Complete Carpet Care

Putting new carpet in your home is very expensive so it is very worthwhile to take good care of it. Keeping your carpet clean also keeps the living environment healthy. Regular vacuuming alone does not always ensure that your carpet is clean. There are several different ways to care for your carpet. 

Vacuuming regularly prevents dirt from getting imbedded deep down into the fibers of the carpet, a major reason of carpet damage. While vacuuming your carpet everyday would be ideal to keep carpets in the best shape possible, vacuuming a high traffic area at least twice a week is more realistic. For the best results, vacuum slowly over an area going back and forth and side to side in parallel rows about six to eight strokes if the area gets high traffic. 

But, vacuuming a carpet does not keep it very clean for long. Shampooing a carpet occasionally is necessary to really get carpets clean. To loosen and absorb deep down dirt, spray a shampoo solution onto the carpet. Allow the carpet to dry and then vacuum. A better method of carpet cleaning is steam cleaning. This process uses a liquid-based cleaning agent and a steam-cleaning machine which brings dirt to the carpet’s surface where it is then vacuumed up. 

But, what about getting stains out of carpets? While shampooing and steam cleaning are great ways to clean your dirty carpets, no matter how much you try there is no way of avoiding getting stains on your carpet. As soon as food or something is dropped, spilled, or something tracked into the house, the trick is acting quickly if you want to get the stains out. 

The longer the substance is left on the carpet the more of a chance it has to set in. Blot up any extra liquids as best you can. Never rub the carpet fibers. Rubbing only will cause the carpet fibers to weaken and could create a worn spot. It’s not necessary to use a commercial carpet cleaner, there are also a few home remedies that will work just as well. Blotting club soda on a stain with a clean, dry cloth works wonders. Baking soda and corn starch have been known to remove oil spots. Straight vinegar has also been known to remove chocolate and coffee stains. 

Besides cleaning your carpet, there are also a few simple things that are very important to keep your carpets clean. For one thing make your home a “shoe free” home. Everyone knows that shoes ruin carpets but, what is a surprise to many people is that bare feet also ruin carpets. So, to gain full benefit of a “shoe free” home, make sure to wear socks or slippers in the house. 

Not only should you have a mat by the front door outside the house, also place an entrance mat inside the house by the front door. Make sure that the mat is big enough to allow guests room to come in, wipe their feet, close the door, and take off their shoes. This will remove the larger particles of dirt before anyone enters the home. But, don’t forget to keep both mats clean. 

Remember, the cleaner you keep your carpets, the longer they last.