How Long Will It Take For My Carpet To Dry?

The average carpet is thoroughly dry in about 6-10 hours though it may take up to 12-24 hours*, depending on the air circulation, humidity and the temperature in your home. Although with Brent's Powerful Truck Mounted Cleaning System, this time can be substantially reduced.

*Really Dirty Carpets, Berber Carpet, (because of the closed loop), Wool Carpet and Below Grade Basement Carpet often take a Little Longer to Dry.

Upon the completion of our services, we recommend you Increase Your Air Circulation or Airflow by the use of Fans (i.e., turn the House Fan on the Thermostat from “Auto” to “On”, Ceiling Fans, Bathroom Fan, Box Fans, etc.) and turn on the heat or air to around 70-72 degrees, whichever is seasonally appropriate to help your carpet dry more quickly. Your Furnace naturally dries the air as it heats it and your Air Conditioner works to dehumidify the air, so either one will help dry the air which in turn helps to dry the carpet.

Finally, we suggest that you turn on your Basement Dehumidifier to help reduce the amount of Humidity in your home.

*Inadequate Ventilation Will Retain Moisture In Your Home, thus Increasing Your Drying Time.

In Short:
The More Airflow the Faster the Carpet/Upholstery Will Dry...
Less Airflow Will Prolong Your Drying Time.

Should I Turn The Heat Up?

No. Do not turn your heat up.

• Excessive heat combined with the moisture in your carpet, can cause a “Greenhouse” Effect. 
• Leave your thermostat set around 70-72 degrees.
• Change the Fan setting on your Thermostat from “Auto” to “On”. This will Increase the Air Circulation and help to Decrease the Drying Time.

What About My Furniture?

If at all possible, do not replace any furniture that you removed from the carpet until the area is thoroughly dry.

The fewer items on the carpet, the more air circulation and the more air circulation the more quickly the carpet will dry.

If You Must Replace Any Furniture before the carpet it thoroughly dry then:

1st Check the bottom of the piece at the point of contact. If it is Plastic – No Problem! However, if there is Wood, Wicker or Metal in contact with the carpet then:

2nd Place Plastic Wrap (Do Not Use Plastic Shopping Bags – the printing on the outside of the bag may transfer to the carpet!), Aluminum Foil or Wax Paper between the item and the carpet at all contact points.

This will protect the carpet from wood or wicker stains that can transfer onto the carpet or rust stains from occurring. In addition it will protect your furniture from possible water marks, rust or warping.

Any Furniture That We Have Moved:

We have placed protective blocks or pads underneath where required. Leave These in place in order to avoid any color transfer or rust that could occur between the furniture and the carpet.

How Soon Can I Walk On The Carpet?

Give Your Carpet Time To Dry Before You, Your Kiddos Or Your Pets Go On It.

Standard industry recommendation is to wait at least 6 hour before you walk on the carpet. If you walk on the carpet right after it has been cleaned, you can rapidly re-soil the carpet.

*Think about when you wipe up your Kitchen floor. A damp rag it will pick up more soil then a dry rag will.

Also, Brent's process of "Steam" Cleaning your carpet with our Powerful Truck Mounted Equipment, helps to break up, lift and separate the pile in your traffic areas. If you can allow your carpet to dry without walking on it and crushing it, then your carpet will look nicer, longer.

In Short:
If You Walk On The Carpet Too Soon You Will Crush The Carpet Pile, Which Causes Matting, Which In Turn Makes It Take Longer To Dry.

If You Absolutely Must Walk On The Carpet Before It Is Dry Then:

• Remove Your Shoes. So that the soil from the soles of your shoes do not transfer on to or into the carpet.
• DO NOT Remove Your Socks. Actually Clean White Socks are ideal since the body oils from your feet will rub off on the carpet and this oil will attract dirt.
• Try to Avoid the Traffic Areas. Think the Sides of the hallway in stead of the Middle, or the Sides of the stairs instead of the center.
• Also, Be Very Careful when you step off the damp carpet onto any hard surface (i.e., hardwood, tile, vinyl that you may find in the Kitchen or the Bathroom) The bottom of your foot will be damp so the hard surface Floor.
• Be Very Slippery.
• Think Walking On Ice!

Your pet's coat looks so beautiful because of the natural Body Oils in their fur. For this reason we highly encourage you to Keep Your Pets Off The Carpet until it has had a chance to dry. (Again, Oil transfers to the carpet, Oil attracts Soil)

In Short:

The Longer You Can Stay Off The Carpet The Better It Will Look.

Any Special Instructions If I Have Had A Sanitizer Or Anti-Microbial Applied?

Sensitivities are extremely rare but just in case caution is advised. Therefore, it is recommended that Small Children, Pets And You Avoid Direct Contact with the carpet until it has thoroughly dried.

Waves?  Ripples?  Buckles?

Very rarely will a carpet have waves or ripple after cleaning. 

If it does occur, it is not serious and they typically flatten out again and return to normal when your carpet is thoroughly dry it should be virtually unnoticeable.

Ripples might happen to:

• An older, stretched out carpet,
• One that is delaminated - When the glue adhering the primary backing to the secondary backing breaks down causing them to separate.
• One that was not installed tight to begin with - Sometimes, some installers will cut the carpet to size instead of stretching it tightly to the tack strip. 

If Ripples do occur it is a sign that your carpet most likely needed to be restretched prior to the carpet cleaning.

