Once carpet is installed, most people don’t think about what is happening underneath. Carpet is always installed with a layer of padding beneath it. It’s what gives the carpet its support and is part of the reason why your carpet feels so soft and plushy under your feet. It can even improve room insulation and soundproofing.
Having an extra layer of foam-rubber padding underneath your carpet is great for absorbing the weight of constant foot traffic, but that also means it’s collecting and absorbing other things such as moisture.
Damage to carpet padding is not something many homeowners often think about but should be aware of. The same spots and stains that impact your carpet’s surface also harm the padding below. Thanks in part to its absorbent capabilities.
Spills and pet accidents are inevitable in any household, and time is of the essence when addressing spots and stains. When not taken care of correctly or in a timely fashion, more opportunity is given for a spill to settle deep in the base of the carpet and carpet padding.
A Spot or Stain can Cause Irreversible Damage
One of the most common causes of a damaged carpet base and carpet padding is moisture. This can result from flooding, over-wetting, or over-shampooing the carpet when trying to DIY clean a pesky spot or stain. Once a liquid has been absorbed and settles into the base of the carpet and carpet pad, mildew can start growing in as little as 48 to 72 hours.
In addition to water damage, spots and stains caused by a biological substance such as pet urine or vomit should also be handled promptly. Left unattended, these substances break down and are absorbed by the carpet, which can lead to irreversible carpet damage and create hazardous growth that spreads quickly and opens up the potential mildew growth to occur on the surface of floorboards and even at the base of walls. If these spots get into the padding, the padding must be replaced to prevent the spots from wicking back to the surface. This is the reason most spots “resurface” after being cleaned.
Adverse Health Effects
With little airflow, a dark and damp environment can quickly produce. Depending on the severity of a spill, carpet padding can remain wet for days and even weeks.
Spots and stains left unattended and absorbed into carpet padding can lead to more than just damaged carpet and floorboards, but can also have adverse effects on the air quality in your home. Mildew can cause musty and damp smells and create poor air quality that can trigger breathing ailments to those with allergies or other respiratory issues.
How Do I Know When it’s Time to Replace Carpet?
– Your carpet is more than 10 years old
Many carpet manufacturers recommend carpet be replaced after 10 years. When shopping for carpet, make sure you know and understand all manufacturer recommendations for cleaning and replacing your specific carpet type.
– Permanent stains
Have you had your carpet professionally cleaned, and the stains don’t come out?? Over long periods, older stains that have become so embedded and absorbed deep in carpet fibers can be nearly impossible to remove.
– Original colors have faded, and carpet fibers are frayed
This is especially true for areas where there is high foot traffic. The carpet will show obvious signs of ‘’traffic lanes” (sections of carpet that are heavily worn and weighed down).
– Lack of support padding when you walk
In addition to “traffic lanes,” you may start to notice a lack of padding or support in worn-down areas of your carpet. If you can’t feel the padding underneath your feet as you walk along the carpet, it’s time for a replacement.
– Foul or stinky odors that will not go away
If odors are still present after a professional cleaning, this could be a sign of a more significant underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Many times, it is mildew growth at the layer of the carpet padding or other spills/accidents that have penetrated deep in the padding.
– Wrinkles and large tears that are not repairable
Some small areas of carpet with holes or minor tears are often easily fixable. However, carpet that has large tears or shows signs of wrinkles or waves are often beyond repair.
The TruRinse Approach
Regular carpet cleaning and maintenance is important for preventing unnecessary damage to your home and health. It is recommended that your carpet be cleaned at least once per year, more often in areas where there is high foot traffic or when you need help removing the toughest of stains.
The professional carpet technicians at TruRinse use a state-of-the-art cleaning wand with powerful suction and a truck mount system to steam clean your carpets. This powerful suction takes out the moisture from your carpet along with all the dirt. Keeping the moisture from traveling down to the base of the carpet and the carpet pad and taking out as much moisture as we allow for a faster drying time of hours, not days. It is important to note that this process prevents moisture from getting into the pad; however, it does not clean the padding underneath. If there are spots or spills coming from the padding, the padding is best taken care of by replacing it.
Book an appointment at trurinse.com/book or call us at (801) 226-6827 and let TruRinse handle your carpet cleaning needs. Satisfaction is guaranteed. You can also check out our monthly special here.
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