5 Myths About Carpet Cleaning

Myth #1: Cleaning too often will make my carpet get dirtier faster.

Carpet manufacturers recommend the hot water extraction cleaning method (AKA Steam Cleaning).  When this method is performed properly, it is the best!   The old wives’ tale that cleaning your carpet will make it get dirty faster started in the old days when carpet was shampooed but not rinsed, leaving behind a sticky residue.  Can you imagine washing your hair but not rinsing out the shampoo?  YUCK!  The same can happen today if an overly alkaline cleaning solution is used, if cleaning solutions are overapplied, if cleaning solutions are not rinsed out, or if the cleaning solution is not extracted effectively.

Distinctive’s equipment and cleaning technique ensures your carpet dries fast!   We use powerful truck-mounted equipment, we clean at a safe pressure so your carpet is not overwetted, we maintain our equipment regularly so that our inline filters give us the best airflow, we do vacuum only passes after cleaning, we use our fans while at your home, and help set up your fans to continue drying.

Good extraction means we have removed as much of our cleaning solution as possible along with the dirt, germs, and allergens in your carpet.  If another company leaves your carpet wet for days, is your carpet really clean??  Or did it just get wet? (and possibly could get dirty faster if a residue is left behind)

You can trust Distinctive to give you the best cleaning ever, leaving your home clean and dry so your family can be happier and healthier.  Learn more about our detailed carpet cleaning process here.

How often should you clean your carpet?  Carpet manufacturers recommend cleaning at least every 18-24 months or sooner if there are children and pets inside the home.  While vacuuming is important, it is not as effective at removing dirt, oils, allergens, etc. as a professional cleaning.  Carpet that is regularly cleaned will look better and last longer.

Myth #2:  I have allergies and don’t want my carpet to get wet because mold could grow in the carpet and pad.

Carpet saturated with water could cause issues like delamination of the carpet backing, odors, mold and water stains.  But if your carpet is that wet after cleaning, you need to choose a different cleaning company.  Under normal conditions and a proper cleaning, your carpet should be dry within 1-24 hours after cleaning.  Distinctive’s clients love how fast things dry because of the things we do as explained above in Myth #1.

If you have allergies, you will see an example of what we remove from carpet and how healthy cleaning can be for your home and family in the video below these myths.  Learn how Distinctive can help reduce your allergies and learn allergy relief tips here. 

Myth #3:  Cleaning will remove the protector from my carpet.

Aggressively high pH cleaning products can remove carpet protector.  But if correct cleaning solutions are used with a pH under 10, as required in a carpet warranty guide, the protector is not removed.  Occasionally we are hired to clean spots only on newly installed carpet.  If proper cleaning removed the protector, we would get complaints later that the spots we cleaned got dirty faster than the rest of the carpet.  But this does not happen.

Carpet is protected when manufactured. Protector can wear off over time from normal use, just like your vehicle will need re-waxed over time.  Carpet warranties do not require protector to be reapplied, but they state that it is acceptable to reapply a Topical Fluorochemical based protector.

Distinctive can reapply protector after cleaning to help keep your carpet looking cleaner longer and help you have the best chance of removing spots when an accident happens.  Learn more about the benefits of protecting your carpet here.

Myth #4:  I have a very old stain on my carpet, which means it is too late to remove it.

As a rule of thumb, the age of a stain doesn’t make a huge difference (at times, there are a few exceptions).  Professional spotting solutions and techniques can remove many challenging stains, even if they have been there for years.  DIY cleaning attempts with the wrong product can  actually make stains harder for us to remove or potentially permanently bleach the color of your carpet.  See our Spot Removal Guide for help in choosing the right solution.

Myth #5:  I can get the same results with my DIY machine.

This would be like mowing an entire field of grass with a weed whacker instead of a powerful tractor.  There simply is no comparison!   If we could get the same results with a small portable machine instead of investing big money in our professional truck-mounted equipment, we would.

A small extractor is helpful when trying to clean spots, but trying to clean entire rooms with a DIY machine will make things look worse.

Distinctive’s professional equipment, safe & effective cleaning solutions, expert training, decades of experience, quality mindset with an eye for detail, and friendly professional customer service will give you a great looking home you can be proud of, plus extend the life of your floors and textiles.  Join the list of other particular Fort Wayne homeowners that love and confidently refer Distinctive.   Learn other reasons you’ll love us here .