Why Is My Carpet Misshaped After Cleaning?

If you recently tried cleaning your carpet and ended up with a misshaped, unrecognizable mess, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common DIY carpet cleaning disasters. Carpet cleaning is a professional task that should be tackled by experienced experts, not amateur homeowners. When homeowners take things into their own hands, the results can be less than pleasing.

In this blog, we’ll help you understand why you’re dealing with a misshaped carpet after cleaning. We’ll also help you undo the damage and prevent this situation from reoccurring in the future. Keep reading!

1. Latex Displacement

Carpet buckling/rippling often occurs due to latex displacement. When hot water is used to clean a carpet, it heats and expands the latex adhesive in the carpet. This results in extra space at the back of a carpet. Since the extra space has to go somewhere, the carpet develops buckles/ripples.

The good part is that this goes away on its own. As the carpet dries, the latex will regain its normal size and shape. However, in some cases, the rippling and buckling persists. This process is also known as expansion differential.

Recommended Read: Why Does My Carpet Feel Hard and Crunchy After Cleaning?

2. High Humidity

If your carpet is cleaned during high humidity, it may develop ripples and buckles. This happens because high indoor humidity prevents carpets from drying fully. Since the carpet remains damp, it stretches. This can be easily avoided by running a dehumidifier in the space.

3. Improper Cleaning

Carpets must be cleaned using the right equipment, products, tools, and solutions. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a misshaped carpet after cleaning. When the wrong tools and harsh cleaning agents are used, the layers of the carpet can get damaged. This may result in the carpet losing its original shape and wrinkling.

Unfortunately, this level of damage is very difficult to undo. This is why hiring professional carpet cleaners is extremely important. While you may think a DIY job will turn out well, chances are the results will be less-than-impressive. In the best-case scenario, your carpet will be improperly cleaned without any damage. Worst-case scenario, you’ll end up with damaged carpet fibers that cannot be restored.

4. Using Too Much Water

If you use too much water to clean your carpet and let the water sit for way too long, your carpet may become misshaped. Carpets should be quickly and thoroughly dried post-cleaning. As the moisture sits atop the carpets and settles all the way down to the pile, the risk of stretching increases.

This is often the result of steam cleaning. Avoid this approach. Instead, turn to professionals who speed-dry your carpet to eliminate all the moisture. At Alameda Cleaners, we use a high-velocity air mover immediately after cleaning without any delay. This helps us achieve faster drying and eliminate the risk of stretching and misshaping.

Recommended Read: Silk Rug Cleaning: Dos and Don’ts

Our team goes the extra mile to achieve complete client satisfaction. With over 42 years of experience and a team of skilled technicians, we turn neglected carpets into statement interior pieces.

If you’re looking for carpet cleaning services in Portland and Vancouver, give us a call today. We also provide rug cleaning, upholstery cleaning, air duct cleaning, business cleaning, and MicroSeal fabric protection services.