7 Common Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid According to Mint’s Pro Carpet Cleaners

Posted on May 14, 2024

• Cleaning

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While cleaning your carpets and flooring might seem like a simple task to you, there’s actually a lot of room for mistakes. Some of these mistakes can be easily fixed, but others could damage your carpets for good. 

The best way to avoid these mistakes is to know what you’re dealing with. In this guide, the professional carpet cleaners from Mint will provide you with all the details on the most common mistakes relating to cleaning carpeted surfaces and how to avoid them. 

Mistake #1: Vigorously Scrubbing Stains

It’s normal to assume that rubbing or scrubbing a spill is the best way to remove or prevent a stain. Contrary to common belief, this isn’t the case, and it can do more harm than good.

No matter the nature of the spill, it’s best to avoid scrubbing the area. Many people think that a good scrub brush and a bit of elbow grease will lift the spilled material and prevent future stains, but scrubbing can actually push the stain deeper into the carpet fibers. 

Depending on the cleaning tool you use, scrubbing vigorously can also twist and fray the fibers, resulting in long-term damage to the carpet. For that reason, it’s best to use the blotting method for removing a stain and try to use a soft microfiber cloth whenever possible. 

Mistake #2: Using Too Much Water

Water is an amazing tool for carpet cleaners. In fact, it’s the main ingredient in many carpet cleaning methods, including the famous steam cleaning method. 

However, using too much water can damage your carpets and even lower your home’s air quality. Excessive water buildup within the carpet fibers can result in mould and mildew growth, and nobody wants to deal with that!

Not only does overuse of water increase the risk of mould within your home, but it also weakens the structural integrity of your carpet. Too much water can detach the fibers from the backing material, which can only be fixed by replacing the carpet altogether. 

Mistake #3: Failing to Spot-Test New Cleaning Products

Even if you trust a carpet cleaning product and the company behind it, failing to spot-test a cleaning detergent can cause major problems. These days, many DIY carpet cleaners are made with harsh chemicals, and not every carpet material can handle these ingredients. 

That’s why it’s important to ALWAYS test a new product on a small patch of carpet, preferably one that is located in a hidden area. After letting the product sit for the recommended amount of time, look for any damage or discoloration.

If there is damage, you know not to continue using that product. But if everything looks good, feel free to treat the remaining carpet area with the product, and always follow the instructions for use found on the label. 

Mistake #4: Following the “Carpet Scraping” Trend

Carpet scraping has recently been trending on social media, and it’s often referred to as a miracle solution for removing pet hair and other allergens from the inner carpet fibers. 

While scraping your carpets can be quite effective at removing unwanted allergens, it can also cause a lot of damage. Depending on your carpet material and the scraping tool you use, this method can loosen or even pull out carpet fibers, creating “bald spots” over time. 

So if you’re tempted to hop on board the scraping trend, don’t do it; the potential risk of long-term damage isn’t worth it. Instead, turn to regular vacuuming to safely remove pet hair, dirt, dust, and more.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Vacuum Maintenance

Speaking of vacuuming, it’s important to keep up with vacuum maintenance. So many people make the mistake of simply using the vacuum and fail to cater to the device’s needs. 

The life and performance of your vacuum depend entirely on how you treat it. If you forget to clean the filters, attachments, and brushes, then your vacuum isn’t likely to last very long. 

To top it off, failing to clean your vacuum lowers its cleaning efficiency. Instead of cleaning your carpets, the buildup of dirt and debris within the vacuum’s components can spread to the carpet surfaces, and if that’s the case, what’s the point of vacuuming at all?

Mistake #6: Improperly Using Deodourizers

There’s nothing technically wrong with using a deodourizer powder to remove odours from your carpet, but that’s only if you use it in the right way. Many people have no idea how to apply the powder, or even how much of the cleaning product to use. 

Some people feel that the more powder they use, the more effective it will be. This isn’t the case at all, and too much of this product can cause a sticky residue to build up within the carpet fibers. 

In some scenarios, this residue is impossible to remove, so an entire carpet replacement is necessary. Instead of using a deodourizer, turn to steam cleaning to remove pet odours from your carpet. 

Mistake #7: Failing to Invest in Professional Carpet Cleaning

Even if you do all the right things for your carpet, you still need to invest in the service of professional carpet cleaners. So many people think that vacuuming and spot-treating their carpets is enough to keep them clean and vibrant, but sadly, it’s not.

It’s recommended to have carpets professionally cleaned anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Most people abide by a yearly schedule, but every home is different. Get in touch today for more info on Mint’s professional carpet cleaners.