Prepare For Perfection: What You Need To Know Before You Use Carpet Shampooer

Most people believe that in order to revitalize your carpet, you either need a professional or new carpet altogether. There is nothing wrong with either of those approaches, but you can do an equally effective job yourself. Carpet shampooers are fantastic appliances to own and can change the look and feel of your carpets in no time. The key to good treatment, like most things in life, is preparation. Here is everything you need to know before using your carpet shampooer.

Prepare For Perfection: What You Need To Know Before You Use Carpet Shampooer

The right fit

There are a number of options on the market, so being sure to get the right system should be your first step. A carpet shampooer comes in all shapes and sizes, which naturally do different jobs. Be sure to assess your needs carefully before investing and only look at reliable brands. Once you have a better understanding of your needs, the experts can help match you with a system that will breath new life into your carpets. When you have the system you need, the next step is to prepare your home.

Remove everything

To effectively shampoo your carpets, the first step is to remove as much of the furniture as you can. This can be easier said than done sometimes. A shortcut is to move bulkier items into a non-carpeted room like the kitchen while you shampoo the carpeted spaces. If it isn’t possible to move larger, heavier items, that is fine as well; you can always shampoo around them. In the long term, however, be sure to try and shampoo all areas, otherwise, certain spots may wear faster than others. And don’t worry, those carpet dents are easy to get out.

Vacuum first

It’s important to remember that a carpet shampooer isn’t a vacuum, so you’ll need to both when treating your carpets. Once you have moved the furniture, take your time to vacuum thoroughly to remove dust and dirt. The last thing you want is for your shampooer to press wet dirt into the fibres of your carpet. When you are vacuuming be sure to empty the dust catcher of your vacuum in between rooms. Don’t allow the effectiveness of your vacuum to lessen as the filter gets clogged.

The right chemicals

Shampooing requires chemicals, we all know that. Finding the right chemicals, however, can be a different story. Depending on your carpet colour, the level of cleaning required and your ability to dispose of the water environmentally, your needs may differ. Do your research on all of the options available for your carpets. 

Look for reviews on products and how the chemicals interacted with other users carpets. When you finally decide on the right chemical cleaner for you, always do a spot test. Take a little bit of the chemical mixture and in a corner of a room, test the mixture on the carpet. You will need to allow around 30-60 minutes for any effects to be visible, if there is nothing to see, you are ready to shampoo the remainder.

Allow it to dry

Once you have completed the shampooing, it is crucial you let the carpets air and dry, especially before putting furniture back. If you place bulky, heavy furniture on wet carpet, you’ll end up with bad markings where the legs of furniture land. Allowing rooms to dry also means any chemical smells or lingering odours from the cleaning process have time to dissipate.

Shampooing your carpets is a job that you can do yourself, whether it be regularly or once a year. Investing in a carpet shampooer will save you money and help make the carpets look brand new, all year round. Before you get started, take note of these easy tips for preparing to use a carpet shampooer.