Nearly every homeowner has experienced the chronic stain, or even the phantom stain, whichever name you prefer. These stains have a nasty habit of reappearing after you diligently try every method in the book to remove them. You spend time, money, and sweat on these nasty little spots; after you think you have conquered them you walk away feeling victorious, only to have them reappear a day or two later. Well you are not alone in this nightmare; it is a very common phenomenon and there a few things that can dispel the curse and allow your carpets to be fresh, clean and stain free. We at Carpet Care 2000 would like to share some tips and advice on how to handle the chronic stains that seems to reappear.
Recurring Carpet Wicking Stains
What is happening when the stain reappears is what is called wicking. When a liquid spill hits your carpet it immediately starts soaking through, penetrating your carpets, absorbing into the carpet backing and even through the carpet pad. Tending to the stain is only removing the spot on the surface; where in fact the offending fluid continues to lurk below the fibers out of sight. Within only a few hours or up to a few days, they fluid that are trapped in the carpet backing and carpet pad resurfaces to the top side, staining the fibers once again. If you have seen an oil lamp, the same effect is taking place that occurs when the wick stays saturated. Though this is frustrating there are a few steps to prevent the reappearing stain from delivering an encore performance.
How to Prevent Carpet Wicking that Keep Coming Back
1) When treating spots or stains, use the minimal amount of water possible. Always absorb as much of the moisture as possible with pressure blotting and paper towels. Apply your cleaner in small intervals, patting up the moisture before reapplying more cleanser if needed.
2) To prevent the fluid from penetrating deep into the carpet backing and carpet pad, tend to spills as quickly as possible, do not let them linger.
3) In order to help draw up the moisture into the towel instead of allowing it to rest on the carpet surface; place an old towel over the spot, and weigh it down with a heavy object for several hours or even overnight following the treatment of the stain.
4) If the stain is large and still continues to manifest, you need professional assistance as there is a deeper problem. With professional services, the powerful extracting equipment can remove the deep rooted stains and any lingering moisture that might be pooling on the subfloor.
Professional Carpet Cleaning & More in Tracy, Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, Mountain House, Walnut Creek, Danville & the East Bay of California
Carpet Care 2000 has the experience and expertise to remove even the most stubborn stains. Our trained experts can utilize our state-of-the-art equipment and high quality cleaners to clear away the stains, any attached odors, and pull up any moisture that is residing below the surface. For your challenging stains, call Carpet Care 2000 today and let us do the rest!
