Have you ever have your carpets professionally cleaned only to find unsightly marks after a few days? Well, apparently there is an explanation for this and we will also reveal the secret solution to this very common problem.
First of all, how do you clean your carpet? If you are like everyone else, you probably use some sort of alkaline detergent for a pre-spray. This solution helps loosen up and lifts the dirt so it can be easily cleaned. This part is actually correct. It is the rinsing that is tricky. Most types of alkaline-based detergents have a pH of about 8 to 14 - a little too strong for most carpets. As you rinse, you may think that the soap is being washed off, but in reality, the solution is still cleaning the surface long after you or your cleaning company is done. This solution will still attempt to clean deep rooted stains, dust and oil for the next hours or days. And if you have put on extra soap to a dirty area, that too will continue to clean the carpet. This is what causes the obvious marks on your carpet. You or your cleaner just made it worse.
However, fret not as there is a solution. The word you are looking for is neutralization. To maintain a balanced pH level when using alkaline based detergent, rinse it with acid. You will not have to worry about ugly spots reappearing after a few days.
It is unfortunate that there are some cleaners who are not aware of the ingenious solution to unsightly residues. But now that you know how to solve this common problem, you might want to suggest this to your professional carpet cleaner next time they clean your carpet.
 
 

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