Do You Still Believe These Carpet Care Myths?
There are lots of myths peddled around when it comes to carpet care. From bad advice to those with a hint of truth, but which morphed into misconceptions that should not be followed- let’s debunk them:
- The more you clean your carpet, the dirtier it gets
This myth is mainly attributed to those cases where people have had residue remaining in their carpets once they were cleaned. It is a result of not following the appropriate procedures when working on the unit, such as during the DIY carpet cleaning jobs when one uses too much shampoo for the job. It is also a common occurrence for those using rental equipment without sufficient extraction power, thus leaving behind material in the carpet’s fibres. The residue attracts soiling, which causes the carpet to get soiled faster. How is this avoided? By ensuring that the cleaning process is thorough, where all the material is flushed out of the carpet, and it is given a quality rinse. Turning to the professionals for the task will leave your carpet residue-free, which will in fact keep your unit cleaner for longer.
- Steam cleaning encourages mildew growth
This only happens when the carpet is improperly cleaned. When the carpet is left soaking wet for days, there will be mould growth- and this is common for the DIY jobs and when one hires rookie carpet cleaning services. However, if you hire certified professionals for the task, it won’t be a concern. Drying systems are put in place to extract the moisture from the carpet, and it will even dry within the same day it has been worked on, hence there won’t be mould or mildew growing on your unit.
- Vacuuming ruins the carpet
Well, in the past, vacuuming too much would affect carpets. They are simply not as durable as those that are available today. The density of the fibres, to their length, meant that they showed signs of wear faster when the vacuuming was done frequently. However, modern carpets have been built to withstand loads of vacuuming. Even if you vacuum them every day, the carpets are strong enough to handle it. Simply ensure that your vacuum is functioning properly, and that its brush roller is in operational condition. The majority of the soiling on the carpet- about 80% is dry soil, and vacuuming it out will go a long way in protecting your unit. For homes, vacuuming once or twice a week can suffice, but for high traffic areas like businesses, daily vacuuming will be required.
- Carpets lead to allergies
This myth is tied to the carpet’s role of being an air filter. Its fibres trap allergens, from the dust settling on the material, fungal spores, to pet fur and dander, and the soiling that is tracked into the building. The concentration of allergens increases, and without routine cleaning, the allergens will be easier to dislodge from the fibres when someone simply walks on the carpet. The result is more allergens in the indoor airspace. However, should you do away with carpets? Certainly not. The keyword here is maintenance. After all, removing the carpets doesn’t mean that there will be less dust, sander and soiling getting into the building. In fact, this will worsen since there won’t be a material to trap them, causing the allergens to get spread all over- and you will be sweeping and cleaning far much more often. Focus goes back to ensuring that your carpet does not become a health hazard in itself. Regular vacuuming, and routine deep cleaning, will prevent this from happening. This has the positive effect of enhancing the functionality of your carpet, making it more effective as an air filter, thus aiding in improving the quality of the indoor environment, providing a safer living and working space.
- Hair spray gets rid of inkblots on carpets
Ink is a troublesome stain. It comes down to its chemistry. It’s basically a dye that has been suspended in a carrier- that may be water or a solvent. The carrier evaporating makes the ink dry quickly after it gets to the carpet. When the material is cleaned, the carrier component can be broken down by the detergent, but the dye tends to remain behind- making it a frustrating stain to deal with. Hair spray is one of the ‘DIY hacks’ that is fronted to deal with these spots, but it is notorious for leading to damaged carpets. The notion behind is that, since hairspray contains alcohol, and that alcohol can at times be used for removing ink blots on other surfaces, it will also work on carpets. However, the reality is that it can result in permanent damage to the carpet’s fibres. Getting rid of the ink stains on carpets is a delicate process, that requires specialised formulations that have been developed to target the spot, while being safe for the carpet fibre.
- Wet cleaning will shrink the carpet
This comes down to the material of the carpet- hence the need for ensuring that your unit is being taken care of by professionals. The different types of carpets, from the natural to the synthetic fabrics, have their different requirements when it comes to the cleaning process. Most of the synthetic materials can be safely cleaned through wet processes, but there are those which require alternative methods to get rid of the grime due to the delicate nature of the material. Hence, a blanket statement indicating that wet cleaning causes shrinkage is false. In fact, methods like hot water extraction are some of the most popular for handling the cleaning tasks, since they flush out the grime and provide an in-depth clean, and is used for both carpets and upholstery. With professional services, you won’t have to worry about your unit being at risk. During the site visit, you will be provided with the various options that are available or working on your carpet, and the most recommended choice to take. This is also one of the reasons why carpet manufacturers insist on their units being worked on by professionals, and indicate this as one of the terms of the warranty.