When Can I Vacuum?

Brent's Carpet & Furniture Cleaning recommends that you Wait 48 Hours especially if you have had any add on service such as Sanitizer and/or Protection applied.

Prematurely vacuuming could weaken or even remove these treatments.

What Can I Do If I Get A Spot On My Carpet Between Cleanings?

If there is No Color associated with the spot then:

• Fill a Spray Bottle with ½ White Vinegar and ½ Water
• Spray the spot while it is fresh and then Blot, Do Not Rub, with a Clean White Cotton Towel
• Rubbing can both, spread the spot, making it cover a larger surface area as well as abrade or wear the fiber of the carpet.

If it is a Stubborn Spot -or- if there is ANY Color then:

• Dilute a Non-Bleaching Dish Washing Liquid (as if you were getting ready to wash the dishes).
• Use a Clean Rag and work from the outside towards the middle to remove the spot.
• AFTER The Spot Is All Gone And There Is ABSOLUTELY NO VISIBLE COLOR,
• Then Spray it with the 50/50 White Vinegar & Water Solution.
• Now Blot - Very Thoroughly, until Carpet is Almost Dry. 
• Repeat last 2 steps as many times as necessary  (i.e., Spraying with the White Vinegar/Water Solution & Blotting until the Diluted, Non-Bleaching Dish Washing Liquid is no longer "Soapy".

*The Diluted, Non-Bleaching Dish Washing Liquid Removes the Spot...

The Vinegar Solution Removes the Dish Washing Liquid.

**It Is Very Important to make sure there is absolutely NO Visible Color remaining Before you Spray the Vinegar Solution. 

If There Is ANY Visible Color - The Vinegar Solution Will Cause It To Set In Your Carpet.

What Should I Do To Keep My Carpets Clean And Looking Their Best After Brent's Leaves?

• Avoid Walking On The Areas Cleaned Until The Carpet Is Thoroughly Dry.
• Refrain From Walking On The Carpet With Any Shoes. Even inside shoes or house slippers with their solid surface soles will track dry soil from adjacent hard surface flooring onto the carpet within your first several steps.

In Short:
Both Outside And Inside Shoes Will Get Your Carpet Dirty.

• DO NOT Walk Barefoot on the carpet. Walking barefoot causes body oils from the soles/bottom of your feet to rub off or transfer to the carpet. Oil attracts soil, airborne dust and soil or even soil from the beater bar of your vacuum. Then, as you walk back and forth this soil gets ground in. Most common traffic areas in most peoples homes are like a giant “Ring around the collar”.... It is dirt sticking to body oil that is ground in from walking back and forth in the same area, abrading and wearing away the fiber.
• Wear Socks when walking on your carpet. (White socks are the best). Any dirt that gets on your socks, from adjacent hard surface flooring, will not transfer off onto your carpet when you walk on it. Instead it will stay in the fabric of the sock until you throw it into the wash.
  
• Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum... Slowly, Thoroughly And Frequently, In Multiple Directions.
• Wherever possible, Vacuum Traffic Areas perpendicular to, or at a 90 degree angle to the normal flow of traffic.
• Blot spills up right away. Rubbing will spread the spot and abrade the fiber. Adding too much water can push it into the carpet.

What Will Happen If I Don't Clean My Carpet On A Regular Basis?

Failure To Maintain Your Carpet Can Void Your Warranty. ALSO, It Can Cause Premature Wearing And Aging Of Your Carpet.

Every time you walk across the carpet, dirt from your shoes transfer or body oils from walking barefoot will rub off onto it. Dirt sticks to oil. Walking back and forth works the Dirt and Grit between the fibers. When the fibers are dirty, they cling together or mat causing ugly Corn Rows.

The more you walk on the area, the more the fibers rub against the Dirt and Grit, which like sandpaper, can thin the Fibers or shear them off. This is how you get nasty wear patterns in traffic areas and once the fibers are damaged they cannot be repaired or replaced.

Thoroughly vacuuming 1 time per week, per occupant (i.e., 4 people plus 2 pets equals 6 occupants so this example would be 6 times per week)  and using Brent's Carpet & Furniture Cleaning to “Steam” Clean your carpet, with our Powerful Truck Mounted Equipment can help to prolong the life and beauty of your carpets and protect your investment.

When Should I Have My Carpet Cleaned Again?

There Is No One Simple Answer.

It depends on:

• The amount and type of traffic your carpet receives.
• The care you give it
• How often you vacuum

According to the American Lung Association, the accumulation of dust, pet dander and other indoor contaminates, in carpets and rugs can adversely affect people who suffer from breathing conditions such as snoring or asthma.

The Cleaning Industry Consensus Says - All Carpets should be cleaned at least once every year. Low-Traffic Areas may go 12-18 months between cleanings, but High-Traffic Areas may need to be professionally cleaned on a Quarterly basis.

Households with pets and/or children may need to have their carpet cleaned 2-4 times a year.

Below are some Common Recommendations From The Carpet Cleaning Industry.

Residential:

• No Smokers, No Kids, 6-12 months
• Smokers, 3-4 months
• Young Kiddos, 3-6 months
• Young Kiddos and Pets, 2-6 months

Businesses/Offices:

• Ground Floor, 2-6 months
• Upper Floors, 3-12 months

Restaurants:

• Monthly