If you are in need of professional cleaning in Rochester, MI or surrounding areas, please call Duo-Care Cleaning and Restorationat (586) 263-9930 to schedule a free consultation.

7 Myths About Carpet Cleaning & Why It Should Be Done by a Professional

Your carpeting is likely one of the biggest investments you’ve made in your home. You want to keep it looking great as long as possible. You’ve undoubtedly heard that regular cleaning and maintenance can help preserve your carpet, but with all the myths surrounding carpet cleaning, you might not be sure what’s best. We’ve broken down 7 of the most common myths about carpet cleaning to help you sort out the truth.

Myth #1 Wait as long as you can to have your carpet cleaned for the first time because it will never look the same again.

Like many myths, this one had some basis in fact, many, many years ago before modern carpet materials and better water extraction processes came into play. Older carpet cleaning methods often left the carpet too wet, causing water and cleaning residue to rise to the top of the surface of the carpet as it dried. This residue made the carpet look dirty in spots and actually attracted more dirt, more quickly, resulting in dull, dirty-looking carpet.

Modern hot water extraction, done by a professional carpet cleaner, not only removes dirt and debris, but excess water too, leaving your carpet as clean and fresh as the day it was installed.

Myth #2 I don’t need professional carpet cleaning. That’s why I bought my trusty (insert brand name) carpet cleaner.

While it’s nice to have your own carpet cleaning machine to handle spills and stains between professional cleanings, a personal carpet cleaner, no matter what brand it is, is not a substitute for professional-grade carpet cleaning equipment.

The fact is, consumer-grade carpet cleaners don’t have enough suction or power to properly extract the amount of water they add to your carpet. As a result these machines often leave water and cleaning residue behind that actually attracts more dirt, making your carpet dirtier, faster. The reduced power of these machines also means they fail to extract all the dirt from your carpet, leaving it vulnerable to more damage over time.

Finally, some machines add so much water to the carpet that the pad underneath gets wet, which can lead to mold and mildew problems.

One additional note rented carpet shampooers suffer from many of the same short-comings as their consumer-grade counterparts isadding too much water or cleaning solution to your carpet, without sufficient power to extract it all. Rented machines or personal carpet shampooers can be used to handle stains between cleanings, but should never be used as a substitute for professional carpet cleaning.

Myth #3 Dry cleaning is a better cleaning method than wet or steam cleaning

This myth is the result of inexperience or lack of proper training on the part of commercial carpet cleaners. When someone doesn’t understand how to do the job correctly they will often use the wrong water pressure, too much detergent or both. They may also fail to take the time to extract the water properly. This leaves wet residue behind that attracts more dirt.
Dry cleaning on the other hand, doesn’t remove all the dirt, dust and particulates, since little extraction actually takes place. This means that dirt and residue are left behind to attract more dirt and damage your carpet over time.

When done properly, hot water extraction (also known as wet or steam cleaning) is the BEST way to clean carpeting because it effectively lifts and extracts dirt, sand, dander and other particulates that can damage your carpet over time. In fact hot water extraction is the preferred carpet cleaning method recommended by the Carpet & Rug Institute and the IICRC.

Myth #4 My carpet looks really good. It doesn’t need to be cleaned right now.

Whether you see the dirt or not it’s there. In fact a square foot of carpet can hold up to a pound of soil before the dirt is visible. By the time dirt you can see dirt on your carpet, a lot of damage has already been done.

How is this possible? Dirt, sand, grit and other particulates that settle into your carpet are abrasive. As the carpet fibers rub together the sand and dirt in your carpet breaks down the carpet fibers, causing the carpet to wear prematurely.

When this type of damage occurs, the carpet will not have as much spring and will not reflect light the same way after enough time passes. The result is carpet that often still looks dirty, even after it has been professionally cleaned.

Carpet manufacturers recommend having your carpet cleaned at least once a year to protect your investment and ensure a long life.

Myth #5 Carpet stain remover products from the grocery store or retailer are just as good as professional products

Mass-market carpet stain removers are formulated for a wide variety of stains including ink, red wine, coffee, grease, blood or oil stains. As a result they are often made from harsh chemicals in order to work well with this wide range of stains.

Unfortunately, while these products do remove stains, they damage the color of the carpet almost 33% of the time. Even when discoloration doesn’t occur, the harsh chemicals can damage the carpet fibers, causing premature wear and a dull appearance.

In contrast, a properly formulated, fiber-specific stain remover is safer for carpets and doesn’t reduce carpet life span.

Myth #6 I only have to vacuum my carpet once a week to keep it clean

Your carpet is your home’s best filter against airborne contaminants that enter your home from the outside including dust, dirt, pollen and industrial contaminants. Inside your home, your carpet is also playing host to animal hair, dander, dead skin and dust mites. Unfortunately, if you don’t remove these contaminants often enough, they will damage your carpet and impact the quality of your indoor air.

Daily vacuuming is not only recommended by carpet manufacturers, but by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect indoor air quality. In addition, daily vacuuming can add years to the life of your carpet.

Myth #7 Carpet cleaning can shrink my carpet

Unless the carpet is left extremely wet, it will not shrink. Ensure that you hire an experienced carpet cleaner, preferably one that is certified by the IICRC. source: clean-works.com

If you are in need of carpet cleaning in Rochester, Michigan or surrounding areas, please call Duo-Care Cleaning and Restoration at (586) 263-9930 today!