Basic Carpet Care Tips
Basic Carpet Care Tips for all Homeowners! The carpets in our home take a pretty good beating due to normal wear and tear. Carpets are literally “walked all over” every day . There are a myriad of things you can track in from nature that surrounds your home. If there are small children and pets in the home, your carpet is definitely putting in over time. With the right carpet care, you can show that hard working flooring some love and prolong its life for years to come.
Basic Maintenance
Regular vacuuming is the best thing you can do for your carpets. Regular vacuuming will help by keeping the dirt and other particles from getting ground into the carpet. The longer these particles are on your carpet, the more they can wear your carpet down. It is best to vacuum your carpet once weekly at the very least. Many carpet companies suggest a twice weekly vacuuming and more often for high traffic areas such as hallways and stairs. The more frequently you vacuum, the less chance dirt has to embed in the fibers of your carpet.
One of the biggest culprits of dirt on the carpet is from shoes. Consider removing shoes at the door. If you are not a fan of the no shoes rule in your home, it is a good idea to get some good quality floor mats and place them at every entrance. Be sure to have these mats cleaned regularly or they will become a source of dirt and not a help.
Treating Spots
Spots need to be treated as soon as possible. The longer a stain sits in the carpet, the harder it is to remove. Make sure to use the right solution for the type of stain you are treating. There are two important tips for spot removal. One is to make sure you blot, don’t rub and be sure to get the spot completely dry after the stain has been lifted from the carpet. Second is to make sure that you test any spot removal products in an inconspicuous place. We usually recommend a closet or somewhere hidden. To do this, apply a small amount to the unseen area of the floor and blot with a clean white cloth or towel. If any of the carpet color shows up on the towel, the cleaning solution is not safe to use on the carpet. Also check for discoloration on the carpet itself.
Some more spot cleaning tips that are helpful to remember:
-Use a small amount of solution. Do not drown the carpet.
-To reduce the chance of spreading, always work from the outside of the stain in toward the center.
-Vacuum the carpet after the area is dry to re-fluff the fibers.
-Call a professional cleaner if you cannot remove the stain
