Carpet cleaners are supposed to leave your floors looking clean and fresh; however, problems sometimes arise throughout the cleaning process. In this article, you’ll learn how to resolve carpet cleaner problems so that you can get the best results possible from your efforts.
To ensure optimum satisfaction with your carpet cleaner, it’s important to test the product before applying it on the entire floor. Find a small area of carpeting to test that is out of visible sight, such as in the corner of a closet or in a back room. If possible, you can also use a carpet sample left over from the installation. Treat the test carpet with the carpet cleaner product according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then place a clean, white rag or towel on top of the area being tested. Press and hold the rag over the treated area for at least thirty seconds. When you remove the towel, inspect the fabric and the carpet. The carpet should not have color stained the rag – if you notice a transfer of color, use a different carpet cleaner product to avoid permanent damage to your floors. This testing is vital! Always do a test sample before applying the cleaner to your entire floor.
Another common carpet cleaner problem stems from the use of too much water. If you dampen the floors excessively, the moisture can breed bacteria in the carpet fibers. Too much moisture can also result in carpet discoloration or cause the carpet to shrink, stretch, or separate at the seams. Use a minimal amount of water when cleaning your carpets, and be sure to soak up any excess water with a wet/dry vacuum after cleaning to avoid damage.
Chemical residue is another common carpet cleaner problem. Some carpet cleaning products use chemical combinations that leave a fine layer of invisible residue on the surface of the carpet. These chemical residues are dangerous to children and pets. Residue can also cause the carpets to become dirty more quickly in the future because the residue traps dirt and soil on the carpet surface. To avoid this nasty residue on your carpet, use products advertised as “zero residue” on the label.
You can resolve carpet cleaner problems with a little bit of information and common sense. Most issues with carpet cleaners stem from failing to test the carpet cleaner before use, not reading the product label, improper cleaning methods, or lack of awareness about the contents of the product.
