Generally, carpeting will last from between five to 15 years. However, it’s life is more likely to be on the longer end of this spectrum if you take care of it well.
When cleaning carpeting and working to eliminate odors, however, many inexperienced cleaners and DIYers make mistakes. Not cleaning your carpet properly can lead to odors persisting or could even make matters worse.
Here are the most common mistakes to avoid when working to eliminate odor from carpet.
Masking the Smell
One of the biggest mistakes made with carpet cleaning is using cleaning products that only serve to mask the odors rather than get rid of them.
Using deodorizers and baking soda-based products on carpeting has many drawbacks. These products can leave behind residue and can end up clogging vacuum cleaners and causing more wear and tear to the carpet.
These products also fail to get rid of odors successfully. They simply mask the smell for a while and don’t actually get to the source of the problem.
If you want to remove odors successfully, you need to do more than just use deodorizing products.
Failing to Ventilate
To get rid of odors in your carpet, you need to make sure that it gets adequate ventilation. Ventilating the room your carpet is in will help to remove odors and ensure that any odors from stains and cleaning chemicals won’t linger for too long.
If you’re able to use fans or open some windows and doors, then do so. This will help to ensure that the carpet doesn’t continue to smell and retain the odors that it’s carrying.
Using the Wrong Cleaning Products
You can fail to remove odors and end up causing more damage to your carpet if you don’t use the correct cleaning products. For example, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using carpet cleaners that are suitable for the type of carpet that you have whether that includes a synthetic carpet or one that has natural fibers.
In addition to this, make sure that you spend enough money on any chemicals and carpet cleaning agents that you use. Cheap products often leave a lot to be desired and could even cause more damage to your carpet if not chosen well.
Failing to Remove the Furniture
If you want your carpet to get back to smelling its best again, then you should also take furniture into account as well.
You’ll want to be sure to remove all of the furniture when you get your carpet cleaned to ensure that cleaners can clean under the furniture as well. If you don’t do this, your carpet may continue to smell.
Don’t make the mistake of letting your furniture stay in contact with wet carpeting. With wet and moist carpet cleaning, furniture should be removed or lifted up off the ground with blocks to prevent issues.
Not Hiring Professionals
If you want to get your carpet deep cleaned while removing odor successfully, it’s best to hire a reputable and professional cleaning company.
The right cleaning company will have well-trained and experienced staff that will know the appropriate products and methods to use for a carpet deep clean. They’ll also have the latest cleaning equipment to use as well.
By getting professional cleaning, you’ll likely find that removing odors becomes easier. They’ll be able to make your carpet seem new again while removing odors and improving the indoor air quality of your home.
If you want to have the cleanest carpet in Tacoma, be sure to hire a professional cleaning company that knows what they’re doing.
Overwetting Carpet
When working to get rid of odors, some cleaners make the mistake of overwetting carpets. Some inexperienced and amateur cleaners overwet carpeting and do more than is necessary.
Wetting the carpet too much during cleaning can cause problems with the carpet. It can lead to shrinkage and discoloration if it’s overdone. Be sure that you hire professional cleaners that will wet the carpet appropriately.
In addition to this, make sure that you’re careful about how you handle wet carpeting as well.
Be sure that you, your family, and your pets stay off of the carpet when it’s wet. You shouldn’t put any pressure on the carpet fibers when they’re damp, since this can cause the underlay to get too much moisture.
Not Paying Attention to the Underlay
If you want your carpet to smell its best, you need to avoid letting any dirt, grime, or moisture get to the underlay.
To avoid this, you should be sure to clean your carpet as often as you can. Don’t wait more than a year to get a deep cleaning. Ideally, you should aim to get a deep carpet cleaning twice per year to treat stains and prevent problems with the underlay of your carpet.
Be sure to avoid carpet spills and have good habits around your home. Always clean up spills quickly if they happen.
Taking care to clean your carpet and avoiding letting the underlay experience problems is key to keeping your carpet smelling great.
Not Considering the Source
When working to keep your carpet clean and get rid of bad carpet smells, it’s important to take the specific problem that you’ve had with it into account. Different types of stains and damage will require different solutions.
If your carpets have been stained with pet urine, for example, it may be best to use specific techniques and cleaners that are meant for the problem. On the other hand, if the smell in the carpet is due to cigarette smoke then you might want to take a different approach.
Make sure that you’re mindful of water damage as well. Water damage can lead to mold growth and can cause big problems with your health as well as lead to poor air quality in your home.
In the case of water damage, you may want to replace the affected carpeting and underlay.
Working to Eliminate Odor From Carpet
If you want to eliminate odor from carpet, be sure to avoid these common mistakes. Relying on deodorizers, using the wrong cleaning products, and failing to change the underlay could all cause the carpet odors to persist.
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