Being an IICRC certified carpet cleaning firm and celebrating 24 years in business this month, we have heard a few old wives tales that are common misconceptions circulating throughout our industry. Among all the many myths about carpet are concerns over proper cleaning, especially expecting the carpet to soil more quickly after having it professionally cleaned. That is the Worst Advice we’ve ever heard and we call it rapid re-soiling.
From time to time we encounter a customer who has put off cleaning their carpets for many years, believing that after cleaning their floor covering it will become soiled more quickly. This is very far from the truth and when properly cleaned, rinsed and maintained, there is no evidence to support this belief. I can’t stress enough, the importance of the word “properly”.
Some of the factors contributing to Rapid Re-soiling are:
- Dry soil removal prior to wet cleaning – vacuuming all particulate soil prior to wet cleaning is a very important step. Remaining dry soils in the carpet can wick back up to the tips of the carpet yarns as they dry. Thus we have the appearance that the carpet became dirty again after a few hours.
- Type of cleaning solution used – oil and water do not mix. Using the wrong solutions can leave behind oily soils which may not become visible until a few days later. The oils attract and trap dry soil passing over the carpet fibers and result in a dingy appearance after a short period of time. Some high Ph cleaners and silicone based protectors can actually cause a condition known as “yellowing”.
- Failure to rinse – rinse agents are employed to neutralize the remaining soapy residue some cleaning agents can leave behind. Soap residue attracts and collects dirt from the bottom of shoes resulting in clean shoes and a dirty floor.
- Drying time – drying time may vary with environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and air flow. However it is essential to extract as much moisture from the carpet as possible. Extended drying times contribute to wicking and can leave carpet looking filthy after they dry.
There are other conditions which can result in a rapidly re-soiling carpet however these are the most common. Do your homework before hiring a carpet cleaner. Read the manufacturer’s warranty for important and helpful information. Also read the ”5 Questions to ask before hiring a Carpet Cleaner”.