Stains or spots you previously cleaned up are now reappearing again? There’s an easy solution to that problem right here.
I have 2 children, a dog, a cat and a husband. My carpets really take a beating. When I use a carpet spotter that I purchased at the grocery store, it removes the spots, but they seem to reappear over time; sometimes larger than the original spot. What’s happening?
The problem is most likely in the spot remover that you are using. Most spotters contain detergents. Detergents are made from petroleum products and will leave a soil-attracting residue in your carpet. Most people over-apply the spot cleaner directly onto the carpet then fail to rinse or neutralize the detergent. Not doing this step will allow dust and soil to stick to the residue. Within a week or two the spot cleaned area will become visible again.
Try applying the spot cleaner onto a towel and use the wet towel to work the spot (towards the center of the stain). Using less detergent will leave less residue in the carpet.
Once the spot has been removed mist the area with vinegar and blot up the excess. The acid in vinegar should help to break down the detergent residue. If you notice the spot cleaned area attracting soil use a towel wet with vinegar instead of more soapy spot cleaner. The soil will be removed and you won’t be further contributing to the problem.
If the need for spot cleaning is frequent; a small spotting machine might make life easier. Extracting and rinsing is far more efficient than blotting with a towel. Just be sure you rinse all of the soap from the carpet, apply vinegar, and don’t over use the water. Extract the area thoroughly and force dry with a small fan.
Our website is full of valuable information including methods and products for removing spots open https://www.danscarpet.com/blog/ then select stains & spots -> Stain Removal Chart. Her you will find a handy guide for removal as well as various cleaning products that will not leave residue behind.