The Ultimate Guide To Carpet Care And Maintenance
Carpets: a prized fixture in every home, and one that doesn’t get much of the attention it deserves.
28/02/2023
Most homeowners lay carpets in guest rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and the like, then expect them to stay the way they look for the rest of the time. It’s natural to think this way; these fixtures are supposed to withstand constant wear and tear to be of any value.
And carpets can indeed last long. But this only happens when you give it the proper care and maintenance. The things that these are designed for, like spills, dirt, foot traffic, and regular friction, are also the cause of their eventual damage over years of use.
Worn-down carpets are not just ugly. They also become collectors of allergens, pathogens, and other detritus that bring contamination and air pollution. There’s a reason why you don’t let kids just roll around on the floor.
So, what
do you do with a dirty, worn-down carpet? A
repair or replacement is usually in order. These
can get pricey.
Knowing this, you should do
what you can to keep your carpets from getting
thoroughly soiled and frayed. For that, you must
practice regular cleaning and maintenance.
How Should You Take Care Of Your Carpets?
Carpet cleaning should be part of your regular home routine to keep these fixtures fresh and long-lasting. You can work with carpet cleaning service providers to handle this job for you. But if the dirt and damage aren’t that extensive, you can always put in the work yourself.
Here are key steps you should in mind for an effective carpet cleaning and maintenance routine.
1. Vacuum Them Regularly
Carpets provide comfort, insulation, and style to your home. Nowadays, you can find an array of options when it comes to pattern, colour, and texture for them.
But their practical and aesthetic appeal comes at the price of regular upkeep. Fortunately, it’s not that complicated. Start by giving your carpets thorough vacuuming.
Vacuums use suction to eliminate dirt and dust that builds on the surface and some of the inner layers of your carpets. These, combined with friction from foot traffic, wear down the fibres and make them lose their sheen. It also makes them easier to fray, not to mention the hazards they pose to your respiratory health.
To properly vacuum your carpets, make sure to follow these steps:
- Sweep or dust the space around your carpet before vacuuming. Doing so prevents dust from falling on your carpet again.
- While vacuuming your carpet, take your time. Rushing it will only make you miss many spots where dirt and detritus have clumped together. By going slowly, you let the suction power go as deep as it can into the surface and layers, removing as much dirt as possible.
- Learn how to position the vacuum properly. Setting it too low will only create friction between the roller brush, drive belt, and carpets, wearing them down further. If you set the vacuum too high, you can’t pick up dirt at all. The best way to find the perfect height is to first raise the vacuum to the highest setting before switching it on. Then, you lower it until you can feel the device tugging itself forward.
Start with the areas of the carpet that look the most chock-full of dirt. Then, cover the rest. You must make sure you go through every metre of fabric. Professional carpet cleaners use dry or steam cleaning to achieve the same effects.
2. Deal With Stains Immediately
Stains are practically unavoidable. But you can keep them from ruining your carpet if you know what to do once you spot them.
Dealing with a wine or pet stain immediately is the best way to keep your prized carpets in good shape.
The first thing to do is to dab or blot, not scrub, the stain gently with an absorbent wipe or cloth. Rubbing on the site only drives the stain deeper into the carpet fibres, making it harder to remove.
Start from the edges and move toward the middle. This approach helps keep the stain from inadvertently spreading.
From there, slowly add water on the spot, then soak it up with a fresh, dry cloth. Repeat this process until the stain vanishes and all moisture is absorbed.
Note that some stains are harder to remove with regular water. Look up the appropriate cleaning solutions if you encounter them.
3. Use Mats As Buffers Against Constant Foot Traffic
As mentioned before, carpets get a lot of their wear and tear from foot traffic. This is unavoidable since certain areas in the house, such as the living room, doorways, hallways, bedrooms, and kitchen, see a lot of people moving in and out.
If you have carpets in these areas, you can place doormats or other protective matting over them. This protects them from significant dirt, dust, and debris build-up as well as regular friction.
When using mats, make sure to clean them regularly, as well. Otherwise, you only add another layer of dust and dirt on your carpets.
When selecting which mats to use, try getting those with waterproof or walk-off properties for the optimal level of protection. Walk-off mats inside and outside your home can help keep dirt off the carpet.
For a more effective combination, use a coarse mat outside to eliminate soil and other debris, and then a water-absorbent mat inside to soak up moisture.
4. Use Products That Provide Stain Resistance
If you want to keep your carpet in good shape for a long time, consider using protectants. These products contain formulations that prevent liquid and dirt from soaking deep into the carpet fibres. They can also prevent fading when the carpet is subjected to prolonged exposure to sunlight.
You can also use them to protect your carpets from water. This keeps stains easy to remove, as they can’t penetrate deeply into the layers.
Check out your local store and home supply depot for carpet protectants. Make sure to compare brands beforehand to get the best value out of your purchase.
5. Reposition The Furniture
Another key part of maintenance is to rearrange your furniture now and then. You're not always aware of it, but the placement of large objects in a room can affect the flow of foot traffic. It also affects the way sunlight diffuses into a space; the more of it that enters, the quicker your carpets lose their shine.
By rearranging furniture, you ensure that the load or weight on the flooring is evenly distributed. This evens out the wear and tear happening on your carpets, reducing your risk of seeing those sad trails of dull, gutted fabric.
If you need to move heavy furniture or items, use coasters to keep them from rubbing or digging into your carpets. Or work with someone to lift them from one area to another.
6. Limit Exposure To Direct Sunlight
Speaking of sunlight, if you look closely at your carpet, you'll notice that the areas that soak up the most daylight appear more faded than those hidden by furniture.
UV exposure has the power to bleach out the dye in your carpets. It also damages delicate fibres, causing the weave of your carpet to lose shape.
You can keep these from happening by smartly placing blinds or curtains on windows that let in the most daylight at specific times of the day. Furniture placement can also help. Try moving large pieces closer to windows and place centrepieces on them for a more natural look.
7. Set Areas That Are Off-Limits To Shoes
Do you regularly let visitors wear their shoes when they walk inside your home?
Shoe etiquette is a little tricky to manage. It depends so much on cultural norms and everyday expectations. That said, there are times and places when it’s reasonable not to have them inside your abode. You don’t want people leaving dust and mud close to your bedroom, after all.
If it's possible, encourage guests to take off their shoes when they enter your home. You can offer slippers they can wear, instead.
8. Maintain Proper Ventilation
Ventilation is another important thing in maintaining your carpets. Air quality and environmental conditions affect how long these can last and how well they can resist contamination.
You may notice this if you live in an area with large amounts of pollen and dust or a dry climate. These make it very easy for carpets to accumulate dirt. Fortunately, you can control such conditions by installing an air conditioning unit or fans.
If you reside in an area with high humidity, you can buy a dehumidifier to eliminate excess moisture at home. This prevents mould growth while minimizing the wear on your carpet.
Other measures for maintaining proper ventilation in your home include opening windows for fresh air in the morning, cleaning up pet messes regularly, and avoiding smoking indoors.
Keep Your Carpets Safe For The Long Term
Carpets will always be a favoured flooring fixture for many homeowners. They muffle noise, provide comfort, add to the style of a space, and offer insulation. But they can only do these things for the long term when you take care of them well.
These tips should provide you with a good start at taking care of your prized carpets. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts for more information.