Carpeting adds warmth and comfort to any space, and although it’s typically cheaper than hardwood flooring, it isn’t always cheap! The best way to protect your carpet is to care for it properly, which includes avoiding certain mistakes that can ruin carpets.

In this post, we’ll explore 7 common mistakes people make with their carpets and how you can avoid them. As you’ll soon see, many carpet mistakes are related to cleaning, so the tips in this post will help you protect your carpets while saving time and energy!
Jillee’s Take:
7 Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Carpet

1. Scrubbing Carpet Stains
In addition to damaging the fibers, using too much elbow grease when cleaning carpets and rugs can force stains deeper into the carpet fibers or spread them around. Instead, blot carpet stains with a clean cloth to lift the substance out of the fibers.
2. Leaving Stains For Later
While I always sop up a spill right away, I’m often tempted to ignore the resulting stain if I’m busy with other things. However, waiting to treat a stain only makes it harder to remove, and it can even lead to bacterial growth, odors, and other issues.
The best thing you can do when something gets spilled on the carpet is to promptly remove excess liquids and solids and apply a stain fighter (like my homemade carpet stain remover). A spot-cleaning machine like the Bissell Little Green can make short work of spills and pet stains when used right away.

3. Failing To Stop Dirt At The Door
In high-traffic areas like entryways, floor mats can help stop dirt from being tracked further into the house. Look for mats designed to attract dirt and are big enough to catch the first couple of steps someone takes into the house.
Additionally, instituting a “no shoes in the house” rule can help keep dirt off your carpets. Add a shoe storage cabinet near the door where family members and guests can store their shoes.
4. Rushing Through Vacuuming
It’s understandable to want to get vacuuming out of the way as quickly as possible, but rushing through it prevents your vacuum from working as well as it should. A quick pass with your vacuum may pick up some dirt and debris, but the dirt it leaves behind can damage your carpet over time.
To get the best results, vacuum each carpeted area slowly in one direction, then again in another direction. High-traffic areas may benefit from additional passes. To clean area rugs, vacuum the top before flipping them over and vacuuming the bottom.

5. Vacuuming Infrequently
Vacuuming your carpet regularly is the best way to keep it clean. How often should you vacuum? Once a week will help keep dust and allergens to a minimum, but you may want to do it twice a week if you have pets or kids, or if someone in your household has asthma or allergies.
(Did you know you can freshen the air while you vacuum? You can also freshen carpeting by applying a simple DIY carpet powder and letting it sit for half an hour before vacuuming it.)
6. Neglecting To Deep-Clean
Regular vacuuming helps prolong the life of your carpets, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for the occasional deep cleaning. Shampooing or steam cleaning carpet removes dirt and debris and eliminates musty odors.
You can hire a professional service like Stanley Steemer to deep clean your carpets, or you can do it yourself with a home carpet cleaning machine. You can buy or rent one fairly affordably, and my favorite homemade carpet cleaning solution can help you save even more.

7. Saturating It With Water
When treating carpet stains or deep cleaning, using a lot of water can do more harm than good. Oversaturating carpet can cause water to seep into the pad underneath, leading to mold and mildew growth or even damaging the floor underneath.
When cleaning your carpet with a machine, take your time while removing the water from the carpet. Consider using dry towels to dry out the carpet even further afterward. (Alternatively, leave shampooing or steam cleaning to a professional to avoid the problem entirely!)
More Mistakes Worth Avoiding
- Find out which 7 things you shouldn’t vacuum up.
- Learn about the 14 mistakes that can shorten the life of your sofa.
- Break the 7 bad habits that harm your bedsheets.
- Protect your hardwood floors by avoiding these 7 errors.
- Learn 9 surprising behaviors that harm your clothes.
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Conclusion
Avoiding these common carpet care mistakes can help keep your carpets looking great for years. Carpet is an investment, and caring for your carpets correctly protects that investment and keeps your home cleaner and fresher.
What’s your best tip for keeping carpets in tip-top shape?
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