After a thorough carpet cleaning, one of the most frustrating things that can happen is to have the same stains reappear as if you never cleaned them. While this may sound unbelievable, it’s a very common problem. There are two possible causes behind the reappearance of stains and numerous ways to prevent it from happening to you.

Reappearance Due to Soiling

When you tackle a major carpet cleaning project, you’ll likely use spot treatment products which may get stuck in your carpet fibers. These products aren’t especially noticeable by themselves, but unfortunately, dirt and dust may stick to them, creating a dingy stain in the same area as the old one.

To prevent the reemergence of stains due to soiling, it’s essential to correctly rinse all cleaning products out of the carpet. A professional carpet cleaner should always provide this as a standard part of their service. If you’re handling the stain yourself and leave some cleaner behind, pour a small amount of warm water over the stain, then blot the liquid thoroughly.

Reappearance Due to Wicking

Your carpet isn’t just a two-dimensional surface; it has significant depth due to the thickness of carpet fibers, plus a layer of padding underneath. If you don’t treat a spill promptly and thoroughly, the liquid can soak deep into these layers — and no matter how well you clean the carpet’s surface, this hidden reservoir of liquid will seep back up through the carpet to recreate the stain.

To prevent this type of wicking, clean up every spill immediately. Blot — don’t scrub — until you’ve gotten as much of the liquid up as you can; this will help prevent you from pushing the liquid downward. If you’re already experiencing a wicking problem, you may need professional carpet cleaning for permanent stain removal — and if that doesn’t work, pull the carpet up to address the padding underneath.

Recurring stains are a major nuisance, so stop them before they start. Clean spills quickly, blot up as much liquid as possible, and rinse out any cleaning products that could cause dirt to stick. If you need help, contact a local stain removal professional to get your carpets looking like new. If you have stained or dirty carpets in Anchorage, AK, choose Polar Carpet Cleaning for your home or business. Their experienced staff offers complete steam carpet cleaning services using an advanced cleaning solution which will remove serious stains. To schedule services, call (907) 227-5953 or reach out online.