Got stains on your carpets that just won’t come out? Reached for the bleach, thinking it will get rid of those pesky spots? Stop right there! While bleach is an effective disinfectant and stain remover, combining it with your carpet cleaner is an absolute no-no.
Mixing bleach and carpet cleaner can ruin your carpets and emit toxic fumes. But don’t worry – there are safer ways to get your carpets looking fresh and clean again. Read on to learn why bleach and carpet cleaner don’t mix, plus better alternatives for cleaning carpets.
What is a Carpet Cleaner?
Before getting into why bleach is not the right option, let’s quickly go over what carpet cleaner actually is. Carpet cleaner, also known as carpet shampoo, is a detergent formulated specifically for cleaning carpets and rugs. It’s designed to break down and remove dirt, oil, grease, and other grime that become embedded in carpet fibers over time.
Carpet cleaners come in liquid or powder form. To use it, you mix the cleaner with water in a carpet cleaning machine. As you pass the machine over your carpets, it deposits the cleaning solution deep into the fibers, lifts up the dirt, and suctions up the grimy water.
Benefits of Using Carpet Cleaner
When used properly, carpet cleaner offers a few advantages:
Loosens and removes ground-in dirt and stains – Carpet cleaners contain detergents and solvents that break down stubborn dirt, oil, and grime trapped in your carpets. This allows the particles to be rinsed away.
Brightens carpet appearance – Over time, carpets look dull from built-up soil. Carpet cleaner helps restore vibrancy and color.
Dries quickly – Carpet cleaners are designed to rinse cleanly so carpets dry faster. This minimizes down time before you can walk on your carpets again.
Neutralizes odors – The cleaning agents in carpet cleaner help remove smells from spills, pets, smoke and other sources.
Dangers of Mixing Bleach and Carpet Cleaner
Bleach is a powerful disinfectant and stain remover for hard surfaces like countertops, bathtubs, and toilets. However, using bleach on carpets is not recommended. Here are some major risks if you add bleach to your carpet cleaning solution:
Damages fibers – Bleach is highly alkaline with a very high pH. This can degrade and weaken carpet fibers, causing them to become brittle and fall apart over time.
Alters carpet color – The strong oxidizing agents in bleach can react with dyes in carpeting, leading to fading, spotting or irregular discoloration.
Produces toxic fumes – When bleach interacts with the acids in carpet cleaners, this releases chlorine gas. Inhaling chlorine gas can cause breathing problems, coughing, and burning of the eyes, nose and throat.
Leaves residue – Bleach can be difficult to fully rinse from carpets. Any leftover bleach continues reacting with carpet fibers and can cause ongoing damage.
Health hazards – Chlorine residue on carpets exposed to bleach can irritate skin, trigger allergies and aggravate asthma. Pets who walk on bleached carpets can get sick too.
Better Alternatives to Bleach for Carpet Cleaning
Skip the bleach and use carpet cleaner as directed for best results. But for really stubborn stains and disinfecting, try these safer bleach alternatives instead:
White vinegar – The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down grime and kills bacteria and germs without bleach’s harsh effects.
Hydrogen peroxide – This fizzing disinfectant kills mold and bacteria. Rinse thoroughly so it doesn’t discolor carpets.
Baking soda – Baking soda is a mild abrasive that lifts dirt from carpets. Combine with vinegar for an effective cleaning combo.
Enzymatic cleaner – This breaks down organic-based stains like food, drinks, vomit and pet accidents on carpets.
Oxygen bleach – Sold under brand names like OxiClean, this uses hydrogen peroxide to whiten and disinfect without chlorine.
How to Clean Carpets Without Bleach
Ready to get your carpets clean and fresh without bleach? Here are some tips:
Vacuum thoroughly – Use a vacuum with strong suction to remove surface-level dirt and debris before cleaning. This prevents it from getting wet and re-depositing deeper in the carpet.
Pre-treat stains – Use a non-bleach stain remover formulated for carpets to lift stains before the main cleaning. Apply with a clean cloth and blot stains.
Deep clean with carpet cleaner – Fill your carpet cleaning machine with warm water and carpet cleaning solution only. Work in sections and make overlapping passes for thorough cleaning.
Rinse with plain water – After cleaning with detergent, refill the tank with only warm water to rinse away residue that could attract dirt.
Allow to dry fully – Keep pets and people off damp carpets until completely dry to prevent tracking in dirt or distorting carpet pile.
Spot clean as needed – Treat new stains immediately by blotting with mild dish soap and water. Never rub stains, which can push them deeper into the fibers.
When to Call a Professional Carpet Cleaner
While safe do-it-yourself methods are ideal for routine upkeep, occasionally it’s best to call the pros. Here are signs it’s time to hire professional carpet cleaners:
- You’re unable to remove tough stains and built-up grime on your own
- Your carpets have extensive pet urine damage or foul odors
- It’s been over a year since your last professional carpet cleaning
- Your carpets are in need of deep cleaning prior to a major event or move-in
- You don’t own a carpet cleaning machine or prefer to leave the work to experts
In any of the above cases, look for licensed, insured and bonded carpet cleaning services that use non-toxic, eco-friendly practices. Reputable companies will inspect your carpets first and recommend the best type of cleaning for the issues your carpets face.
Bottom Line
While bleach may seem like the go-to for carpet stains, it should never touch your carpets due to the high risk of damage. Trust carpet cleaner products designed specifically for home carpets, along with non-toxic bleach alternatives, for the best clean without compromise. Your carpets will look fresh, clean and vibrant again – minus the hazards of bleach.