It’s not too difficult to look after your carpets, especially with the help of local carpet cleaning companies. However, there are a few myths about carpet cleaning and carpet care that you should be aware of, in order to avoid making rookie mistakes. In this article, we’re going to dispel 8 of the most common carpet cleaning myths we’ve heard over the years.
Eight Carpet Cleaning Myths You Can Safely Ignore
Baking Soda Is Great for Cleaning Carpets
While it’s true that a liberal sprinkling of baking soda can help to absorb liquid spillages on carpets, making the task of cleaning them a little easier, it’s not an effective cleaner by itself. If you’re hoping that you can keep your new carpets looking good and smelling lovely with frequent baking soda treatments, you’re in for a bit of a disappointment. In short, baking soda is no substitute for professional carpet cleaning services with truck-mounted steam cleaners.
You Can Use Any Type of Stain Remover
Different carpet stains require different treatments, and different types of carpets react differently to certain substances. For these reasons, it’s never a good idea to use any old stain remover on your carpets. Using the wrong type could actually make a stain harder to remove so it’s important to do your research before attempting DIY stain removal. A Steve’s Carpet Care & Restorationprofessional carpet cleaner who specializes in the removal of stubborn stains will be able to ascertain which type of remover will be the most effective.
Carpets Take 1-2 Days to Dry Completely After Steam Cleaning
This may have been the case many years ago and still could be if you rent a portable machine to clean your carpets. However, if you search for ‘carpet cleaning near me' and pick a company that uses truck-mounted machines with vacuum hoses and blowers to remove wastewater, the total drying time should be a few hours at most. The exact drying time will depend on the state of the carpet and the length/thickness of the pile, but it’s safe to think in hours rather than days when dealing with professional carpet cleaning companies.
Carpets Make Allergies Worse
This is one of the most persistent myths and has led many people who actually prefer the luxurious feel of a soft carpet to have hardwood flooring installed. There is nothing in a good quality carpet that will exacerbate your allergies, as long as you maintain them properly. It is the dust, pollen, dirt and debris around your home that causes allergies and if it’s left to accumulate in the pile of your carpets, it could make your condition worse. But, if you vacuum regularly and have your carpets cleaned professionally every year, allergens will not have the chance to accumulate.
New Carpets Don’t Need to Be Cleaned
It’s true that a brand new carpet won’t need to be cleaned of course, but many people have new carpets installed and believe they require no attention for the first few years. If you want your new carpets to remain in great condition and free of unpleasant odors, you should have them cleaned just as frequently as older carpeting. And, as any reputable carpet care company will confirm, many manufacturer’s warranties include terms that require new owners to have their carpets cleaned on a regular basis. If you don’t comply with these terms, your warranty will be voided.
Too Frequent Vacuuming Will Damage Your Carpet
It’s tempting to believe this myth, especially if you lead a busy life and don’t enjoy housework, but it’s simply not true. Good quality, modern carpets are very hardwearing and are designed to be vacuumed repeatedly. As long as you use a vacuum cleaner designed for home use and not an industrial machine, you won’t harm your carpets by vacuuming them.
If I Have My Carpets Steam Cleaned, They’ll Get Dirtier Quicker
This particular myth has unfortunately gained traction due to the fact that some companies follow incorrect cleaning procedures and use older, less efficient machines. Because of this, they are not able to remove all of the cleaning solutions they use and leave behind a sticky residue, which is like a magnet for all the dirt and dust in your home. You can avoid this problem by using carpet cleaning companies with a good reputation, who know exactly what they’re doing. With the powerful truck-mounted steam cleaners that we use, there will be absolutely no residue left on your carpets by the time we’ve finished.
Steam Cleaning Encourages Mildew Growth on Carpets
Again, this is another myth that has become popular due to the use of inefficient machines by inexperienced cleaning operatives and DIY cleaners. Our truck-mounted machines use steam, not water, to lift out the dirt from your carpets. But if you rent a cheap machine, or spend too much time in one area of your carpet, you can make it too wet, which can lead to mildew growth. Search for ‘carpet cleaning companies near me’, then focus on established firms that use modern truck-mounted machines and you can avoid this issue altogether.
In summary, much of the advice you will find on carpet cleaning is inaccurate and some of it has arisen from bad experiences that people have had with less reputable companies. As a leading Boulder carpet cleaning company, we can clean your carpets to the highest standards, without encountering any of the above-mentioned issues.