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Pristine Cleaning Gal

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Do carpets get dirty faster after cleaning? 

Once Cleaned, Never the Same

Have you ever wondered why the carpet seems to get dirty faster after it’s been cleaned?

Do carpets get dirty faster after cleaning? 
Getting dirty faster?

There are reasons why you may notice the carpet starts to look dirty quickly after has been cleaned. Common causes are:

  • Low-quality cleaning products
  • Not thoroughly rinsed
  • Wicking
  • Protective coatings.

Cleaning Product Quality

The quality of your cleaning products can make all the difference when cleaning your carpet. Low-quality cleaning products contain chemicals such as petroleum, glycerin (OIL), ammonia, and chlorine. These items leave carpets looking bright and shiny at first. However, about four weeks after the cleaning you will notice that spots have started to come back, giving the appearance that the carpets are getting dirty after cleaning. Oil is a magnet for dirt. Thus it attracts dirt quickly.

Hiring a cleaning company that uses non-residue products, is one of the ways you can avoid these chemicals. 

Improper Rinse

Additionally, another reason you may notice soil appearing more quickly is that some of the cleaning products may remain on the carpet. If the carpet was not thoroughly rinsed spots will appear quickly, and the carpet will feel stiff or tacky.

Wicking

Wicking occurs when a spill has lodged itself deep into the pad. While the carpet on top looks clean initially, sometimes the moisture and cleaning products continue to loosen up substances left from spills trapped between the carpet and the padding. As the carpet starts to dry the substance starts to wick up the carpet fibers like wax on the wick of a candle. Wicking will happen very quickly after cleaning. In most cases, it will be noticeable within 2-5 days after the cleaning.

Protective Coatings Help Prevent Heavy Soiling

When a carpet is brand new it has a protective coating that helps provide a defense against wear and tear, it also provides some protection against spills by repelling the liquid. This allows more time to clean up spills. Over time, this protective coating wears off, and when you clean the carpet all of the remaining coatings are removed.

If the protective coating is not reapplied, the carpet will not repel moisture and dust. Hence, carpets will get dirty faster. Dirt has half the cutting power of glass and will start to cut away at the fibers fraying the carpet. Fraying creates permanent dark marks called wear patterns in the areas where you walk. Your carpet may also appear to get dirty faster because spills can permeate the fibers.  Carpet manufacturers recommend putting the protective coating back on the carpet every time you clean. This coating naturally wears off after about one to two years depending on the amount of use.

Protective Coatings and Their Pros & Cons

There are different protective coatings available, and each of them has its own set of pros and cons. One of the most recognized is Scotch Guard. This product is readily available and will provide a waterproof barrier. It also provides limited protection against wear and tear, but its main function is to waterproof.  Scotch Guard does leave a residue on the carpet that can attract soil. Customers that use Scotchguard may notice they need to clean their carpet more frequently than those that use other protective coating options.

Teflon is another protective coating that is available. This is a great product, and it will keep moisture on top of the carpet for a while. This allows for easy clean-up when you have a spill or pet accident. Teflon doesn’t leave a residue and provides protection against dirt cutting across the carpet fibers. However, there has been a lot of controversy over the health risks associated with Teflon products over the last decade. You may wish to do your own research on this.

The last protective coating is a silica polymer. Silica provides a protective coating that will prevent dirt from cutting across the fibers and has no chemical smell.  It is tolerated very well by people with chemical sensitivities and allergies. It does not waterproof like Teflon or Scotch Guard so the moisture will not stay on top of the carpet as long. However, it will still provide protection against the spill permeating the carpet fibers allowing for easier cleanup. This product is considered to be safe for children, pets, animals, and the environment.

Protection = Reduced Soiling

No matter which product you choose; it is better to protect the carpet than to leave it without a protective coating. These three products will increase the length of time in which your carpets last, with less wear.

The quality of carpet you purchase also makes a huge difference. Low-quality carpets have a life expectancy of five years. However, with proper care, your carpet can outlive its life expectancy.  Keep in mind that carpet, like any fabric, eventually wears out, so it will never look like it did when it was brand new.

To avoid carpets getting dirty faster after cleaning make sure to use high-quality cleaning products, and apply a protective coating after each cleaning.

Important Notes:

Do carpets get dirty faster after cleaning? 
DO NOT USE DETERGENTS TO SPOT CLEAN CARPETS.
  • If these products are watered down, they will not provide proper protection. In the same way, if they are applied too heavily they can make the carpet feel stiff.
  • Protective coatings are easily removed by mild detergent. For this reason, use equal parts water to white distilled vinegar to clean up spills and spots that occur on the carpet. Anything else will strip the protective coating off. Removing the coating will cause the carpets to get dirty faster. Check out our blog on products to avoid using on carpets.
  • Whenever you clean your carpets, you should reapply the protective coating.
  • Signs that the protective coating has worn off and it’s time to clean:
  1. Matted carpet
  2. Fibers untwisting
  3. The carpet appears to be getting dirty faster
  4. Cleaning spills and vacuuming becomes more difficult
  5. Darkening in the walk areas

Summary

Do carpets get dirty faster after cleaning? Possibly, if the wrong cleaning products are used, or the protective coating is not re-applied the carpets will not be able to resist spills, and heavy soiling will be more noticeable.

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