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A crunchy carpet that sounds like plastic is far from the comfort you expect and deserve. You want to get to the root of the issue as soon as possible to prevent future damage and get your carpet back to its plush, soft feel.
Carpet sounds like plastic when:
- There is a leftover residue from cleaning solutions
- Heavy traffic compounds the carpet fibers
- Vacuums and other cleaning tools aren’t working properly
- Spills and other messes are not cleaned properly
- Dealing with higher levels of humidity
With most of these issues, you can call a reputable carpet cleaner to address the problem quickly and without stress, but you should understand what you are dealing with so you can prevent the problem in the future.
Table of Contents
Reasons Your Carpet Sounds Like Plastic
The reasons your carpet sounds like plastic usually derive from insufficient cleaning methods or tools, but there are a few instances when habit or environment creates that crunchy sound.
Keep reading to understand how these issues lead to plastic carpet sounds.
Residue from Carpet Cleaners
Most traditional carpet cleaning methods use soaps or detergents to help pull up dirt and grime from the fibers of the carpet.
These surfactants work similarly to shampoo by bonding to the unwanted material, so it’s easier to pull it up.
You mix them with hot water in a carpet cleaning machine, and the machine uses high pressure to push them deep into the carpet. You then pass over the area again to pull up the cleaner along with any mess it has bonded to.
Sometimes the cleaning solution is not sufficiently removed from the carpet. This can happen if it is used at an unbalanced ratio or if it was not properly rinsed.
Think back to the shampoo analogy. If you left shampoo in your hair without rinsing, you would end up with hard and crunchy strands on your head.
This happens to carpet fibers, and you’ll need to remove the residue before you can return the carpet to normal. Even if the sound and feel does not bother you, the residue will attract dirt and grime, and your carpet will get dirtier with time.
Foot Traffic Compounding Carpet Fibers
You end up with more dirt and debris where you walk the most on your carpet. This gets worse when you have more people in the home, especially small children and pets.
On top of the mess, high traffic compresses areas of the carpet, and dirt pushes deeper into the carpet through to the padding.
Not only is your carpet going to feel crunchy, but the padding underneath contributes to the plastic sound.
You can address this issue by increasing the frequency of your cleaning and finding a better way to distribute traffic.
Insufficient Cleaning Tools
To prevent these issues, you need high-quality tools to keep your floor clean. A vacuum with insufficient suction will not keep the dirt up out of the carpet fibers.
The same is true for most consumer-grade carpet cleaners that struggle to pull up commercial cleaners.
If you did not have issues with your carpet sounding like plastic before, it might be time to look at your cleaning tools to make sure they are up to par.
Uncleaned Spills
Your carpet sufferers from any uncleaned mess, but spills are a major culprit for plastic sounds.
It’s more difficult to notice an accidental spill, particularly with darker carpet. Unless you were there when it happened, you may not find it until it causes issues such as:
- Increased fiber compression
- Discoloration
- Crunchy plastic sounds
Set-in messes are more difficult to clean once they harden in place, and you should approach them with different materials and methods.
Higher Levels of Humidity
Carpets in areas of high humidity suffer from these issues more often. Even if you don’t notice the moisture in the air, even marginal increases can rub against carpet fibers, attracting more dirt and debris.
If you’re dealing with this problem, you’re likely to notice other symptoms, such as mildew.
The fungus thrives in moist, warm environments and is likely to stain affected areas. It also has a distinct smell to announce its presence.
It’s important to make sure you address the moisture and any other issues it causes to protect your carpet and home health.
Solutions for Carpet that Sounds Like Plastic
Once you determine the cause of your carpet’s plastic sound, you need to respond accordingly. The most effective methods include:
- Recruiting the help of professional cleaners
- Adding an area rug and/or redirecting heavy foot traffic
- Servicing or upgrading your carpet cleaning tools
- Tending to spills as soon as you notice them
- Dehumidifying your home
While professional cleaning is the best way to respond to the issue, you cannot go wrong by implementing other measures that address the problem.
Professional Cleaning
With leftover residue, you’re best off contacting a professional cleaner.
Your first response may be to pass over the carpet with water again to remove any of the residue, but this is likely to over-saturate the carpet and padding.
This leads to issues like mold and even structure damage, both of which take more effort and funds to repair.
A professional cleaner can also help you address any other issues that cause plastic sounds from your carpet, and they can provide expert advice to help you prevent problems in the future.
Adding an Area Rug and Redirecting Traffic
If you have areas of high traffic, consider adding an area rug to diminish the negative effects. Area rugs designed to sit on top of carpet better distribute weight and pressure while protecting the carpet and padding from dirt and debris.
An area rug is also much easier to clean than a carpet, and you don’t need to worry about damage to the padding or floor underneath. If it comes down to it, replacing an area rug is less stressful, costly, and difficult than replacing the affected part of the carpet.
If this is not an option due to style, space, or finances, you can rearrange the room to redirect traffic to other areas.
Make sure you keep up with cleaning any high-traffic areas to keep those fibers from compressing. Once the issue sets in, it becomes much more difficult to remove dirt from the area.
Tending to Vacuum and Other Cleaning Tools
Clean your vacuum filters after every use to ensure you get the best suction possible from your machine. It’s best to have at least two sets on hand so you can swap them out while the other dries.
Vacuums use brush rolls to turn up dirt and debris from the fibers of the carpet, and they are important if you have pets in the home.
These wear out over time, and eventually they’ll be more successful at pushing debris into the carpet than picking it up.
Clean your brush roll often to prevent it from going out sooner, and aim to replace it every year or two.
It’s also worth it to take your vacuum and other carpet cleaning tools in for service regularly to prevent any issues from popping up.
Addressing Soil and Spills
When dealing with set-in spills, you need to vacuum up over the area first to remove any dry material that would impede cleaning solutions.
Warm water and soap can help break down some materials in the spill, but you need to soak up as much of the solution as possible to prevent the residue issue.
The best way to address any set-in stains is with the help of a professional cleaner. They have access to tools better suited to penetrate carpet fibers and remove as much of the stain as possible.
Dehumidifying Your Home
If you notice mold or mildew, you need to contact a professional to ensure the damage does not affect your carpet padding or cause any structural issues.
Once you remove the moisture from the carpet, find a way to lower the humidity levels in your home. Plants work well as natural dehumidifiers and decor, but you can purchase dehumidifying technology if they aren’t your style.
Final Thoughts
The plastic sound from the carpet often comes from improper cleaning or maintenance habits, and once you discover the cause, you can adjust routines or the environment to prevent the issue.
Hiring a professional cleaner is recommended for routine maintenance, and they can help you keep your carpet plus and comfortable for years to come.