Whether you have just installed a new carpet or you have one that’s a few years old, it’s important to take good care of it. The better care you take of your carpet, the longer it will last. These tips are perfect if you have a new carpet and are starting fresh. If you have an older carpet that is in need of some love, you may want to skip to the last tip and get a professional in to do a deep clean of your home. Once it has been restored to a new condition, you can then start employing some of these tips to keep it clean.
Have A No Shoe Policy
Dirt from shoes is one of the biggest enemies of a clean carpet. It doesn’t matter if you have a doormat for guests to wipe their shoes on, they will still trail in dirt and debris from outside. However, the safest policy when it comes to protecting your carpet is to insist that everyone takes their shoes off when they enter.
It’s not only the dirt that can be damaging, but the hard surfaces of shoes will also wear it down faster. Therefore, wearing slippers in the house, or perhaps just socks or bare feet will vastly reduce the damage done to your carpet.
Protect Your Carpet
Rugs can provide great protection to carpets. Use rugs on the highest traffic areas of your home, such as hallways and the living room. However, the rugs will also need to be maintained, but it is much easier to clean and care for a rug than it is for a full-sized carpet.
Protective mats can be used under heavy furniture to protect the carpet from dents. Therefore, chair mats are also a good idea to protect them from leg marks.
Vacuum Regularly
Regular vacuuming is one of the most important things you can do to prolong the life of your carpet. Also, dirt and debris that is not cleaned up will get ground into the carpet and could cause lasting damage.
Depending on the traffic in your house, you should aim to vacuum daily. If this is not possible or not needed due to low traffic, then 2-3 times per week should be sufficient.
It is important to use a vacuum cleaner that is designed for cleaning carpets specifically. Some vacuums are designed for hard floors, such as wood and tile, and these models will not get deep into the fibers. A vacuum cleaner with a motorized beater bar is ideal for cleaning.
Replace Filters And Bags Regularly
It is important that you maintain your vacuum cleaner to keep it working at its best. This means regularly emptying and cleaning, and replacing the bags and filters when needed. If your vacuum is clogged in any way, the suction will suffer and it will not be able to clean your carpet efficiently.
Another issue that comes from not maintaining your vacuum is the smell. If your filter is blocked and needs to be changed or cleaned, it will not be able to absorb any smells that are on it. This is especially important if you have pets in the house.
If your vacuum has changeable bags and it is full, there will be nowhere for the dirt to go and it will just get blown back out onto the carpet, making it worse than it was before.
Use Baking Soda Before You Vacuum
Sprinkling baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming will make your carpets smell fresh and clean. You can buy carpet freshener from the store and use that, but in my experience baking soda works just as well and is a lot cheaper.
Simply sprinkle a layer of baking soda all over the carpet before you vacuum. Leave it for 5-10 minutes and then vacuum as normal. You will notice your carpet now smells a lot fresher.
Deep Clean Several Times A Year
No matter how much you take care of and clean your carpet regularly, it will get to the stage where it needs a deep clean to restore it to its former glory.
You can buy or rent a carpet cleaner to do the job for you. These work with special carpet shampoo that you mix with water. Additionally, go over the whole carpet several times until it is clean, and then use the vacuum setting to suck all the water up.
If the carpet is still damp after using the carpet cleaner it is recommended that you remove the water using paper towels or white cloths. A damp carpet can encourage mold to grow, and that is definitely something that you don’t want on your carpet. If possible, leave the window open overnight to air the carpet and ensure it is completely dry.
If you are unable to deep clean your carpet or are not sure how to go about it, there are carpet cleaning companies that will come in and do it for you.
Deal With Stains Right Away
If anything falls on your carpets, such as food, drink, or animal urine, you need to clean it up immediately. Additionally, the longer the stain is there, the harder it will be to remove.
The first thing to do is to remove anything solid. Then you should use paper towels or white cloth to blot up the stain. Additionally, it is important to blot and not rub to avoid spreading the stain.
If the stain is still visible, sprinkle some baking soda on it, place a book or something similar over it, and leave overnight. Additionally, the baking soda will absorb the stain and then you can vacuum it up the next day.
Get The Professionals Involved
Of course, the easiest way to maintain your carpets is to employ a maid service. These are trained professionals who will regularly clean all areas of your home, without you lifting a finger. Valet Maids can do regular cleaning, deep cleaning, and they can even help you organize your home and do your laundry.
