Residential and commercial carpet and tile cleaner serving Central Florida

(352) 508-4556

What is carpet wicking and what can be done about it?

What is carpet wicking and what can be done about it?

We often get called to re-clean carpet that has been cleaned and had a stain reappear.  The carpet gets cleaned, looks terrific, and then a few days later, the same stains come back! This can be very frustrating for homeowners, and if your carpet is cleaned correctly, it shouldn't happen.

The majority of the time, the reason for this repeated staining is wick-back. Wick- back is when stains soak to the padding/backing of the carpet. Once the carpet gets wet, the staining materials come up from the pad to the fibers on the surface of the carpet. This occurs with strong stains (coffee or wine) and can occur if the stain is removed, but the carpet takes too long to dry.

A great way to prevent wick-back is with fans. The use of powerful fans helps to create airflow and aid in quickly drying the carpet, which helps prevent wicking. There is also an encapsulate protector that can be applied at the end of the carpet cleaning. This protects from wick-back and helps prevent new stains.

It is essential to realize that some stains do become permanent. Bleach, permanent markers, and many other household items, when spilled onto the carpet, will permanently damage carpet dyes. There are no spotting solutions that will fix dye loss.

If you seem to be having wick-back issues, please contact Gator Clean for assistance in finding the best solution for your home!

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What Your Neighbors Say About Gator Clean

(Translated by Google) Carpet cleaning (Original) Limpieza de alfombras

JESUS LEYTE-VIDAL
July 10, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

Wonderful customer service, professionalism, knowledge, and would highly recommend this company!

M Z
July 9, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

I could not be happier with the service from Gator Clean! From my initial inquiry about tile and grout cleaning to the final results, everything was top-notch. I called them, and to my pleasant surprise, Daniele came out the very next day to give me a quote. She was incredibly fast, friendly, and honest, and we were able to schedule the service immediately. I ended up going with their tile color seal service, and I am absolutely thrilled with how my floors look. The results are fantastic, and the whole experience was so smooth and reliable.

Rosalyn Lax
July 5, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

They were great. I used them to clean my dryer duct. My duct goes up out the 2nd floor and has a right angle and a duct fan. They worked me into their schedule and were professional and proficient. I will definitely call them again.

Stuart King
June 26, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

Amazing experience an attention to detail. On time, affordable, and the crew is awsome an nice. Highly Recommended

Dan Rolen
June 16, 2025

Review from Google

Review from Google

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Gator Clean

Gator Clean is a residential and commercial carpet and tile cleaning company, serving Lake, Sumter, Marion and surrounding counties.

(352) 508-4556

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Normal Business Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am to 7pm
Weekends by appointment