Is Your Carpet Really Clean? The Hidden Truth About Even Soiling on Carpets...

 

Looking Clean and Actually Being Clean Are Totally Different...

We recently had an opportunity to work with a wonderful client in Granby, CT. She had contacted us for a "regular" professional cleaning of her carpeting as she believed it was time to freshen things up. 

To our surprise when we arrived things look a little dull but really not that bad in the grand scheme of things. Our team happily got to work to clean away all of the dirt, dust, allergens, pollutants, dust mites (and their poop...yuck!).  They began with a detailed vacuuming of the rooms, carefully moving furniture as they moved through the room.  Then they applied our eco-friendly pre-spray to the carpet and groomed it into the carpet fibers to ensure it was able to fully emulsify soils, dirt and all the other yucky stuff that we never want in our carpets.  Then it was time to start the hot water extraction.  But wait...we took the very first stroke with the carpet wand and WOWZA! We found that this carpet was much dirtier than we even thought! The picture above shows real life results of this cleaning.

 So what is going on here and how the heck did the homeowner not realize how dirty the carpet actually was? Well that is a great question and in fact, this happens far more frequently than one might expect.  The phenomenon is known in our world as "uniform carpet soiling". This is when there is an even level of soiling all over the carpet that perhaps might make the carpet look a little dull, but one would never expect the carpet to be completely filthy!  This is a much different situation than when you get the traffic lanes in the room.  

What is Even or Uniform Soiling?

The even or uniform soiling phenomenon occurs when dirt and grime build up in a uniform manner across your carpets, avoiding the typical "traffic lane" look.  This most frequently occurs in lighter colored carpets.  The danger is that this can mask hidden unhealthy conditions. In most cases uniform soiling is caused by regular foot traffic, air movement, HVAC systems, pets, body oils from sitting or lying on carpeted surfaces, cooking, and improper cleaning methods.

Why Uniform Soiling is a Problem

Uniform soiling can cause of host of issues in your home that you most likely would not even think of. Any time our indoor environment is impacted with extra or a build up of pollutants our homes get a little less cleaner, a little lest healthier, a little less comfortable to live in and enjoy.

• Air Quality Impact: Dirt, dander, pollen, and microbes trapped in carpet fibers can become airborne and degrade our indoor air. Causing an increase in allergy symptoms and in some cases a general feeling of unwellness.
• Allergen Build-Up: Dust mites, mold spores, and pet allergens become embedded in your carpet and can affect your respiratory health. 
• Appearance Deception: The carpet may appear clean, so homeowners delay professional cleaning.
• Premature Wear: Dirt acts like sandpaper on your carpet fibers. It abrades delicate carpet fibers breaking them down over time and leading to "ugly out" and in some cases premature replacement.

Clearly, none of the items on this list are things any homeowner wants happening in their home.  Our homes are our castles and as such we want to be able to live in the Cleanest, Healthiest, Most Comfortable Homes Possible!

Lets Explore Some Potential Causes of Uniform Soiling

Well, there are several factors that can contribute to uniform soiling across the carpet fibers surface.  This could include things like:

• Daily Foot Traffic in Socks or Bare Feet.  Dirt, oils, and dead skin cells are transferred evenly across the carpet over time. Without heavy shoes or concentrated pathways, the wear and soiling are distributed uniformly over the carpet.
• Airborne Dust & Pollutants.  The HVAC systems in our homes circulate air.  The air is filled with dust, pollen, dander and pollutants. Over time these particles settle evenly across the carpet surface causing the carpets to become soiled.
• Lack of Regular Deep Cleaning. Vacuuming alone is not sufficient to remove the embedded dirt, debris and oils from your carpets. This causes layers of contaminants to build up uniformly most times unnoticed by the homeowner. Just like our clothes and bedding carpets need to be cleaned so that the fibers can be cleaned and rinsed free of these radicals.
• Poor or Worn Carpet Protectant. Stain resistant coatings that were applied to your carpets either during the manufacturing process or professional cleanings wear off over time. The use of the carpet, vacuuming, spot cleaning of the carpet all contributes to the removal of carpet protectant leaving delicate fibers exposed to soiling. It is always important to re-apply a good professional quality protector after cleaning.
• Improper Cleaning Products/Methods. There are some DIY cleaners that will leave a sticky residue on the carpet fibers that will contribute to re-soiling. Additionally, when DIY'rs are cleaning with a home or rental unit they are directed to use an enormous amount of soap that they will never be able to fully rinse out with the cleaning method and equipment they are using. Worse yet, sometimes there is an inexperienced cleaner that will use a solution-based cleaning method that leaves this same type of sticky residue all over the carpet causing even soiling and in most cases this happens very quickly after cleaning. People...it Pay's to Call A Pro!
• Cooking Oils. Yes, cooking oils can also be the cause of uniform soiling on your carpet. When we cook in our homes oils and vapors are disbursed into the air, floating around until they land on a horizontal surface. Just like the splatter you see around the stove or the oily residue you clean off of your hood vent, cabinets and other fixtures. When these oils settle on the carpet and upholstery they act like little magnets for dirt and dust to accumulate on the surface.
• Indoor Humidity or Poor Air Circulation & Filtration. Moist air can cause fine dust and contaminants to cling to carpet fibers more easily. When an HVAC system circulates moist, dirty air, it settles evenly across the surfaces of our floors, upholstery, and other horizontal surfaces in our homes.

