The Dangers of Mixing DIY Stain Removal Chemicals
Did you know that mixing carpet cleaning chemicals can be dangerous for your carpet and even your health?
This week, we visited a Leeds home where a simple food stain (baked beans – easily treated and removed for us) had become a nightmare. Using a DIY carpet cleaning product to treat a stain is a temptation. Even the brand names suggest that using the product will help the stain to disappear! And sometimes they do…if you know what fibres your carpet is made of and what specific treatment is needed to treat your stain.
But the one thing you should never do? Exactly what our customer had done - used multiple products, causing a chemical reaction that permanently bleached the fibres of her brown carpet.
Why Mixing DIY Stain Removal Chemicals Is Bad
There’s chemistry involved in carpet cleaning, especially when you factor in stain removal.
Synthetic carpet fibres (nylon, polyester, olefin, etc.) are generally cleaned with alkaline cleaners, detergent cleaners, and acid rinses between 3-12 pH. Natural fibres (wool, silk, cotton, jute, etc.) are generally cleaned with mild solutions ranging 5-9 pH. Depending on the stain, the best spot treatment could be with an acid or alkali product.
Unfortunately, mixing different types of chemicals can cause a reaction. Bleach and ammonia, vinegar and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and chlorine are common chemicals that shouldn’t be mixed.
Mixing incompatible chemicals can cause damage to the carpet fibres, or even toxic fumes, skin or respiratory irritation, eye damage or even a fire hazard. Mixing bleach and ammonia, for example, can create a toxic gas called chloramine that causes shortness of breath and chest pain.
So please, if you try a DIY treatment on a stain follow the instructions and manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and if it doesn’t work, don’t put another treatment on top! Professional carpet cleaners make sure that any chemicals are completely flushed out of the carpet before and after spot treatment to prevent this type of mixing.
How to Avoid Mixing Carpet Cleaning Chemicals and Damaging Your Carpet
Choose the DIY stain treatment carefully. If you know what type of fibres your carpet has, make sure you’re purchasing the appropriate product.
ALWAYS test the product on a small inconspicuous area first.
Only use one product at a time, rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry with a clean cloth, and ventilate the room.
If you want to try a second product, be very sure the first is flushed out of the carpet and both the surface and the underlay are totally dry before you attempt this. We wouldn’t recommend this option, as it can be hard to remove all the chemicals with the equipment available in most homes.
For stubborn or large stains, or for regular maintenance, use a professional carpet cleaning team. The quicker you act, and the more you can tell them about what the stain is and what you’ve already tried to treat it, the more likely they are to be able to remove it. Remember - a reputable carpet cleaning firm will never promise to remove all stains, but they will have the know-how and equipment to achieve the best result possible.
Conclusion
It can be tempting to try multiple DIY carpet cleaning products to remove a stain before you call a professional. But mixing carpet cleaning chemicals is a bad idea that can harm your health and your carpet. Bleached or even melted carpet fibres mean a new carpet, and that’s a lot more expensive than calling in a professional for stubborn stains. For our customer, it meant a big dent in her rental deposit.
If you’ve got stains on your carpets, or even if they’re just in need of a spruce-up, get in touch today.