4 Common Carpet Care Mistakes

Carpet is a popular flooring material. It creates a cozy environment and helps to dampen sound throughout the house. However, carpet is also prone to dirt and stains. For this reason, properly understand how to care for your carpet. If you would like to know more, check out these four common carpet care mistakes.

1. Over-Shampooing

Given the nature of carpet, vacuuming isn't always enough. Since it absorbs liquid and can hold onto to grime, carpet shampooing is sometimes necessary. However, attempting to clean the carpet yourself could lead to more problems. If you use too much shampoo, you might not remove all the grime. New dirt and grime easily stick to the leftover reside, creating more stains fast.

Using too much water can also be problematic as it can leave behind moisture that promotes the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. If this happens, the entire carpet may need replacing. Not only do professionals know how to properly clean a carpet, but they also use hot steam that kills bacteria.

2. Using Deodorizers Incorrectly

If you have pets, you may choose to use carpet deodorizers to help remove the smell of pets and their stains. However, deodorizers can have many issues, and the leading problem is that they don't remove the smell - they only mask it.

So once the deodorizer wears off, the smell will return. You need to get rid of the source of the smell to stop it once and for all.

In addition, unless your vacuum cleaner is extremely strong, you may not remove all the powder deodorizer. As a result, it helps gather more dirt and grime. Using spray deodorizers is just as problematic because they often leave behind a residue that attracts dirt.

3. Vacuuming Incorrectly

Vacuuming seems like a cut-and-dry chore, but if done incorrectly, not only do you not fully clean your carpet, but you may actually damage it. First, vacuuming must go slowly, and you should go in two different directions to fully get under all the carpet fibers. Naturally, you should use the vacuum's tools to get corners and along the wall.

Above all, however, when vacuuming, ensure the vacuum is set to the correct height. If the vacuum is too high, it may not be able to clean the carpet as well, leaving behind a lot of dirt in the fibers. However, setting it too low can cause the brush to damage the carpet fibers, causing them to fray. These frayed fibers make the carpet look worn and can better harbor dirt.

Similarly, when removing a stain, avoid scrubbing too hard, and don't use scrub brushes. Focus more on getting a cleaner that will remove the stain and then blot it out with a rag.

4. Not Using Floor Protection

You may rarely walk on some parts of your carpet, such as the area under the couch or a table. However, high-traffic areas experience a lot of wear and tear. These are areas around the front door or in common areas. There are a few ways you can protect your carpet from getting uneven wear patterns.

First, use floor protection in those high-traffic areas, such as rugs and mats. This keeps foot traffic off the carpet so it wears down slower. A second alternative is to rearrange the room. If possible, occasionally move your furniture so it covers the high-traffic areas. This may create new high-traffic areas to help better balance the condition of the carpet.



Carpet is only one flooring option, but it is still a common choice because of its many benefits. However, keeping carpet clean and looking good takes a bit of work. Your best bet is to hire a professional to clean the carpet so you don't end up making more stains. If you would like to know more, contact us at All State Carpet & Tile Care today.