How to Properly Clean Your Carpet!

We like to think that we keep our carpets pretty clean just by vacuuming every so often and clean stains as soon as they happen. The truth is that almost all carpets require you to professionally steam your carpet, ideally, once a year. Vacuuming is not enough. Neither is steaming carpets yourself. Professional steaming is the only thing that will actually deeply clean your carpet and also improve your indoor air quality. If you don’t clean your flooring and drapes, as well as ventilate your home often enough, the quality of the indoor air can actually be worse than that of the outdoor air.

 

How often should you get your carpet cleaned?

We recommend having your carpet steamed every six months, and every four to six weeks if you have pets. Even if you chose to only get it done once a year, it is necessary to get it professionally cleaned. Only steam can effectively lift dust from deep within your carpet. If left there, it will wear down and rip the carpet’s fibres. Only professional machines can truly zap all the steam’s moisture from the carpet when you’re done cleaning. The results of trying to do it yourself can make things way worse. If you don’t remove the moisture properly after you’re done, it can result in mould patches growing in your carpet, which you might not even notice until you have your carpet removed.

 

How to properly vacuum in between steams!

Vacuuming remains the easiest way to keep carpets clean between steams. We recommend once per week to keep those abrasive dust particles out of carpet fibres. Do it more frequently in high-traffic areas or if you have pets. Area rugs vary in their care instruction, so check yours for its ideal cleaning schedule. Generally, you should vacuum rugs with the same frequency as carpets, then deep-clean them every six months with a good old fashioned broom-beating. Take rugs outside, shake them out, beat them with an actual broom, and let them air outside for a day. Many area rugs can also be steam cleaned. If yours allows, you might steam it once per year. One other thing to know about vacuuming your carpet is that you should do it slowly. One of the most common errors people make when vacuuming is that they do it too fast. Vacuuming slowly allows a vacuum cleaner to do its best work by vibrating carpet fibres and containing dust in the vacuum.

 

How can you keep your carpet looking nice longer?

If you stain your carpet, then blot the spill immediately. Rubbing a stain will just spread it around and can even distort the carpet’s pile or fluffy shape. If you wait to clean a stain, it lets moisture seep deeper. Spray carpet cleaner on a cloth and dab the stain, working from the outside to its center. Rinse with a clean cloth the same way, and then blot dry. To absorb leftover moisture, pile on a stack of paper towels and place a heavy pot or vase on top. Leaving it there overnight will ensure all wetness is fully eliminated.

 

Taking proper care of your carpet will keep it looking nice longer. You can keep a rug for a lifetime, if you keep it clean. While carpet lifespans vary depending on quality, some well-made carpets are made to last up to 15 years if kept dust-free. To prevent dust build-up in the first place, choose a low pile. This means picking a carpet or area rug with short fibres (high layers of fluff or shag will trap more dust and debris). Natural, durable materials like wool instead of synthetic ones like nylon. All of this, plus getting your carpet professionally steamed will extend its life and make you home more comfortable!