A dirty, stained carpet can make a pretty bad impression of a home. Depending on where it is, an unsightly stain could be the first thing you see when you walk in the door. Unfortunately, it's easy to make a mistake when cleaning your carpets. Your best intentions of removing a stain could actually lead to ruining your carpet. Here's a look at two of the most common ways people can actually ruin their carpet when attempting to clean it.

Scrubbing A Stain

Many people's first reaction upon spilling something on their carpet is to grab a towel and start scrubbing. But that's actually one of the worst things you can do to clean your carpet. Carpet is made up of many small strands of twisted fiber, and scrubbing them could make them lose their shape. Industry experts know this as "blooming" the carpet. Blooming carpet does indeed look like a blooming plant, with the bottom of the carpet still tight and twisted, but the top open and spread out. Once carpet is bloomed, there's no real way to fix it. Instead of scrubbing, lay a towel over top of a fresh stain and press it down firmly. Your goal is to absorb the stain before it sets in.

Using Chemicals Not Intended For Carpet

When a stain hits the floor, it's natural to just reach for the nearest all-purpose cleaner. But using a cleaner that's not intended for carpet could actually end up ruining it. Many general cleaners are fairly powerful products. They may indeed lift up the stain you're fighting, but they could take the color right off the carpet as well! That's why almost every bottle of cleaner (even carpet cleaners) recommend that you use the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous spot first. Test the cleaner in a corner first, or with a makeup of 50% cleaner and 50% water.

One of the most important things to remember when cleaning your carpet is to be gentle. Remember that you're working with fabric. Don't use harsh chemicals, and don't be overly aggressive when cleaning a stain. Treat your carpet with a little tender care when cleaning it, and you'll have a much better chance of removing the stain you're fighting. Of course, even despite your best efforts, there's still a chance your stain could remain.

If you have a stubborn carpet stain, it's probably best to let a professional carpet cleaning service, like Doug's Rug Spa, do the job. They have the tools and knowledge to clean much more effectively than the average consumer. But you don't have to wait until you have a glaring stain to call in pro help. It's never a bad idea to have your carpets professionally cleaned once or twice a year just to make sure they stay in as good of condition as possible. A properly cleaned carpet can actually help fight off stains in the first place!