21.10.2013
Carpet Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
10 Things You Need to Know About Carpet Cleaning and Maintenance
Whether your carpets are wall to wall or area rugs, they add warmth and a distinctive beauty to your home. You know that a good quality carpet is an investment, and a little TLC will extend its life and keep it looking beautiful for longer.
So if you’re wondering how you can take better care of your carpets, here are ten important things you need to know about carpet cleaning and maintenance.
How often should I vacuum?
Regular vacuuming is one of the most important ways to protect your carpets because it pulls out dirt before it sticks to the fibers. Ideally, high traffic areas should be vacuumed five times a week, and low traffic areas once a week.
What type of vacuum cleaner should I use?
At the very least your vacuum cleaner should have a rotating brush to loosen soil and dirt that may have become embedded in the fiber. Beyond that, it follows that greater suction will result in a cleaner carpet.
How do I remove stains from my carpets?
No matter how much care you take of your carpets, spills do happen. The most important thing is to clean spills and stains quickly, and, whenever possible, before they dry. Here’s how:
Solid materials – scoop them up with a clean spoon or a butter knife.
Liquid stains – apply warm water to the affected area. Blot the moisture with absorbent materials like towels, napkins or cloth. Repeat the process until all traces of the stain are gone.
For stubborn stains, mix liquid detergent with warm water. Repeat the process mentioned above until the stain disappears.
Do not use excessive liquid. If you find you have soaked the carpet, blot the moisture, rather than scrubbing, by placing absorbent materials on the carpet and pressing down heavily until all the water is absorbed.
Ideally treated areas should be allowed to dry naturally. However, if they need to be used immediately, you can use a blow dryer for a quick fix.
What else can I do to prolong the life of the carpet?
Keeping your carpet as clean as possible is one of the best ways to maximize its life. Area rugs placed inside the entrances will collect moisture and dirt from outside, preventing it from being tracked through to the carpet.
Does heavy furniture damage the carpet?
Yes, heavy furniture like a dining table or piano will crush the carpet’s fibers, spoiling that full, fluffy look. Carpet protectors under the legs of furniture will help to ease the pressure.
Does sunlight fade the color of the carpet?
Almost any cloth or fibers exposed to direct sunlight will lose their color. To protect your carpets from sun damage, put curtains or blinds on the windows.
How do you get rid of that new carpet odor?
Ventilation is the key. Use fans to keep the air circulating and if possible, open all windows for 48 to 72 hours. That is usually all it takes, but if it isn’t enough, it may be necessary to call a carpet cleaning professional and discuss the possibility of doing hot water extraction on your carpet.
Also consider hot water extraction if you feel that the new carpet is causing respiratory problems, or allergies such as hives.
How do you clean flood-soaked carpets?
Carpets damaged by flood will usually need to be pulled up by a carpet cleaning professional, in order to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned and dried. Any moisture remaining in the carpet will result in mold.
Carpets that have been soaked in sewer water should be removed and disposed of.
How can I pull up my carpet without stirring up dust?
There’s no doubt that pulling up a carpet can be a dusty business. This is especially important if anyone in your family has allergies. The best way to minimize the dust is to slowly and carefully roll the carpet being removed. The floor should then be thoroughly vacuumed before placing the new carpet down.
How often does my carpet need professional cleaning?
Depending on how heavily the carpet is used, professional cleaning is recommended every 12 months.
Prolonging the life of your carpets is relatively easy if you vacuum regularly and act quickly in the event of those inevitable spills or marks. Annual deep cleaning by a carpet cleaning professional will go even further to keeping your carpet clean and beautiful for years to come.
For professional Carpet Cleaning in Calgary , call Ram Cleaning Services @ (403) 291-1051.