10 Carpet Myths

10 Carpet Myths- Know Better

Installing wall to wall carpet in your home is an investment. Regardless of what you hear, it is better to do it properly than to cut corners with price, quality or service. The following are 10 common carpet tips to help you get the most out of your carpet.

Myth 1 – Buying Inexpensive Carpet Will Save me Money

Wrong! Buying cheap carpet from a discount carpet dealer may seem like a good idea at the time except that you’re getting exactly what you pay for. Discount carpet is made with a lower quality, less durable fiber in the pile. The latex backing is mixed with a common clay filler called bentonite. Within months traffic patterns will become visible, causing irreversible damage. The better quality mid to upper price range carpets have the best wear resistance and will still look beautiful, with proper care and maintenance, for up to 20 or 30 years! Ask your designer, they know what a difference a good quality carpet can make.

Myth 2 – Buying Inexpensive Padding Will Save me Money

This is another easy corner to cut when trying to save money. However, when cheap padding breaks down, it causes the carpet to wear prematurely which leads very quickly to a costly repair situation. If you paid top dollar for your carpet, it’s best to go the extra mile and get a good padding to preserve its quality.

Myth 3 – I Don’t Need Cleaning, My Carpet is 1 or 2 Years Old

The most common misconception is that your carpet only needs cleaning when it looks dirty. In reality, most of the damage has already been done by the time soiling appears. The fact of the matter is that it is the soil you cannot see that does the most damage. This microscopic dirty actually breaks down the fiber of your carpet and destroys its fiber coating. Fuzz in your vacuum cleaner? It’s your carpet slowly disintegrating.

Myth 4 – I Have My Own Machine, I Don’t Need Professional Cleaning

Inexperienced cleaning with a purchased or rented machine is one of the worst things you can do to your carpet. They pump water into the carpet but can’t get it back out. The carpet stays wet for days, which leave it vulnerable to mold, mildew, and breaks down the backing. As well as leaving behind serious soap residue, this actually attracts dirt to your carpet.

Myth 5 – Carpet Cleaning Products Bought at the Grocery Store Are as Good as Professional Products

These are generic stain removal products that contain a variety of harsh chemicals to address the broad scope of carpet stains. Along with removing the stain, however, they also remove color from 1/3 of the carpets on the market. Special stain removal formulas that address your specific situation are much better and are gentler on your carpet.

Myth 6 – Vacuuming My Carpet 1-2 Times a Week is Enough

Actually once a day is more like it according to the EPA. You may think that outside stays outside. But dust and pollen come into your home and settle in your carpet. You also have indoor pollutants such as animal hair, dander, and dust mites that settle in the carpet. The only way to decrease the amount of build-up is with daily vacuuming. This is the best way that you can care for your carpet; it adds years of lifetime to it.

Myth 7 – I Should Only Use Dry Carpet Cleaning Because Steam Cleaning Leaves my Carpet Damp

There are several different methods services offer for cleaning your carpet. The recommended method, according to the EPA and all carpet manufacturers, is with a truck mount steam cleaning machine. A bonnet machine makes the carpet look very clean, but it doesn’t clean deep down to get the dirt in the carpet pile. Thus the dirt re-surfaces and soils after very little time. The truck mount steam cleaning machine is actually a type of pressure washer: it washes down to the backing and sucks up all the soil at the same time. When done correctly it removes 75%-85% of the water used in the cleaning. The rest dries naturally within 2-6 hours.

Myth 8 – Deodorizing Powder is a Great Way to Keep my Carpet Fresh

One of the ingredients in powder deodorizer is talcum powder, which is not water soluble. The powder becomes embedded in your carpet after repeated use and can not be removed, not with a vacuum, not with steam cleaning. When subjected to moisture the powder rises to the top creating white stains on the tips of the carpet that NEVER go away.

Myth 9 – I Just Had a Flood, But I Can Handle it Myself

Water damage is a hazardous situation, it is unwise for anyone who is not a trained professional to attempt any sort of water damage clean-up. You have a 48-72 hour window to dry out your carpet before mold and mildew set in. After 72 hours mold or mildew activity of some degree is certain, many of these strains being toxic. You cannot solve the problem by vacuuming up the water and turning on fans because it will not dry the padding, which contains the majority of the moisture. The padding must be removed and discarded, and the carpet dried separately. In specific situations it is possible to dry the padding and carpet together, however, it requires a professional.

Myth 10 – My Carpet Has Terrible Pet Odor, I Have to Tear it Out

With pet odor situations the carpet can be treated most of the time with an enzyme based odor product. The enzymes neutralize the odor while removing the stain. In extreme cases the padding will need to be removed and the floor treated with an oil based primer to seal the odor in the subfloor. After it has been treated and cleaned the carpet is re-installed with a new pad.

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