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Making Sure Your Carpet Shampooing Efforts Remove Those Set-In Stains

21 April 2015

Felecia Coleman

Are there a few stained areas in your carpet that you're hoping will look better after your carpet shampooing session? Carpet shampooing is great for removing the ground-in dirt, dust and dander that's lingering deep in your carpet fibers. However, on its own, it's not that great at removing set-in stains. Thankfully, there are a few extra steps you can take to make your carpet shampooing session more effective for stain removal. If the stains have been there for a while, you should not expect the results to be perfect – but your carpet's look should improve drastically if you follow these tips.

Pre-treat your stains with diluted carpet shampoo.

By the time carpet shampoo passes through the shampooer and into your carpet, it has been heavily diluted with water. This is because most shampooers don't have a rinse cycle. They can only release as much shampoo as is acceptable to leave behind on the carpet. This is enough shampoo to remove basic dust and dirt, but not enough to fight tough stains.

Use the same carpet shampoo you'll be putting in your shampooer. Pour about a tablespoon into a small bucket, and add about a cup of cold water. Dip a stiff brush into the mixture, and then scrub the stained spots with it. Then, dip a clean cloth in water, and wipe it over the carpet to remove as much of the soap as possible. Do this immediately before shampooing.

Use the coolest setting when shampooing the stained area.

Usually, high heat is ideal for carpet shampooing, since it loosens more dust. However, hot water is known for its tendency to set-in many stains. Thus, it's best to put the shampooer on the coolest setting possible when treating the stained areas. If your shampooer has only one heat setting, treat the stained area first – as soon as you turn the shampooer on. At this point, the unit has not had a lot of time to warm up, and the water will not be as hot as it will be later on in your shampooing session.

Go over the stained area in multiple directions.

Most carpet shampooers have a tendency to flatten the carpet as they pass over it. This means that one side of the fibers may get cleaner than the other. To ensure the stain is removed as effectively as possible from all sides of the carpet fibers, make sure you pass over the area in multiple directions. This is a good tip to apply to your whole carpet, not just the stained areas, since it encourages more thorough cleaning.

By pre-treating your stains with carpet shampoo, using cooler water, and shampooing in multiple directions, you can enhance the stain-removal abilities of your carpet shampooing sessions. In the future, remember that the sooner you treat a stain, the easier it will be to remove. Tackle those stains immediately, rather than waiting until the next time you shampoo the carpet. If you need a professional's help, visit Clean Sweep Professional Cleaning Service.

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