Sometimes, what you hear about completing a particular task contains inaccurate information. In order to clean your carpeting as efficiently as possible it’s important to ignore common myths that could actually affect the quality of your carpet cleaning. Understanding these myths will allow you to do a better job keeping your carpet clean.

Don’t wait until the carpet looks dirty. Consult your carpet manufacturer for a schedule to regularly vacuum and professionally clean your carpet. Do not wait until the carpeting looks obviously dirty before beginning any cleaning efforts. That can actually damage the carpet because the longer the dirt and dust remains in the carpet the more likely it is to literally cut away at the carpet fibers. Waiting to clean the carpeting also can affect the health of your family members and visitors to your home. Experts say a square foot of the average nylon wall-to-wall carpeting can hold more than a pound of dirt, dust and allergens and this growing pile of dirt can be particularly difficult to see with tan and brown carpeting.

Don’t let your carpet get too wet. For the most part, carpets and excessive moisture do not get along. That’s why carpet manufacturers do not recommend carpet shampoo machines. These machines allow the carpeting to become soaked, and if not dried properly, that moisture can lead to molds and fungus that can potentially spread throughout the home. Instead, carpet manufacturers recommend a regular professional cleaning treatment – usually once a year – that involves a water-extraction machine. These machines are often confused for steam machines, but they limit the amount of water sent into the carpet and can then retrieve all of that water after a thorough, deep cleaning of the carpeting is finished.

Don’t rely on carpet protectants. A scotch guard or other protective coating put down on your carpeting as a purchase incentive is only meant to add a level of protection. Stains can still damage the carpeting with this protection present, although they won’t soak in as quickly, and should be addressed immediately. It’s still crucial to address stains as soon as they occur because the protective coating on the carpeting will generally only delay the absorption of the stains into the carpet. First use paper towels and newspaper to soak up as much of the stain as possible. Then, combine a mixture of white vinegar and water and lightly brush the area, once again using the paper towels and newspaper to blot the moisture in the carpet.