With the stay at home order in place, we have been answering a lot of questions about carpet cleaning! We know staying at home is forcing more traffic on your carpet; more eating and drinking and pet roaming on the soft surfaces of your home. That’s why we’ve reached out to one of our local carpet cleaners to get the scoop on frequently asked questions. Carpet Surgeon was kind enough to give us great insight that will help you keep your carpets clean when the unexpected happens. The top 3 questions we have been asked are answered below. This is a great page to keep on hand for future reference:

Q: What should I do right away when a liquid spills on my carpet?

A: “First blot with a white towel or paper towel to absorb stain working from the outside towards the middle. DO NOT SCRUB the carpet as this can damage the fibers and make them less stain resistant. Rinse the stained area thoroughly with clean water and blot again. Repeat as needed. For stubborn stains a neutral spotting agent may be needed, then rinse and scrub again.

Q: My dog has had a doodoo accident! What do I do?

A: Pick up as much as you can with a dry paper towel, scrape if needed and use wet paper towels to pinch and clean fibers. Mix into two cups of cool water mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish soap (non bleach) Spray this solution onto any stained area and continue to blot and scrape any solids and repeat until stain free. Use absorbent white towels to remove excess moisture. This area should be rinsed with cold water and blotted not scrubbed with more dry towels. (Throw these towels away along with any paper towels.) Use a fan to move air over this area for several hours until dry. 

Q: Will cleaning my carpet take out the stain protectant over time? Should I retreat my carpet with a topical stain protectant?

A: A topical stain protectant is not necessary or recommended by carpet manufacturers. Cleaning the carpet will not take a stain protectant off the fibers. Carpet Surgeon adds: “Cleaning a carpet properly not exceeding a PH level of 9.5 and a PH balancing rinse will not damage or remove protectant. When cleaning wool carpets and natural fibers, lower PH levels and water temperatures must be used for safe cleaning.” A topical stain protectant is not necessary.

Feel free to reach out to us if you have specific questions on stain removal. Stainmaster has an excellent guide on their website for spot treatment recommendation based on the type of stain: https://stainmaster.com/carpet/care/stain-removal 

Carpet Surgeon Contact Information: https://carpetsurgeoninc.com/contact 503-520-9717