If you have carpet in your home, you no doubt know how difficult it is to keep it in good condition. Most of this is due to the wear-and-tear of foot traffic, but a carpeted floor in a particularly crowded house with children and pets can be especially problematic. A good residential carpet cleaning company will work wonders when it comes to keeping your carpet looking its best, but there are also things you can do yourself that will extend its life. Most of these solutions cost next to nothing, so they’re perfect even for a household on a budget.
How Can Residential Carpet Cleaning & Maintenance Benefit You?
Like just about any kind of maintenance in your home, caring for your carpet is mostly about diligently cleaning messes and addressing issues as you see them. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some more specific things you can do to take care of your carpet and make it last. Here are a few things you can do for your carpet right now.
Get A Good Carpet Pad
If you have large area rugs or are installing new carpet, now is the time to get a good carpet pad. A carpet pad adds more give to your carpeted floor and makes it more comfortable to walk on, but it also adds some much-needed protection to your carpet. Without a pad, your carpet is laying on top of hardwood or concrete, which will cause it to wear through much more quickly and be harder to clean. Some carpet companies even require a quality pad for their warranty.
A good carpet pad isn’t hard to come by, and there are plenty of pads on the market for you to choose from. Shop around to find the best pad for your floor, and don’t be afraid to ask your favorite residential carpet cleaning service for recommendations.
Vacuum Regularly
Any home that has any carpeted surfaces should also have a vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming regularly removes dirt and debris and keeps it from becoming embedded in your carpet. You should be vacuuming your carpet at least twice a week, but you’ll want to increase that frequency if you have children and pets. You should also pay closer attention to the high traffic areas such as hallways, your living room and anywhere you regularly entertain guests.
You should also never neglect to maintain your vacuum cleaner. Check the brushes to make sure they are clean, and replace them when they become too worn. You should also be changing out your vacuum cleaner bag when it gets half full if you want it to be at its most efficient.
Groom Your Carpet
Just like your own hair and your pets’ fur, your carpet can and should be groomed if you want it to look its best. Brush your carpet to lift up tufts of fibers so they stand on end, and use scissors to remove any sprouts that won’t come up any other way. Do all of this before vacuuming for best results, and never pull on your carpet fibers as it damages the carpet and lifts it off your floor.
Place Walk Off Mats Inside And Outside Your Home
Few things can make a bigger mess of your carpet than having someone track dirt into your home. To keep this from happening, place walk-off mats outside and inside your home at every entrance and encourage your guests and family to either wipe off their feet or take off their shoes before walking on to your carpet. Many homes already do this during the winter when these mats are arguably the most useful, but they can be used throughout the year to keep your carpet looking its best.
Treat Your Carpet With Stain-And-Soil-Resistant Products
Many carpets are pre-treated with products that help them resist soil and stains, but you can still purchase products on your own if you’re worried about your carpets becoming too stained. While these products obviously won’t keep your carpet from getting dirty if you spill something or track dirt into your home, they do make your carpet easier to clean and prevent stains from setting in. Speak to a residential carpet cleaning company for product recommendations that may be of use for your type of carpet.
Clean Spills As Quickly As Possible
Whenever you spill something onto your carpet that could leave a stain, it is imperative that you clean it up as quickly as possible. There’s not guarantee that you can prevent your carpet from staining if you spill something like red wine or coffee, but most spills and spots can be cleaned if you know how to do so and you address them quickly.
Rotate Your Furniture
Keeping your furniture in one place for too long can be hard on your carpet, especially when everyone’s feet hanging off the edges of chairs and couches, rubbing the carpet in the same places. If you have enough room to do so and your furniture isn’t too heavy, try to rearrange your furniture every six months or so. This will give your carpet pile some relief from the stress that heavy couches, entertainment centers, tables and chairs put on it over time.
Protect Your Carpet When Moving Heavy Furniture
When you move heavy furniture, you no doubt have to drag it across your floor to get it where you want it. Not surprisingly, this is really hard on your carpet. If you have to move something that is too heavy for you to lift off the ground, put down some protection for your carpet, such as a piece of cardboard or plywood. Also, you may want to check with your local hardware store for “furniture sliders.” They come in several sizes, designed to work on a variety of floors, and you can reuse them each time you move. You’ll still have to use a lot of effort to actually move the object, but at least you can avoid putting too much strain on your carpet in the process.
Have Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned At Least Once A Year
Most people wait until their carpets are visibly dirty or stained before they hire a residential carpet cleaning service to fix the problem. This is a big mistake. Not only does it make the actual cleaning process that much harder, it gives dirt, oil and potential allergens a chance to settle into your carpet. An annual, professional cleaning from a good carpet cleaning service will go a long way in keeping your carpet clean and your family healthy, even when your carpet isn’t visibly soiled.
If you are ready for that professional deep-clean, Fresh ‘n Dri is ready for your call. We can be there today! 435-767-1950
