Kids spilling their drinks, puppies having accidents, and mud getting trampled through the house are just some of the ways carpeting can really take a beating. It is no secret that keeping your carpet areas clean can be a big job. Maybe that’s why most homeowners put it off for so long.
However, consistent cleaning not only helps keep your carpet looking great, but it can also extend the life of your carpeting. High-traffic areas can be brought back to life and even area rugs can be kept in tip-top shape with frequent cleanings. Here are some tips on how to keep things clean – especially in between professional cleanings.
#1: Vacuum.
Vacuuming three times a week is important. This ensures that loose particles of dirt on the carpet’s surface will not be further rubbed into and ground into the fabric. If you have pets that shed, it is especially important for you to keep your carpet vacuumed regularly.
#2: Clean spills immediately.
Uh-oh – little Johnny spilled his orange juice all over the living room carpet. Clean it up immediately, rather than letting it sit there for an extended amount of time. This can cause damage to the carpet’s fabric and could stain and cause an unsightly appearance.
#3: Stay on top of professional cleaning.
We recommend having your carpet professionally cleaned twice a year. If you or someone in your home has allergies, it is a good idea to have it cleaned even more often than that, as carpet fabric can collect dust and allergens.
Anatomy of a Carpet
Carpet manufacturers are always finding new ways to make carpeting more comfortable – and more durable. But new advances in technology usually only concentrate on the look, design, and feel of the carpet fibers. But a carpeting system goes way beyond what you can see with your eyes.
The backing of the carpet, the carpet pad, and the subfloor underneath all must be considered when cleaning the carpet. If your professional cleaning frequency is between 12 to 18 months, the dirt, debris, and airborne particles will work its way deep into the backing and pad.
You can’t (or shouldn’t!) rip up the carpeting to see for yourself, but you can look under an area rug on hard surfaces to see our point. If it’s been some time since your last rug cleaning, lift it up and you’ll see what we’re talking about: Dust! But you can’t just lift up your carpeting to get a deep-down cleaning.
That’s why it’s important to clean often to prevent those particulates from working their way down. Vacuuming often will help combat that problem, but what about major messes, such as animal accidents or spilled wine? For stains like these, you may need to rent a steam cleaner.
When you steam clean a carpet, however, water will be left behind. Even the best steam carpet cleaner can’t suck up all the water that’s been put on the carpet. In small doses, the amount of water is minimal. But if you plan to clean the whole house that way, you may be doing more harm than good.
Steam cleaning methods also use cleaning solutions that leave behind a soapy residue on the carpet, too. This can leave your carpet feeling “crunch” underfoot or leave a faint, but odd, smell in the air. If too much water is left behind, mold and mildew can be a problem.
Clean With The Pros
Our experienced team at Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning understands that carpet cleaning is important for air quality and the overall health and wellbeing of your home. We use eco-friendly, all-natural cleaning products that are safe for children and pets. And, we have a unique low moisture method of cleaning that dries in only an hour.
Those carpet cleaning tanker trucks you see around town? They use around 100 gallons of water for a 1,000 square foot home. Our low-moisture method only uses three gallons of water! That means you will be back in your living space in no time at all.
If your cleaning schedule leaves something to be desired, make sure to call a professional. Contact Heaven’s Best today for a free estimate or to learn more about our low-moisture process. In addition to whole-home cleanings, we also do spot cleaning, minor carpet repairs, and cleaning hard surfaces such as hardwoods and tile.
