Wendy’s BlogYour Carpet Is Coughing— Stop Choking It…
Wendy’s Blog
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Too much of a good thing: When cleaners go overboard and carpets and wood floors pay the price...
Everyone wants a fresh-smelling, clean home—but there can be too much of a good thing. Overuse of powders, carpet fresheners, and spray waxes can clog carpets, compromise air quality, and even damage hardwood floors. A recent client visit gave us a textbook case of how well-meaning intentions can create unexpected—and costly—problems.
Fluff, funk and fresheners: The hidden mess that gets on carpets and hard wood floors
Our client, a long-standing customer, had recently lost his wife. Just weeks after her passing, he reached out to us to clean the carpets and upholstery. Despite being a very busy man managing three businesses, he had always prioritized his wife’s comfort and the condition of their home, especially while she dealt with serious health challenges over the years.
Although he employs professional cleaners a couple times a week, this visit was different. Upon arrival, we were introduced to his beloved pug and three non-shedding, long-haired cats. The first sign of trouble? Pet hair—lots of it.
First pets, then polish and powders, this is a cleaning job gone sideways!
Problem #1: Pet Hair Clogging the System
Because our vacuum was being serviced, we initially borrowed the client’s. After discovering the bag was completely full, we emptied it and started cleaning. Still, it filled up with pet hair almost instantly. Once we began extracting the carpets, our truck-mounted system started losing suction—twice. Each time, the filters were completely clogged with hair and debris, forcing us to stop and clean out the system mid-job.
Problem #2: Wood Floors and the Mystery Wax
When we turned our attention to the area rugs, another issue emerged. The finish on the hardwood floors started smearing and reacting badly. Chris investigated and found the likely culprit: a bottle of “shine-restoring luster” sitting innocently on a shelf in the laundry room. Turns out, this product had been liberally applied by the cleaners, and it was now fouling the finish and causing buildup that left visible streaks. Soon, if left unattended it would even get crust and crud sticking to it too.
So seeing this cleaning going sideways we knew we had to have delicate talk while tiptoeing through the fur and floor polish...
We had to tread carefully when discussing these findings with the client, who was understandably distracted by grief and work. Still, we explained the complications—the clogged equipment, the problematic wax buildup, and the impact on his home’s cleanliness and air quality. Although not noticing it yet, the problems were spiraling south and sure to say it all loud, messy and smearily clear!
Thankfully, he appreciated our honesty and agreed to a follow-up visit.
Next, it was dusty discoveries— another mess revealed!
Problem #3: Baking Soda, And Boxes of It!
Just a few weeks later, we returned—this time with stronger equipment, including a pile lifter specifically designed to remove deeply embedded hair. What we discovered shocked even us.
As the machine passed over the carpet, not only did it pull up gobs of hair, but it also stirred up clouds of fine white powder—baking soda. It became clear the cleaners had been using it routinely to “freshen” the carpet.
We showed the client the results and explained how baking soda, although seemingly harmless, clings to carpet fibers, attracts dirt, and lowers indoor air quality. He agreed to leave a note asking the cleaners to stop using it.
In the end, scent, shed and shine didn't mix—our takeaways:
Pet hair was clogging the vacuums and extraction machines despite regular cleaning services
Shine products were creating more harm than good on the wood floors, leading to uneven finishes that were prone to smearing and attracting dirt
Powder piled up from overuse of baking soda, creating visible carpet and air contamination revealed during deep cleaning effotrts
But in the end it was the final flurry that dropped a cloud of chaos while choking on air that convinced us achange in the wind was needed...
After Chris and I saw the work was well under way we went outside to pack up our extra gear. But before loading the vacuum back in the van he wanted to clean out the vacuum. First he dumped its collection cup —which was slam full of hair and baking soda powder (a couple boxes full(! Then telling me to steer clear he turned on the vacuum to blow it out as well- only to get consumed into a cloudy billow of baking soda dust! While it might have been ‘vacuum bag open’ it was surely case closed this should never be rinse and repeat ever again!
We recommended a deeper, restorative carpet cleaning every six months to stay ahead of pet hair buildup and avoid repeat issues. As for the wood floors, we plan to revisit and discuss proper options, from cleaning to refinishing if necessary. We also reminded the client that we offer full wood floor services, from cleaning to sanding and installing new hardwood.
