When your carpets are struggling with spills and the elements, it can be hard not to panic. We love carpets too here at Aquamist! In our last post, we told you about three household substances/chemicals that you ought to stay away from at all costs.
Those are some of the more frequent offenders from what we’ve seen and heard from our great customers, but they aren’t the only ones out there! As such, we’re back for another round to offer some reinforcement and guidance!
#4 Ammonia
Ammonia can make a good cleaning solution, as it is the basis for most window cleaning solutions. That said, it must be used with extreme caution even for those use cases. The fumes are toxic and even small traces can make humans and pets alike unwell and dizzy. Given carpets (especially long pile or shag) can be sponges for chemicals, you should avoid ammonia altogether.
Beyond damage to the air supply, ammonia can also cause damage to both wool and synthetic carpets. As a rule of thumb, if it requires protective equipment or a well-ventilated area, it’s not a good thing to try yourself on your carpets. Dyes can tarnish, and stain guards can take damage. Suffice it to say that it’s bad news all around to take a gamble on ammonia.
#5 Abrasives
Abrasive compounds by their definition cause wear and damage. Baking soda’s one that can be a tricky decision when it comes to carpeting. We admit it’s such a brilliant all-around cleaner for both the human body and your home. As powerful of a deodorizer as it is, that’s no guarantee it’ll be good for your carpets.
The thing that makes baking soda great in a bath or a toothpaste is that it can be put down the drain afterwards with a rinse. In the case of carpets, lingering baking soda can be a dust disaster or an instant vacuum clogger.
Either way, if it must be used, ensure it’s done lightly. It won’t be easy to remove without professional equipment, which is likely to take time and money. And if you leave it there to stay? The odours it minimized stay with it.
#6 Hydrogen Peroxide
Last and not least for DIY stain cleaning no-nos is hydrogen peroxide. It seems like one of those things you can find in almost any medical cabinet or sink cubby. That said, don’t let it be your first choice when it comes to carpets. Peroxide can be a deceptive choice because the sizzling sound can make it seem more effective than it actually is.
High concentrations of peroxide are extremely powerful bleaching agents. You’d almost never see them in stores, but it’s something to think about. We’ve already covered bleach in our last episode, so what makes peroxide itself a problem?
The main one is that it’s unlikely to even solve the original issue. Even if it doesn’t stain or damage, the more used for treatment, the more moisture you’ll need to manage after the fact. Household peroxide is 3% grade, meaning the rest is all water. I doubt you’d spill a bottle of water on your carpets if you could help it, right? It could bring out existing smells or worsen humidity issues.
So there you have it! Our list of six products you should never use on your home’s carpets has hopefully provided some useful information. Do you have any other products you’ve found abysmal on your carpets? Let us know about your experiences, as we’d love to help out with your carpet cleaning needs! We’ve got over twenty years of experience with carpets, but we’re always learning more!