Why Are My Carpets Making a Crunching Sound?

Carpets are supposed to be fluffy, soft, and comfortable. When there is a crunching sound while stepping on your carpets, that comfort and softness vanishes. Not only this, but a crunchy carpet also shortens the lifespan of your carpets. Understanding why your carpets are crunching is the key to preventing it in the future. 

After A Cleaning

The time you’ll most often experience a crunch in your carpets is after a cleaning. There are two main reasons why your carpet is crunching after it has been cleaned. One is when the cleaning isn’t completed correctly. When soaps or chemicals are not completely washed out of the carpet, the excess clings to the carpet and hardens, making the carpets crunch. If the dirt isn’t all picked up or if it’s redeposited from faulty equipment, the dirt will also cling to your carpet fibers. A similar issue can also happen with hard water. Hard water creates a residue with the extra minerals that creates a film over your carpet fibers. The best way to avoid crunchy carpets is to thoroughly rinse out the carpet after cleaning, make sure the equipment is working properly, and use soft water. In these cases, re-rinsing the carpet is the best solution. However, you’ll need to be careful to not use too much water and to change your equipment or strategy if needed. 

The other reason why your carpet might crunch after cleaning is from improper drying techniques. Drying your carpets can be as simple as airing out the room, but moisture that lingers in your carpets can cause an issue. Large areas are tricky to fix. Start with vacuuming the area. If it needs something more, a carpet brush or rake can help with fluffing up your carpets. The easiest fix is to call your professional carpet cleaners to get the best equipment to make your carpets feel the softest they have ever felt.

After A Spill Or Leak

Similar to improper drying after cleaning your carpets, a spill or leak not cleaned up can make your carpets gain a crunchy sound and feeling. Most spills and leaks gather dirt and dust together and bind as they dry. This makes the carpet fibers feel stiff. Because this covers a small space, it can be an easy fix. To remedy carpet stiffness, you’ll need a spray bottle and a hair dryer. Spray the area to soften the carpet fibers and blow the area with the hair dryer to dry the area quickly. While drying, fluff out the carpets with your fingers or a comb. If it needs something a little more intense, gently iron the area of the carpet to loosen up the debris. Before starting, place a damp cloth over the area of the carpet to iron. This will protect your carpets from the heat of the iron.

After An Installation

On the rare occasion that your carpets start crunching after installation, there could be an issue with the production of your carpets or padding or an issue with the installation itself. Carpets that are not correctly stretched mostly cause bubbling or wrinkles in your carpet, but they can also cause a sound that is similar to crunching. Most installers will redo the installation if needed, so be sure to ask. 

In production, most carpet pads are pieces of foam placed together to form a sheet. Sometimes, plastic can get caught in the foam pieces and make a crunching sound after installation. If this is the case, talk to your installer about replacing the foam with the plastic in it.

Over Time

As carpet ages over time, the fibers start to break down. Breaking down and fraying gives your carpets a stiffer texture, which is one that is more crunchy. If it has been a decade or two since you have replaced your carpets, and you are experiencing signs of an aging carpet, it may be time to consider replacing them. It presents a new chance to redecorate your home or switch up your style. Afterwards, be sure to get professional carpet cleaning to smoothly integrate your new carpet into your home. 

One great feature about Lucas Family Carpet Cleaning is that we use low moisture so that your carpets won’t need intense drying measures to keep from getting crunchy. Check out our process to learn more or request a quote to schedule your carpet cleaning.