And quietly we said to ourselves, next time the cleaners want to do something special for their customer perhaps they should craft him a toilet paper rosette, fan a favor for his tissue box, or leave a mint under his pillow!
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Too much of a good thing: When cleaners go overboard and carpets and wood floors pay the price...
Everyone wants a fresh-smelling, clean home—but there can be too much of a good thing. Overuse of powders, carpet fresheners, and spray waxes can clog carpets, compromise air quality, and even damage hardwood floors. A recent client visit gave us a textbook case of how well-meaning intentions can create unexpected—and costly—problems.
Fluff, funk and fresheners: The hidden mess that gets on carpets and hard wood floors
Our client, a long-standing customer, had recently lost his wife. Just weeks after her passing, he reached out to us to clean the carpets and upholstery. Despite being a very busy man managing three businesses, he had always prioritized his wife’s comfort and the condition of their home, especially while she dealt with serious health challenges over the years.
Although he employs professional cleaners a couple times a week, this visit was different. Upon arrival, we were introduced to his beloved pug and three non-shedding, long-haired cats. The first sign of trouble? Pet hair—lots of it.
First pets, then polish and powders, this is a cleaning job gone sideways!
Problem #1: Pet Hair Clogging the System
Because our vacuum was being serviced, we initially borrowed the client’s. After discovering the bag was completely full, we emptied it and started cleaning. Still, it filled up with pet hair almost instantly. Once we began extracting the carpets, our truck-mounted system started losing suction—twice. Each time, the filters were completely clogged with hair and debris, forcing us to stop and clean out the system mid-job.
Problem #2: Wood Floors and the Mystery Wax
When we turned our attention to the area rugs, another issue emerged. The finish on the hardwood floors started smearing and reacting badly. Chris investigated and found the likely culprit: a bottle of “shine-restoring luster” sitting innocently on a shelf in the laundry room. Turns out, this product had been liberally applied by the cleaners, and it was now fouling the finish and causing buildup that left visible streaks. Soon, if left unattended it would even get crust and crud sticking to it too.
So seeing this cleaning going sideways we knew we had to have delicate talk while tiptoeing through the fur and floor polish...
We had to tread carefully when discussing these findings with the client, who was understandably distracted by grief and work. Still, we explained the complications—the clogged equipment, the problematic wax buildup, and the impact on his home’s cleanliness and air quality. Although not noticing it yet, the problems were spiraling south and sure to say it all loud, messy and smearily clear!
Thankfully, he appreciated our honesty and agreed to a follow-up visit.
Next, it was dusty discoveries— another mess revealed!
Problem #3: Baking Soda, And Boxes of It!
Just a few weeks later, we returned—this time with stronger equipment, including a pile lifter specifically designed to remove deeply embedded hair. What we discovered shocked even us.
As the machine passed over the carpet, not only did it pull up gobs of hair, but it also stirred up clouds of fine white powder—baking soda. It became clear the cleaners had been using it routinely to “freshen” the carpet.
We showed the client the results and explained how baking soda, although seemingly harmless, clings to carpet fibers, attracts dirt, and lowers indoor air quality. He agreed to leave a note asking the cleaners to stop using it.
In the end, scent, shed and shine didn't mix—our takeaways:
But in the end it was the final flurry that dropped a cloud of chaos while choking on air that convinced us achange in the wind was needed...
After Chris and I saw the work was well under way we went outside to pack up our extra gear. But before loading the vacuum back in the van he wanted to clean out the vacuum. First he dumped its collection cup —which was slam full of hair and baking soda powder (a couple boxes full(! Then telling me to steer clear he turned on the vacuum to blow it out as well- only to get consumed into a cloudy billow of baking soda dust! While it might have been ‘vacuum bag open’ it was surely case closed this should never be rinse and repeat ever again!
We recommended a deeper, restorative carpet cleaning every six months to stay ahead of pet hair buildup and avoid repeat issues. As for the wood floors, we plan to revisit and discuss proper options, from cleaning to refinishing if necessary. We also reminded the client that we offer full wood floor services, from cleaning to sanding and installing new hardwood.
And quietly we said to ourselves, next time the cleaners want to do something special for their customer perhaps they should craft him a toilet paper rosette, fan a favor for his tissue box, or leave a mint under his pillow!
Over exuberance of anything will clog carpets & contaminate floors, give us a call if you need professional help! Call us at 609.953.0472 or CONTACT US ONLINE.