Why do old carpet stains come back?

One originates under the fibers of the carpet, in the backing or pad of the carpet. The other originates from the carpet's own fibers. The stains that come to the surface as a result of absorption originate underneath the carpet fibers. Stains that re-emerge due to moisture absorption start below from the carpet itself.

If you've just cleaned a stain or have asked a professional to remove the stain, but then you've returned it after the carpet has dried, the reason is that it absorbs moisture. To give an example of how moisture absorption occurs, let's say you spill a cup of coffee or maybe you find a family pet that accidentally pees on the carpet and you immediately pick up your favorite cleaner and a rag and the stain comes off right away. That seems to be the end, right? Not necessarily. Often, what happens is that the liquid makes its way past the fiber of the carpet, reaches the back of the carpet and, often, even reaches the cushion itself. The stain is now trapped under the surface of the carpet and can be very difficult to remove.

When you clean the carpet fibers, the stain that is trapped underneath will continue to crawl through the carpet over and over again. The other cause of recurring stains is called absorption. What this means is that the original stain has penetrated the fibers of the carpet to the support underneath, and perhaps even to the padding that is under the carpet. This happens with large amounts of liquid and emphasizes the importance of erasing a stain as quickly as possible before it gets soaked.

The reality is that you are not alone. The reappearance of stains is common when cleaning a carpet with a traditional method: soaps, shampoos and a basic rinse. The water will evaporate, but the stain will remain. When stains return as soon as the carpet dries, it's because they absorb moisture. Fast refilling is the result of using an over-the-counter carpet cleaning product or a soapy detergent that has left a residue that is not easily rinsed off the carpet.

The first starts on the pad or on the backing of the carpet, under the carpet fiber, while the other starts in the carpet fiber itself, from the soap residue that has remained. Not many of the carpet cleaners sold at local department stores are intended to remove the stain and keep it out. Cleaning carpets and carpet spills is not difficult, it's just important to know how to do it properly so that stains don't reappear and the carpet stays clean and odor-free. There are a few solutions you can follow to remove contaminants that have found their way onto the carpet backing or pad.

It was at the 1982 Harrogate Flooring Show that EN Carpets, of Danish origin, launched a small selection of tufted rugs to the UK market. When you know that your carpet has been overwatered, you may need to remove it to allow the backing to dry. If the stain is close to the edge of the carpet, you can lift it yourself and leave the floor and the padding underneath dry out. If you've recently cleaned your carpet and it looks like it's getting dirty in a few weeks, it's very likely that the carpet cleaner you chose used a detergent-based carpet cleaner to clean it.

The carpet stain is removed fairly easily, but debris caused by store-bought cleaners or detergents will attract dirt due to their sticky nature. Pull the carpet back, remove the pad, install a new one and clean the back of the carpet.

Marcia Bradfute
Marcia Bradfute

Wannabe web maven. Proud music practitioner. Total coffee advocate. Amateur coffee trailblazer. Wannabe student. Award-winning web trailblazer.