In the age of easy information, everyone thinks they can find their solution on Google. Users may ask, “how do you steam clean carpets?” or “how do you get urine smell out of a carpet” or ”what are the best natural cleaners for carpet cleaning?” Although you might get answers, they are mostly probably the wrong answers, simply because incorrect information is regurgitated from blog to blog with no real expert weighing in on its veracity.
In this blog post, we will decipher common assumptions that homeowners believe from searching on the internet for carpet cleaning solutions..
Common Myths
Disinfecting & Cleaning are the Same Thing
A common myth is that cleaning with hot water is the same thing as disinfection. This, unfortunately, is not true. Hot water won’t kill a large percentage of bacteria. Instead you need to use chemicals which are designed to kill bacteria within a small time frame (like 10 minutes of continuous contact) in order to achieve above 90% of bacteria killed. If you want sanitization, you need professional sanitization services.
Clean with the Hottest Water
Hot water can be your friend in cleaning or it can be your foe. It depends on the material of the fiber you are cleaning. Some fibers cannot stand hot water and you will ruin the carpet or furniture item.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Work for Everything
We often encounter a homeowner who has attempted to clean her furniture or carpet with baking soda and vinegar. If it worked so well, when did she call me? These basic home remedies rarely work in our opinion. Leave baking soda and vinegar for the laundry cycle in the washing machine. It often makes more work for us in the long run as the dust from baking soda can work its way deep into carpets and upholstery fibers and takes many rinses to remove it.
All the Stains will Come Out
If you haven’t cleaned your carpet in 10 years, no, the stains will not come out. Sorry! The longer you wait to address a stain, the harder it is to get it out. After about the 1.5 year mark, it is likely that the stain will not come out. It may lighten but will be slightly permanently stained.
Call A Professional
At the end of the day, we are often called because the information from the internet just isn’t mostly true. If you need a professional carpet cleaning service in NYC, give us a call and get a free quote online!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, cleaning with hot water does not disinfect. Chemicals designed for disinfection are needed to kill over 90% of bacteria.
While popular as DIY solutions, baking soda and vinegar often don't solve cleaning issues and may complicate professional cleaning efforts.
Stains that have set for a long time (e.g., over 1.5 years) may lighten but are unlikely to be completely removed.
For effective, deep cleaning and disinfection, it's recommended to call a professional carpet cleaning service.
