Carpet Cleaning tips
Carpet cleaning tips that can save you damaging your carpeting.
Yes, you can clean your own carpeting.
Carpet Cleaning tips
Questions answered
Should you vacuum carpeting before cleaning?
Can Carpet Cleaning rental machines do a decent job?
How fast should you move the carpet cleaning machine?
Pet accidents and what to do about them
What should you do with spills?
Should you take your shoes off when walking on the carpeting?
Should you vacuum carpeting before cleaning?
Yes, always vacuum first it is the most important part of cleaning.
Why? Because Sand, Dirt, dust, and other debris settles at the base of the carpeting.
Cleaning with water solutions, even when done right can wet sand and soil left in the carpet.
This can turn the sand and soil into a mud at the base of the carpet staining the backing leaving a shadowing effect.
The shadow effect will be most noticeable in heavy traffic areas of your carpeting.
Unfortunately, even future cleaning will not solve this problem.
Carpeting is not like clothing that can be washed back and front in the washer.
Carpeting you get to clean one side only.
Can Carpet Cleaning rental machines do a decent job?
This depends on the type of machine. There are unique styles using different methods.
Since this post is intended for the homeowner and not a professional, I will recommend
Rug Doctors rental machine. No, I do not receive any compensation for this recommendation.
I am recommending this machine because I have used it myself.
This machine works well when used right and the store that is renting the unit has done proper maintenance.
Like all machines it must be used correctly. Just pulling it over the carpeting may not supply the results you want.
How to use Rug Doctor rental carpet cleaner
First thing to remember while the machine has wheels use them only to move the machine to working area.
While walking backwards, you must raise the handle up lifting the wheels slightly off the carpeting.
This will apply the weight needed on the vacuum shoe to help remove the water from the carpeting.
The next important part is the speed you travel with the machine.
To slow or to fast can leave the carpeting to wet which will cause the carpeting to have an odor.
Practice before you start cleaning, you want to be somewhere between 2 to 3 seconds per foot.
Raising the handle and speed you travel can help prevent over wetting.
Over wetting causes longer drying times which in return can result in browning stains on the carpet.
Keep track of how much water you put in the machine to how much you take out of the carpeting.
This is a good sign of how you are doing.
Pet accidents on carpeting
Remove all spills / kitty spit up / and other problems caused by accidents as soon as possible.
Using a paper towel pick up as much of spot as possible before cleaning.
Most can spray foams do not remove deep down problems.
They also tend to leave a soapy residue which causes more soiling.
Your best option is using a wet dry vacuum like the one above (small, easy to clean, and powerful)
Mix a foam using a little hair shampoo pictured above with a car sponge this works great.
Another reason to use the shampoo is because it is gentle on the carpet.
Do not use shampoos with conditioners or other products.
I only recommend this type of hair shampoo, other than that you need a professional product.
As you sponge the area vacuum up right behind the sponge to remove spot.
You must vacuum well, repeat if necessary.
Removing Spills
Liquid spills should be blotted right away with a good absorbent paper towel.
Continue blotting until no color shows up on towel.
Then use vacuum with method for accidents, to remove any leftover residue.
Should you take your shoes off when walking on the carpeting?
While this sounds like the right thing to do because shoes can track in a lot of stuff.
However, use socks, some folk’s feet can discolor carpeting.
This can be worse than soil from shoes in most cases because soil can be cleaned.
There is no repair for color damage to carpet fibers.
This can be caused by sweat, body acid, body oils, lotions, or medications.
Check out my other helpful posts
Don’t forget to check out my YouTube videos
