Residential carpets should be professionally cleaned at least once every year. Professional cleaning removes all of the dirt and grime that regular vacuuming doesn't and helps to extend the life of carpets.

Many homeowners choose to shampoo their own carpets between professional cleanings. If you do so, then here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Mistake: Cleaning Spots with the Wrong Cleaning Fluid

Whether you need to clean pasta sauce or pet waste, using the wrong spot cleaner could permanently damage the carpet. 

Carpets should only be cleaned with products designed specifically to clean them. You can purchase carpet cleaning fluids at any hardware store or home improvement center.

You should never use bleach, dish soap, or laundry detergent on a carpet. Bleach will discolor it and both dish and laundry soaps are nearly impossible to remove from carpet fibers. 

Mistake: Overuse of Spot Cleaning Products

It is important to note that spot cleaning often leaves behind cleaning fluid residue on a carpet.

The carpet will look clean for a short period of time and then the spot of cleaner residue starts to collect dust and dirt. This re-soils the carpet and creates an unsightly stain.

To avoid spot cleaning stains, limit the amount of cleaning fluid to the bare minimum necessary to get the job done and take extra care to ensure it is all removed.

Mistake: Scrubbing Carpets When Cleaning 

Never use a brush or scrub the carpet with a rag. Both actions unravel carpet fibers in a process known in the industry as blooming.

Instead of scrubbing or brushing a stubborn carpet stain, spray on some cleaning solution and then continually blot the area with a rag dipped in clean water and then wrung out.

Keep blotting until the stain is gone. Avoid the tendency to absorb the water by standing on a towel or paper towels as this will only force moisture down into the rug's padding.

Mistake: Not Protecting the Carpet from Furniture Damage

Lastly, when you move furniture to clean wall-to-wall carpets, make sure you lift each piece and don't drag them across the carpet. Pulling and pushing heavy furniture across the carpet damages the carpet fibers and can lead to snags.

Only move the furniture back once the carpet is completely dry. Setting heavy furniture on the wet carpet will mat down the fibers. Wet furniture legs can also leak stains, dyes, or rust stains onto the carpet.

For additional information, contact a residential carpet cleaning service in your area today.