After your carpet has been professionally cleaned, you will want to wait at least 6 hours before you can walk on it. This way it gives the carpet enough time to dry in most areas that can handle walking.
Most carpets typically need 6-10 hours to dry completely. However, it could take up to 24 hours to dry depending on the time of year your carpets are cleaned, and the air circulation, humidity and temperature in your home.
It is recommended that you try to stay off the freshly cleaned carpets until they are dry – about 6 hours. If you MUST walk over your damp carpet before it is dry use EXTREME caution.
In reality, carpets should dry in somewhere between 4-6 hours; however, and here's the caveat – it's vital that a carpet is dry within 24 hours. This is because after this time your carpet is in danger of attracting mould spores which will not only ruin your carpet, but be harmful to your health.
Don't rub. When you clean your carpet, make sure you don't rub any one spot vigorously – even to remove a stain. Rubbing aggravates the fibers and will often make things worse. Blot the stain using a towel instead.
This seems to be a huge question..and this is what I tell my customers… Yes, however, it WILL be damp. We recommend that after your carpet is cleaned you wear socks walking on it so that you do not transfer oils from feet to clean carpets. If you ARE going to walk on it; do not walk in your regular traffic places!
If you walk on it (especially on the heavy tread areas that take a pile-beating anyway), the damp pile gets flattened back down and may dry that way, which kind of defeats the objective of making it all lovely and fluffy again.
Most cleaning methods simply can't remove all the old hair, dust mites, dirt, soapy residues and chemicals. After the cleaning crew leaves, the gunk remaining in your carpeting acts like a magnet for a whole new layer of grime.
How long does off-gassing take in a new carpet? Off-gassing decreases significantly a few months after installation, but carpets can emit VOCs for five years (or possibly more). Because they're made from absorbent fibres, carpets can also store VOCs and PCFAs from other sources and re-emit them later on.
Perchloroethylene: Commonly found in “dry” carpet cleaning products, perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene or tetrachloroethene) is toxic in high amounts, especially when breathed in. It can also cause skin irritation due to its degreasing nature.
You shouldn't need to make more than two passes with cleaning solution (especially if you pre-treated stains) when deep cleaning your carpet. Make additional passes without spray button pressed. The Rug Doctor deep cleaner has a powerful motor that will suck up and extract water from your carpet.
After Cleaning
If possible, open windows and doors to increase air circulation and ventilation. You can also use fans or air conditioners to speed up the process.
Open windows – air flow can help to improve drying times and opening windows can help, unless it is very humid outside. Use floor fans – running floor fans in areas with damp carpet will help to move the humid air created by evaporation out of the space, and dry the carpet more quickly.
Having your carpet cleaned regularly with a steam cleaner can actually shorten its lifespan. This is due to the heat that can damage the carpet fibres, especially synthetic ones like acrylic and nylon.
To keep your carpet looking and performing at its best, The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Bear in mind that this recommended frequency is a general guideline only and can vary based on your particular circumstances.
As a general rule, it is best to have your carpets cleaned at least once per year. This will ensure your carpet warranty is maintained and most of the dirt, dust, and allergens that typically build up in your carpets will be kept under control.
Off-gassing materials emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and small particulate substances throughout the life of the material. This can cause many of the symptoms you're experiencing including headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, and asthmatic reactions.
Most traditional carpet cleaning companies employ the traditional hot water extraction method that requires soaps, shampoos or harmful chemicals, some of which are left behind in the carpets as a soil-attracting residue. This residue makes carpets actually appear dirtier faster, leading to unsatisfied customers.
Generally speaking, carpet cleaning chemicals are very safe when you trust your cleaning to a reputable and established carpet cleaning company. That said, there are some carpet cleaners who will sacrifice safety to save a few dollars – not every cleaning product is green and non-toxic.
Yes, you should keep cleaning the carpet until the water is clear. This will ensure that your carpets are clean and free of dirt, dust, and other allergens. However, you should be careful not to scrub too hard or use too much water. Doing so can damage the carpet and lead to more stains in the future.
As the water slowly evaporates and the carpet dries, the residual soap and chemicals dry into the carpet fibers. It is this residue that gives the carpet a stiff, sticky, hard or "crunchy" texture. It is quite similar to how your hair would feel if you rubbed shampoo into it but did not properly rinse the shampoo out.
The biggest reason for smelly carpets after a cleaning is simple. Underneath your carpet is a layer of backing or padding. If that bottom layer gets wet and isn't dried properly, it can give off an odor. The good news is that as the backing or padding dries out, the sour smell should go away all on its own.
For a consistent carpet, no patterns or dirt residues should be left behind. Vacuuming the carpets after cleaning them is very recommended.
Wear your shoes or socks – your shoes will track in dust, dander and even mud. But shoes will typically leave behind dry soil that can be vacuumed up. Ideally, a pair of clean slippers at the front door will keep your carpet looking it's best.