Homeowners have many options for managing home repairs and cleaning projects on their own, including renting tools, power washers and rug cleaners from local hardware stores. While it might be tempting to rent such equipment and attempt your own household cleaning and repairs, you might note some reasons why it's good to avoid DIY rug and upholstery cleaning in your home.

Using Too Much Water

Many homeowners make the mistake of using too much water and then leaving lots of it behind after cleaning rugs or upholstery! While it is necessary to use a certain amount of water to remove all cleansers and shampoos, carpet fibres and upholstery material absorb excess water rather easily.

A homeowner might also fail to remove that excess water. Trapped moisture often leads to mould, mildew and other harmful agents developing under carpets and padding as well as in the foam under furniture upholstery. A professional cleaner will know the right amounts of water to use for cleaning and ensures that it's all extracted properly.

Damaging Fibres With Scrubbing

Carpets, area rugs and furniture upholstery are often more delicate than homeowners might realise, and too much vigorous scrubbing or the use of heavy-duty brushes and extraction machines during cleaning risks damaging their fibres permanently. Carpet and upholstery might become crushed or flattened, and colours might fade or bleed, leaving behind unsightly spots.

Carpet and upholstery fibres might also become unravelled from harsh cleaning processes. You might cause loose threads, pilling or outright holes in your home's rugs and furniture upholstery during cleaning! Rather than risk this damage, rely on a professional for rug and upholstery cleaning.

Cleaning Methods and Detergents

A professional rug and upholstery cleaner typically uses a variety of detergents and shampoos for rugs and upholstery. Some cleansers are quite strong, for use on especially filthy fibres, while others are more diluted, for use on silk-blend fabrics and for light cleaning. Spot cleaning tough stains also requires the use of specialty cleansers and detergents.

A homeowner inexperienced in carpet and upholstery cleaning might not realise the best shampoo or cleanser for their rugs and furniture in particular and might cause damage with harsh detergents and cleansers meant for tough stains. On the other hand, a homeowner might also use weak cleansers and lightweight shampoos and fail to clean carpets and upholstery thoroughly, wasting time and money. For a quality clean without damage, rely on a professional for rug and upholstery cleaning.