1. Don't scrub the carpet to remove a stain. When you scrub a carpet you can unwind the carpet yarn. This will cause the carpet to look unnatural at the stained area and cause the carpet to mat quicker in the future since the integrity of the carpet yarn has been compromised. The twist level and subsequent heat set of the twist is what provides resiliency and wear ability so when you unwind the carpet tips your carpet will not wear or perform as it was designed to. So don't scrub the stain. Blot the stain.
2. Don't let the stain sit. Some people figure that they will let the stain sit and dry so it will be easier to remove. Nope. The sooner you get the stain the better. The longer a stain sits the more it can seep into the padding. Have you ever cleaned a stain and then found that it came back the next day? That's because the stain that seeped into the padding is wicking up into the carpet again and so reappears. So get that stain as soon as you can.
3. Always test a new cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't mess up your carpet. Different carpet yarns require different cleaning methods and cleaning products. For example: solution dyed nylon carpets can be cleaned with a solution of half water and half bleach. If you were to use this carpet cleaning solution on any other types of carpet yarn it would cause large white spots. So the correct cleaning solution is important.
4. Have your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Most carpet mills require you to clean your carpet every 12 to 18 months to maintain the carpet warranty. Cleaning your carpet every 12 to 18 months will remove foreign particles that if not removed can actually abrade your carpet. Sand down the fibers if you will. So professional whole room carpet cleaning is a must. Also, the steam extraction method is what most carpet mills require. Dry cleaning doesn't maintain the carpet warranty. Plus steam extraction will actually perk up the carpet yarns. Yarns that were crushed down through normal wear can be revitalized with steam extraction (depending on the carpet yarn of course).
Well, there you have it. The carpet cleaning basics. If you need more information on carpet cleaning or need a spot cleaning guide, click here.
Jeff Dean
Dover Floor Covering
http://www.doverfloorcovering.com
