Why Do Stains Reappear on Your Carpets?

Do the same carpet stains come back over and over again? If your flooring has persistent spots, take a look at what you need to know about this common issue and how you can mitigate it with professional cleaning and stain prevention.

What Are the Types of Post-Cleaning Carpet Stains?

To fully understand why spots reoccur after cleaning, you may need to learn more about the different types of flooring stains. One cause is a failure to thoroughly rinse and blot the initial stain, which can leave the carpet's fibers with a sticky film or covering that isn't obvious to the untrained eye. Over time, this can attract more debris and cause a noticeable stain to form on top of what previously looked clean.

Even though this sticky film is a common cause of reappearing stains, it isn't the only cause. Some persistent stains are the result of wicking. This type of stain is a much deeper issue. Wicking happens when a liquid soaks through the carpet and into its backing or underpad. While you may think you've cleaned the messy stain, you may have accidentally trapped some of the liquid under the carpet. 

Liquid that has been left on a carpet's backing or the underpad can gradually work its way back up through the flooring's fibers. This may happen after a hot water extraction cleaning process. If the carpet is still wet after cleaning or the stain was never cleaned properly, wicking can result in the reappearance of noticeable dark or stained spots. 

Do These Stains Only Happen After DIY Cleaning?

The reappearance of stains is more likely to happen after a novice or DIY carpet cleaning job. But it is possible to have this problem following a professional carpet cleaning. Because soiling can occur if the carpet is left sticky on the top and wicking can happen if the carpet is left damp and there is water trapped on the backing or underpad, treat the stained area as soon as possible and choose a high-quality carpet cleaning contractor to reduce the risks of these issues.

How Should You Choose a Carpet Cleaning Company?

If your carpet already has repeat stains and you want to prevent this issue in the future, hire a carpet cleaning contractor with solid references. Read reviews of the company, and choose a carpet cleaner with lots of great, detailed reviews.

You can also ask for referrals from real people you already know. These could include family members, friends, co-workers, or members of a local community's social media group. 

How Can You Prevent Reappearing Stains?

The answer to this question is tied to the person who cleans your carpets. If you use good referrals to find a quality carpet cleaning company that has the knowledge and experience to prevent soiling and wicking, you likely won't have to deal with this problem again. But this doesn't mean your carpets can't or won't stain in the future.

Instead of reappearing stains, you, a family member, or a guest might spill, drop, or splash something else on the carpet. This can cause a new spot. Some new stains may happen on an area with an older stain, mimicking the look of a reappearing stain. 

To stop a new stain from turning into a persistent spot, blot the liquid as soon as possible. Never rub the liquid to clean it. This approach pushes the moisture deeper into the carpet's fibers and can result in wicking. After you blot the carpet, call a contractor to complete the stain removal job.

Do you need help cleaning your home's carpets? Contact All State Carpet & Tile Care for more information.