 

What Should You Watch For?

This is the million dollar question...what cues can our homes give us to let us know it is time to schedule our professional cleaning? Fortunately, our homes are really good at telling us what they need - as long as we listen. With that in mind you should look out for things like:

• Matted Areas or a "dull" look even after vacuuming
• Odors in the room despite general cleanliness. (The rule is - If Something Stinks - Something is Definitely Wrong)
• Increased Allergy Symptoms like sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and respiratory complications indoors.
• Changes in Texture carpets may feel sticky, stiff, or less plush.
• Under Furniture Contrast - Move a couch or a table and see if the color difference is dramatic.

 

Steps to Keep Your Carpet Truly Clean

There are several simple steps to keep your carpets truly clean. It really is about the Whole Home Approach to cleaning where you holistically look at all of the contributing factors in your home that are impacting your indoor air and environment. The best part about the Whole Home Approach is that it will positively impact to your indoor environment allowing you to have Cleanest, Healthiest, Most Comfortable Home Possible! So, make a note and add this to your regular home maintenance schedule:

1. Regular Vacuuming: Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter at least 2-3 time per week. Focus on high-traffic zones and under furniture. Do a detailed vacuuming of the rooms every week too.
2. Schedule Professional Carpet Cleaning: Have carpets cleaned every 6-12 months, as recommended by the EPA - of course, this will also depend on use. Your professional cleaning should be completed by a company like PCRS of CT that employs IICRC Certified technicians using truck-mounted hot water extraction (steam cleaning) equipment to provide a true deep cleaning of your carpet fibers.
3. Apply Protectant: A good quality, professional carpet protectant will provide you with the added benefit of carpets that:
1. Stay Cleaner Longer
2. Are More Resistant to Permanent Staining
3. Allow for More Effective Professional Cleanings
4. Routine Air Quality Maintenance: You should have your ducts and dryer vents cleaned regularly to reduce dust and the spread of debris, allergens, bacteria and viruses throughout your home. Also, you should use an air purifier like the Aspen High Performance Air Purifier (awarded as 2025’s Best Air Filtration System) to clean your air with custom designed three-stage filters to remove large particles like dust and pollen, gases and odors, and the tiniest of particles like smoke and viruses.
5. Use Entry Mats & No-Shoe Policies. Trapping dirt at the door with good quality mats is a key measure in maintaining the cleanliness of your home. Additionally, encouraging family and guest to remove shoes before entering your home leaves lots of pollutants and contaminants outside where they belong. Don’t forget to wipe your pets paws when they come in too, they get into all kinds of stuff outside!
6. Address Leaks, Water Intrusion, Excess Humidity and Suspect Mold Growth Immediately. Consult with a professional cleaning and restoration firm like PCRS of CT if you experience any type of water damage or suspect you may have microbial growth. You should also be concerned with the humidity levels in your home, using a dehumidifier like the SuperDryXS will help to keep humidity levels at a level safe for your home and eliminate the need for you to empty a tiny little bucket one million times per day. Water, Mold, and Humidity are serious problems that can have serious consequences if left unaddressed or worse addressed with misinformation found on the internet. Again, this is most definitely a time where it Pays To Call A Pro!

 

Whole Home Health Starts at the Floor

At Professional Cleaning & Restoration Systems of Connecticut, we believe that clean carpets are the foundation of a healthy home. Our Whole Home Approach addresses:

• Carpets, Upholstery, Mattresses, Tile & Area Rugs
• Air Ducts & Dryer Vents
• Air Purification & Indoor Air Quality
• Humidity Control
• Mold Removal 
• Water Damage Detection, Cleanup & Structural Drying

Your families health is your wealth...don't go another day without making changes to allow you to live in the Cleanest, Healthiest, Most Comfortable Home Possible!