7 Mistakes To Avoid When Washing Carpet

What are the 7 mistakes to avoid when washing carpet? Many property owners think that washing the carpet themselves will save them a lot of money and help them maintain the carpet. However, by doing so, they commit a lot of mistakes. Due to these mistakes, you end up damaging the carpet more as compared to the dust, contaminants, and stains.

To avoid this problem, it is essential to know the most common carpet washing mistakes which you should avoid. The list below consists of 7 such mistakes so that you can avoid them and clean the carpet in a better way.

Read on – 7 Mistakes To Avoid When Washing Carpet

1. Do not use every DIY method you find:

When you aren’t hiring professional carpet cleaners, of course, you will be using DIY methods to clean the carpet. The source of such DIY techniques is often the Internet or magazines.

The problem is that if you try out new DIY techniques every time you wash the carpet, you might end up damaging the carpet.

A much better approach is to look at the carpet’s label and read about the carpet’s material. Once you know the carpet’s material, it becomes easier to search for the method suitable for that material.

If you keep on trying new DIY methods to wash and clean the carpet, sooner than later, you might end up executing the method, which can damage the carpet. This is the number 1 mistake which you need to avoid.

2. Scrubbing the carpet when it’s dry:

Many people first remove the carpet from the floor and start scrubbing the carpet to remove the contaminants which they think are solid. However, this is a big mistake.

Scrubbing the carpet when it is dry will just pull out the fibers of the carpet. It will weaken the carpet. You might be able to remove the contaminants, but that will be along with the carpet’s fibers.

That is why you have to 1st moisten the carpet or even make it damp entirely, and after that only, you can think about removing the contaminants from the carpet.

Rather than using a heavy-duty scraper, you have to use gentle methods to remove these contaminants.

3. Washing them too frequently:

How often should you wash the carpet?

This is a question faced by almost every person who owns a carpet. If you wash it too frequently, like every fortnight, you might end up damaging the carpet or fraying it. You will need to replace such a carpet pretty soon. A much better approach is to take the traffic into account.

If the carpet is placed in a high traffic area, it makes sense to wash it every month. However, washing it once every quarter is good enough if the carpet is in a low traffic area or a personal space.

Over-washing the carpet is another mistake which you need to avoid at all costs.

4. Pouring water whenever the stain occurs:

When you search for certain tips to keep your carpet cleaned, you will come across a tip which states that you should pour water over the carpet as soon as the stain occurs. You might have noticed that this can loosen the stain, and therefore, you will be able to remove the stain later on.

However, if you do so repeatedly, you will end up fading the carpet. Pouring water over the carpet in copious amounts can lead to discoloration. A much better approach is to sprinkle water. Of course, there is a lot of difference between sprinkling water and pouring water over the carpet.

Firstly, sprinkling water over the carpet means that you will be able to control the area which comes in contact with water. You can precisely sprinkle water over the stained area.

That will certainly help you reduce the intensity of the carpet stain. Besides that, when you sprinkle water, the carpet will dry quickly as well. The fibers of the carpet will be exposed to water for a limited time. That will help you avoid discoloration as well.

Rather than pouring water over the carpet every time a stain occurs, a much better approach is to sprinkle water over the affected area.

5. Not opting for deep cleaning twice annually:

When you clean the carpet every quarter, it might seem clean at 1st glance. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need deep cleaning. Deep cleaning can seem like an unnecessary expense to many. However, deep cleaning carpet twice annually is a necessity rather than a luxury.

No matter what the carpet cleaners charge you, it is necessary to deep clean the carpet twice annually. The reason for the same is because the germs and pathogens that reside inside the carpet will be entirely eliminated in deep cleaning. You won’t have to worry about bacteria and other such growth as well.

6. Using excessive shampoo:

The general opinion among consumers is that the more shampoo you use on the carpet, the better the cleaning will be. However, shampoo consists of harsh chemicals. When you’re using shampoo excessively on the carpet, the fabric of the carpet might get impacted. The carpet might start fraying and discoloration as well.

To avoid this mistake, you have to read the label on the carpet and the shampoo. That will provide you with an idea regarding the amount of shampoo which you can use.

Also, while buying the carpet shampoo, it is a much better approach to use one with natural ingredients or with mild ingredients. That way, you won’t have to worry about the carpet getting damaged.

7. Going with cheap carpet deodorants:

Many consumers minimize the need to wash the carpet by applying carpet deodorants. While they might mask the odor, they might consist of harsh ingredients if you’re using the cheap ones. These can be detrimental to expensive carpets.

While choosing the carpet deodorant, it is essential to look at the ingredients. Also, you have to limit the use of carpet deodorants as well. They shouldn’t be used as a replacement for washing the carpets.

7 Mistakes To Avoid When Washing Carpet – Conclusion

These are the 7 common mistakes which people make when washing the carpets. Instead of falling into these traps, it is a much better idea to modify your washing practices accordingly. Once you do so, you will be able to have a clean carpet, and the life of your carpet will be much higher as well. There will be no need to replace the carpet anytime soon.