7 Ways to Maintain Your Carpet

Proper maintenance is the most important factor in determining the longevity of your carpets. When you invest in a carpet, make sure to provide it minimal maintenance so that it continues to look its best and doesn’t get damaged over time. The following basic tips will help you maintain your carpets in the long term.

1. Vacuum

This is the simplest thing you can do to keep your carpet clean and looking good. Vacuuming the carpet often will also help in extending its life. If you vacuum the carpet regularly using a high quality cleaner, it can help eliminate over 80% of contaminants.

You should vacuum at least once a week to prevent allergens and dust mites from increasing to unhealthy levels. This will also help remove grit that can rub and damage the carpet fibers. If the grit is not removed periodically, it will damage the protective coat and give it a dull look. Make sure that you vacuum against the pile’s natural direction.

2. Hot Water Cleaning & Drying

Your carpet needs more than just weekly vacuuming. The type of cleaning method required is different for different carpet types. Hot water cleaning is recommended for most types of carpets. It involves spraying the carpet with a cleaning solution and treating the stains and spots. Then it is rinsed with hot water that should be sucked using the vacuum. This cleaning method helps in eliminating contaminants and debris from the pile and rinsing off the cleaning solution.

Most of the other cleaning methods leave some residue that can draw more dirt. Some of the left residue may even cause damage to the fibers. It is recommended to clean the carpet at least once a month.

3. Avoid Direct Sunlight

Even when you vacuum and clean your carpet periodically, it is extremely important to avoid direct sunlight on the pile. If this is not possible, you should rotate the carpet every few days. This will help it fade in a more uniform way. Tinting the windows is also an effective way to block out direct sunlight and UV rays. Curtains, blinds and awnings can also help reduce the amount of sunlight entering your home.

4. Professional Cleaning

Your carpet also needs professional cleaning once every 12 months. If you can manage to have it cleaned earlier, it will be better. This will help in getting a deep clean and prevent buildup of soil and dirt. Professional cleaning also helps in maintaining the carpet’s quality and comfort and extend its life.

5. Rotate the Carpet

Make sure your carpet is rotated every two months. The carpets placed in high-traffic area should be rotated even earlier. This will help the carpet get more even wear. Thus, it will not look different in different places, helping you maintain its look and life.

6. Air the Carpet

It is highly likely that moisture can build up on your carpet. This can increase the risk of mold and mildew. Part of your carpet maintenance strategy is also to hang the carpet out once every 6 months. Besides, every time there is contact with moisture you should air the carpet.

Every time you need to beat the carpet, you should use a simpler method of wiping it with a dampened cloth. This can help in removing all the dust on the surface and give a fresher look to the carpet. After wiping you should leave it out to let the moisture evaporate.

7. Clean the Carpet Properly

There is the right way and the wrong way for cleaning up spills on your carpet. If you do it the wrong way, your expensive carpet can get damaged and wear away quickly. You should remove the spillage before it can enter the pile. A basic but important strategy is to clean from the outer edge of the spillage to the center. Excess of it should be scooped up. You can add a little water so that the spill gets soaked. When using an absorbent material, you should use the method of blotting instead of rubbing.

So follow these 7 tips to keep your carpet cleaner and well maintained for longer. Your goal should be to prevent any damage when cleaning while having your carpet look its best for longer.

Author is an interior decor expert and has served hundreds of clients in and around Calgary, helping them make the right choices about Calgary flooring, paint, furnishing or anything else.