A Rainy Day, Mud and Your Carpet & Floors

As I'm sitting here, I'm thinking about what it's like to live in Franklin, TN as the rain falls down.  I think about my carpet cleaning service and think about the opportunity that comes with rain.

Where most people might dread a rainy day, I have grown to love them!  Not only do they help the greenery in our area start to push out their buds and prepare for Spring, they refresh the areas that have laid stagnant for awhile.   I love seeing the water go from a trickle to a roar at the waterfall by Southwinds Apartment buildings as I drive by on my way to Kroger.   I can't help but smile to notice the flowers slowly starting to perk up and peak out from their winter hiding along the way. 

As much good as I can see with rain, there are also some annoying things that come when it rains here and that is mainly the mud!  Mud in and of itself isn't so bad.  It reminds me of my childhood days playing in mud puddles and trying to convince my childhood friends to eat mud pies.  However, now as an adult with a very carpeted home and hardwood floors, I often lose my patience with mud.  

What is it about mud that, as an adult, I can't stand?
Let's take a look:

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What is in Mud?

As a parent of three very active kids, I can't help but cringe when I think about what might actually be lurking in mud.  One too many times, I've experienced the domino effect of a virus or bacterial outbreak in my home and I diligently work to prevent them these days!  Mud presents a challenge.  Kids are attracted to mud and in these days of high technology and indoor living, I almost want to encourage my kids to get out there and get dirty....but I am a little picky as to where and when they play.

Not all mud is made the same. 

Mud is made of all sorts of things.  Mainly mud is made from the soil and water when it rains.  Within that concoction of loveliness lies little living critters, bacteria and, depending on where you live, could contain toxic elements.   

If you live in a more urban area, mud likely has more pollutants in it than in a more rural area.  Mud, being made with the local runoff water, will collect and harbor whatever has made it's way to it.  Not only that, mud could contain harsh chemicals that have been poured down from above by toxic rain. 

You could argue, mud isn't as safe as it use to be.

It certainly doesn't belong in your home. If it dries and becomes powered, it is more easily moved around in your home (bacteria and all) and can work it's way into your air and air ducts, thereby creating an indoor environmental hazard in your home.

Is Mud always bad?

I suppose if I'm going to tear mud down, I do need to consider that it also has benefits and perhaps build it back up a bit.  

That's only fair right?

Mud has quite a few endearing qualities.  Some of these have actually been harnessed in the past few years!

Here is a list of how mud is actually loved in our society:

1. Mud bath -  Mud has been used for thousands of years at spas all around the world.  Of course, this is a special type of mud.  Mud for spas is frequently created from volcanic ash and spring water. There is even mud that is used by board-certified dermatologist in the medical field. There is even a special mud that has been used to treat arthritis!

2. Mudding - One of the more favored reasons to love mud among many southern truck and jeep owners is mudding. It's loved in this off-road motorsport as a challenge to show off whose driving skills and vehicle can master tyrannical soil. 

3. Mud Wallow - This is just your favorite mud space near your home or other place where you might take the kids to play.  Mud wallows are also favored by large boars or farm animals on a hot day.  You usually find mud wallows in areas that are lower in the ground after a good rain storm.

4. Mud Run - If you're an adventurer and athletic opportunity seeker, you surely have heard of or even have participated in a Mud Run. Mud runs have become increasingly popular over the past several years.  Participants essential run about 3 to 10 miles while having to crawl through mud wallows, mud bogs and climb over obstacles.  When done, it's not uncommon to see muddy faces and bodies with big huge smiles.  It is quite a sight. 

While all these mud qualities do sound awesome, it doesn't change that fact that mud absolutely doesn't have a place in your home. At the end of the day, it's still mud and most of it still harbors things we do not want in our home.

Why Mud and Carpet Do Not Mix:

Mud presents a stain challenge.  In Middle Tennessee, we have a lot of iron and clay in our mud and this creates two issues.  First, the clay like property allows the mud to resist cleaning. It actually will repel water longer than your average everyday dirt stain.  Secondly, the iron in the mud will create a reddish brown stain that will stand out on most carpets.  These two properties combined create for a frustrating challenge!

How to get Mud out of Carpet

The steps to get mud out of your carpet may take a little longer than you think.  Of course, being Franklin's Best Carpet Cleaner, I'd love for you to give me a call!  But, if you are set on solving your soil problem on your own, please for the sake of your carpet, follow these steps:

1. DO NOT TOUCH THE MUD!  Yes, that's right.  Let it dry.  Remember the clay and the iron?  Constrain it's ability to move in your carpet by not providing it any more water to move about.  Let the mud dry first.  You might be tempted to scrub it, I urge you to just let it be.   If you must do something, only blot very gently.  

2. Pick up the large pieces of the dried mud and then get out the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum slowly to remove the maximum amount of mud you can in the first pass.  Then move quickly back and forth and side to side and diagonal in all ways.  This will allow the fibers to move in different directions and the mud to release.  Pass over the mud area at least 17 times. 

3. Once you have removed all the dirt (dried mud) that you can, now you can use a detergent. To get rid of the carpet stains, start by mixing a tsp of dish washing detergent with a cup of water should do the trick.  

4. BLOT the area with a white cloth. You use white so you can see if there is anything left.  Do this until the stain is gone. You may have to use several white towels. 

5. Blot the area dry with paper towels.

6. If you still have mud stains in your carpet, CALL ME.  I'll help you remove the mud stain from your carpet using my professional carpet cleaning equipment and my years of soil and stain removal experience.