03/18/2026
🚫 Say NO!! 🚫
One of the most common things I’ll hear during home walkthroughs is “I tried cleaning it myself first” or “I gave you a head start on this spot”. Unfortunately, you want to avoid over the counter cleaners like the plague. Today I would like to go over why and what the alternative looks like.
1. “It’s getting worse”
Almost all store bought cleaners use surfactants. In short, they grab all the dirt and hold it near the surface. That’s great but the problem is most homeowners don’t have the proper equipment to FULLY rinse and EXTRACT all of it. The spot now attracts dirt at a higher rate and is binding to the fibers.
2. pH mismatch
Most store bought cleaners are also very high alkaline (pH 9-18). Many carpets, including the common nylon ones, need to be returned to a neutral/slightly acidic state. Without doing so the spot turns into a stubborn, soapy and dirty mess from the surface down to the padding.
3. Permanent damage
The nail in the coffin is heat. If treated improperly with cheap cleaners and then introduced to heat, this will permanently set the stain for good.
Bottom line is if you aren’t properly EXTRACTING, you are just making it WORSE.
Here is what you CAN DO:
1. Act fast
2. Use cold water
3. Blot, not scrub
Obviously, this won’t cure all stains, but it gives you a solid base to start at. Most importantly, you won’t lose the battle right off the bat.
If a particular stain is stressing you out, you can always shoot us a message! There are plenty of tips and tricks for most common spots that I’d be happy to share!
