Recurring Spots and How To Prevent Them

No one likes having to return to a job days or longer after a carpet cleaning job to get one or more spots out.  Even worse, no customer likes the inconvenience of a second trip either.  This cannot be eliminated entirely, though there are some steps that can be taken to greatly reduce these occurrences to nearly zero.

• Know your spot or spill.
  • Use the correct cleaning agent for that particular spot.
    • Sticky/dense, use an acid base (citrus).
    • Coffee, use a leave in treatment (Stain Magic).
    • Oily residue, encapsulate the oil molecules.
    • Rinse thoroughly.
      • Most carpet cleaners forget they are rinsing the cleaning agent out as well as the spot/spill.
      • Use the proper rinse for your machine and cleaning agents. (Clearwater rinse works best for me)
    • Make sure your equipment is powerful enough to rinse both the spot and spill.
      • Cheaper carpet cleaning companies save money on equipment.  They can’t rinse all the way to the backing, even if they try.
      • Do not go over 500 lbs. psi. or you can go through the backing to the pad underneath.  The pad will likely not dry for months or longer.
      • Leave the area of the spot/spill as dry as possible.
        • I find with Hydramaster 4.8 direct drive, a few extra vacuum strokes does the trick.  Other equipment may take much longer.
        • Recommending the customer turn their thermostat fan on (rather than auto).
          • This way the fan still runs without cranking the ac/heat up.  (much cheaper way to run the fan).
• The client can place a fan directed at the spill as well.  Or bring your own fans/blowers if your equipment vacuum isn’t as strong.
• Understand that spots can look like spills beneath the carpet surface.  Vacuum the area around the spot as well.

These are a few easy steps to prevent recurring spots/spills.  The best step is prevention by applying a protector each time the carpet is cleaned.  This prevents the spill from soaking into the heart of the fibers as easily.  This also allows more time to blot out spills before soaking in.  These steps will likely prevent nearly all spot/spill related redos, when done properly.