7 Common Myths About Carpet Cleaning Debunked

Posted on June 27, 2024

• Cleaning

---

Carpet cleaning is a complex task that is often shrouded by confusion and controversy. While cleaning carpets may seem like a fairly straightforward job, there are plenty of myths out there that need to be debunked ASAP.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most common myths related to cleaning your carpets, giving you insight into what’s true (and what’s not). 

Myth #1: At-home cleaning products are just as effective as professional carpet cleaning.

*Truth: No over-the-counter product is as effective as a professional cleaning service. 

When it comes to cleaning products lining the shelves of your local grocery store, none of them can hold a candle to the cleaning detergents used by professional carpet cleaners. 

Although vacuums and at-home carpet cleaning solutions can clean the top layer of your carpet, they’re not as capable of reaching the deeper layers of fabric and padding. 

But the real reason that professional carpet cleaning is superior is that professionals have the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to not only clean the top layering of your carpet but also the padding. Pros are trained and equipped to remove visible stains as well as hard-to-reach dust, dander, and pet hair that an at-home solution just can’t handle.

Myth #2: Steam cleaning can lead to mould and mildew.

*Truth: There is no risk of mould or mildew as long as your steam cleaning is done properly.

As long as your carpets are steamed properly by trained technicians, there is no risk of mould or mildew growth. If a carpet cleaning company leaves your carpets soaked for days, then yes, mould can form, which is why Mint never leaves carpets soaking wet. 

Myth #3: Vacuuming too much can be damaging to carpets.

*Truth: Even daily vacuuming is perfectly fine for carpets. 

Regularly vacuuming your home comes with a lot of benefits. In addition to keeping carpets neat and tidy, vacuums are extremely useful for reducing allergens that can be harmful to your health, like pollen, dust, and dander.

It’s especially important to vacuum before a deep carpet cleaning. Vacuuming beforehand can actually improve the cleaning process and help the technicians achieve better results – AKA, a cleaner carpet!

Newer carpets are designed to withstand a lot of wear and tear, and that includes daily vacuuming. Of course, some vacuums on the market are more aggressive than others, so it’s important to be aware of this before buying yours. 

Myth #4: Baking soda is powerful enough to remove odours from my carpets.

*Truth: Some odours require more than natural cleaning methods. 

Some people swear by the use of baking soda for odour removal, but sadly, baking soda is only capable of masking odours rather than removing them. What’s even worse is that baking soda can cause permanent damage to carpets because it causes friction that can lead to more wear and tear. 

Even if baking soda worked for you in the past, it’s best to avoid using this ingredient on your carpets. If you want odours gone for good, the best option is to call in the pros. 

Myth #5: Professionally cleaning carpets too often causes them to get dirty faster. 

*Truth: As long as your carpets are cleaned properly, there’s no risk of this.

This next myth can be true, but only if you clean your carpets improperly. Some carpet cleaning methods leave behind a sticky residue, and if this residue isn’t removed, it can cause dust, dirt, and debris to settle within the fibers of your carpet. 

Myth #6: Dry cleaning is superior to steam cleaning. 

*Truth: Dry cleaning has its advantages, but steam cleaning is better for removing built-in stains, dust, and other common allergens.

The debate on dry cleaning vs steam cleaning has been a topic of conversation for years. 

The main difference between steam and dry carpet cleaning is the amount of water used during treatment. The dry cleaning method uses very little water, so your carpets are safe to walk on almost immediately after the treatment. 

With steam cleaning, hot water is the main ingredient in the cleaning process; the drying time can take as long as 24 hours. The good news is that it doesn’t require the use of chemicals, whereas dry cleaning uses powdered detergents to activate the cleaning cycle.

It’s difficult to say which is better, but most people agree that steam cleaning is the optimal choice for a few reasons. It’s the most effective method for deep cleaning carpets, it leaves minimal residue, and there’s no need for harsh chemicals or detergents. 

Myth #7: Installing carpets in your home can cause allergies.

*Truth: As long as you keep up with proper maintenance, there’s no risk of developing allergies from your carpets. 

Because carpets have the tendency to trap dirt, dust, pet hair, and other allergens, it’s a common belief that having carpeting in your home can actually cause allergies. 

First of all, most allergies are triggered by airborne particles, so carpets have nothing to do with your sneezing episodes or itchy eyes. More importantly, though, there’s no risk of allergy attacks as long as you keep up with carpet maintenance, like regular vacuuming and professional cleaning. 

Final Thoughts

Don’t believe everything you hear about carpet cleaning. As you can see, there are plenty of myths out there that require debunking, so get in touch with Mint for more information on the truth about carpet cleaning.