet cleaning is usually one of those jobs! Quik-Dry Inc. has specialized in carpet & upholstery dry cleaning for over 30 years! If you're in Greenville, Spartanburg, or anywhere in between, contact us for a free estimate in your home or office!