Prolonging the Life of Your Carpet
Most of us assume cleaning our carpet by vacuuming it on a semi-regular basis is all it takes to prolong its life.
But what happens when other factors come in to play?
On a daily basis, carpets absorb things like:
- Outside dirt
- Pet hair
- Red wine
- Dust Mites
- Mold
- Bathroom accidents from young children and family pets
Sure, we can try and tackle these issues the moment they occur. But chances are they’ll happen again. And repeated situations like these can quickly shorten the lifespan of your carpet.
Here are some ways to keep your carpet in good condition for as long as possible.
1. Rearrange your furniture
Help your carpet out by “sharing the load.”
Regularly changing the footprint of your furniture layout, will allow your carpet to wear evenly. The rearrangement will help reduce the pile crushing that can occur under the constant weight of furniture.
Moving your furniture around will also prevent the sun from concentrating in one spot.
Minimize direct sunlight
The ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight can fade carpets very quickly.
When you remove furniture from the carpeted area, this is when the damage will be most visible. If you haven’t rearranged your furniture in a while, the sun and constant traffic (footsteps) will damage and fade the area around the furniture.
When you move your furniture, the damage and fading will be a lot more visible. The sunlight’s direct exposure can literally “bake” the carpet fiber, change the texture to brittle and cause it to decompose.
Be sure to have blinds or shades blocking the strongest points of entry for light.
Moving your furniture around will also prevent the sun from being concentrated in one spot. This way, sections that are damaged by the sun will become less visible.
Use aluminum foil when moving heavy furniture
Unless you’re a seasonal bodybuilder or the incredible hulk, chances are, your carpet will endure most of the suffering from the heavy objects you slide across it.
You can easily fix this with a bit of aluminum foil.
Just slide it underneath the furniture’s legs, (shiny side up; the dull side is more slippery), and it should slide across your carpet much easier.
If the item you’re moving is too heavy and you notice the aluminum foil begins to tear, try using a piece of cardboard.
A bonus to using foil is you might save yourself from throwing out your lower back and being out of commision for a week or two.
Shoe free zone
Even if your shoes look as clean as they did on the first day of purchase, they are still carrying a number of “outdoor friends” you do not want to welcome into your home.
Oils, dirt and small insects attach themselves to the bottom of your shoe.
Those same shoes then walk across your brand new white carpet leaving behind debris and causing wear and tear.
Our advice is to turn the carpeted area into a “shoe free zone.”
Use the right doormat
Think of a doormat as your home’s first line of defense against all the debris that may come from wet shoes and boots.
The most important things to consider are the mat’s material and size.
Here are the essentials to look for:
Avoid the “stain removal” product hype
A lot of products on the market “specialize” in removing stains, odors, and spills, but in reality, the stains (or smell) eventually re-appear looking worse than before which can be stressful and frustrating.
Don’t waste your hard earned money on below-average products when for just a few extra dollars you can invest in professional carpet cleaning with top quality products.
Inform yourself on what type of carpet you own (or want to buy)
When purchasing a new carpet, be sure to ask the supplier about the different types of rugs they have available.
Ask questions like “Do you provide materials that have advanced micro technology for higher resistance to stains and mold?” Also be sure to ask yourself how long you want your carpet to last. For example, nylon carpet is known to last longer than polyester fibers.
Whether it’s existing or new, get to know your carpet.
Frequent terms to research on Google are density, fiber, weight, texture, twist, pile, and PAR (Performance, Appearance, Retention) rating.
Don’t forget the vacuum
We’re all familiar with vacuuming, but here are some things you might not know about this helpful little machine:
Get a little help from a robot
If you’re someone who is always on the go and doesn’t have time to vacuum your house regularly, consider getting a carpet robot like the Roomba. Although the robot vacuum isn’t a full replacement for your high powered vacuum cleaner, it beats letting all debris and dirt build up freely on your carpet.
Leave it to the pros
Lastly, it is essential to hire a professional carpet cleaner once a year, or as needed.
The vacuums used for professional steam cleaning will get deeper into the carpet than any household vacuum or cleaning product ever will. Plus a good steam cleaning will help remove deeply impacted dirt.
Hiring a pro will not only extend the life of your investment but keep your carpet looking fresh and new.
Is professional carpet cleaning right for me?
Hopefully, we’ve done our job, and you’re now well informed of what it takes to prolong the life of your carpet.
If you still have a few questions or need more information, we invite you to get in touch with us. We’re one of the best carpet cleaning companies in Scottsdale.