To ask what I’m doing wrong with my carpet cleaning

[Piglet89]

Hello all

IABU for flagrantly posting here for traffic; no bites on the housekeeping section, alas.

I had a beige loop pile carpet fitted in my hall, stairs and landing 5 years ago in April 2016. In areas of heavy traffic (particularly first flight of stairs up to first landing) it's got really dirty. My fault for choosing light-coloured carpet, one might say.

In August 2020, I hired a carpet cleaner from HSS to try and clean this carpet myself, and I think it made matters worse! It was really heavy and difficult to manoeuvre in the narrow staircase of our house and I'm not sure it was working properly as there was dirty water deposited underneath the removable dirty water deposit tank.

Frankly, I just couldn't look at it any longer, so I bought a Bissell SpotClean Proheat Carpet cleaner on ebay last week.

I tried it out yesterday afternoon on an area of heavy traffic (hall stair carpet leading to first floor landing). Actually very happy with its functioning (small and portable, easily fits on one step), quite strong suction and the amount of dirt it's managed to get out of the hall stair carpet - when I look at the filthy colour of the water deposited in the dirty water tank. But, on looking at the dried results this morning, it's not as good as I expected.

The three pics show:

1. Carpet just after installation;
2. Carpet on Sunday 2 May; and
3. Carpet after my cleaning it yesterday afternoon.

I think the surface of the carpet is clean but the dirt and dust has somehow been driven right into the bottom of the loops of the pile and it's this that's causing the marks that still remain. I think the surface of the carpet has actually been cleaned.

But, in the infinite wisdom of the Hive Mind - any tips for what I can do to get rid of these dirty marks that remain?

Sorry for the treatise.

Have you tried a spot cleaner before using the cleaner? I have hired the rug doctor and it advised spot treating any potential stub on stains first with their spot cleaner. I also cleaned the carpet twice to get the best results x

Thanks @iusedtohavechickens

Yes I think I will have to spot treat and do a second time on this first flight up to the first floor landing.

I was told by a professional carpet cleaner that most carpet clean liquids work fine but then they will attract dirt, it's more effective to use a basic cleaning fluid, even Fairy liquid and the like.

Interesting @JudgeJ - will try that.

@judgeJ I just used method rhubarb kitchen spray in the carpet cleaner and it cleaned the carpets better and smells amazing !

Do not put fairy liquid in a carpet cleaner, unless you fancy one those Ibiza style foam parties in your home.

@Temp023 maybe if I cracked open the vodka shots in the foam, I’d (at least temporarily) forget how dirty my carpet is?

Judge J is right, carpet cleaners act like magnets to dirt and any residues that remain in the weave continue to attract dirt causing dark patches. Find an organic cleaned, these work differently to break down and release dirt, leaving no patches. Take it from someone who has cream carpets throughout and two very dirty cats!

Spelling - organic cleaner

I wouldn't use anything not recommended in the machine, it will break.

Use something different for a spot clean but not in your carpet cleaner

You might be better getting a professional clean done to get the deep down dirt out and then using your machine to keep on top of it.

We get lots of companies advertising on Facebook locally with before and after pictures.

Just a quick caution, I had a looped carpet and a loose thread that I hadn't noticed caught on the spinning brush of the carpet cleaner. It instantly pulled out a whole row about 3ft long!

Thanks everyone; this is really helpful advice.