There is one question I have been asked hundreds of times over the past 40 years:

“How long should I wait before cleaning my carpet?  It seems like after the first cleaning, it’s always getting dirty, and never looks or feels the way it did when it was new.”  That’s a good question and a good assumption, but this is why cleaning your carpet isn’t necessarily the culprit.

 Part of the reason you are experiencing carpets re-soiling quickly is the fact that the soil protectant has worn off primarily in the traffic areas.  Scotchguard, DuPont Teflon, Stain Blocker or a host of other brand names all apply a silicone shield which bonds to the carpet fiber.  This keeps soils and liquids, either from drinks or “man’s best friend”who might have an occasional accident, from penetrating the yarn quickly.  We believe it is always a good idea to re-apply a good soil protectant after each cleaning. Soil Protectant gives you the time to address a spill or stain before it soaks into the carpet fibers. The mills heat the carpet up, and as the dye sites open, soil protectant is applied.  We cannot duplicate that process in your home, but we can apply it to damp carpets and rake it in to allow full coverage of the carpet yarns. No soil protectant is stain-proof, however this certainly helps to maintain the life of your carpet.

The second reason carpets re-soil quickly after cleaning is because the technician failed to rinse out the cleaning solution during your cleaning process.  Everyone knows that the sole purpose of a cleaner is to attract dirt.  Our laundry detergent, our hand soaps, our dish soaps all have an ability to attract soil and if they are left behind it will remain there to continually attract soil.  Have you ever noticed that when you use an over-the-counter cleaner such as Resolve, or Oxy-Clean that the spot returns rather quickly?  At times when we arrive there is so much soap residue in an area that we need to use a defoamer to cut through the suds.  Our cleaning process on ALL our services employs a CLEAR WATER RINSE, so no residue is left behind.  This is particularly important for our customers who might have a chemical sensitivity or a concern that the freshly cleaned carpets are safe for pets and children.  Many carpet warranties are void if the carpets are not cleaned every 12-18 months, so please be familiar with your manufacturer’s warranties.

Next month we will tackle the question:  “What do I do when “Fido” has an accident?”

Future:

How often should I vacuum?

What should I do when Fido has an accident on my carpet?

Don’t scrub it, blot!

Yellow stains for pets, what can I use?

Turning your sofa cushions

Fading, what can be done?  Soil will keep carpets from fading evenly.

Can I walk on freshly cleaned carpets?

When hiring a professional, who moves what?