Prevention
There are many steps you can take to prevent your carpet from being damaged by every day use.
1. Select a Quality Pad – pad absorbs the shock of traffic and causes less wear on the carpet backing, extending the life of your carpet.
2. Avoid Dirt – the best way to keep dirt off the carpet is keeping it out of your house. Use walk-off mats outside all entrances and clean them regularly. Take dirty shoes off before entering the home.
3. Reduce Periods of Direct Sunlight – blinds and shades can protect the carpet during periods of direct sunlight.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming regularly is the single most important practice to prolong the life of your carpet! Dirt accumulation in carpet is unavoidable in any household and over time, it can abrade the carpet pile (fibers) as effectively as sandpaper. Vacuuming is the best way to remove these harmful dirt particles from your flooring. Shaw Floors recommends that heavy traffic areas be vacuumed daily and light traffic areas be vacuumed twice weekly!
The best type of vacuum to use is one with a rotating brush (adjustable height) that will agitate the carpet pile and loosen soil. The exception to this is shag, wool, and wool-blend styles that can potentially wrap around the rotating brush and damage the carpet. For these types of carpets, a suction-only vacuum is best. Make sure that your vacuum has the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) seal of approval (SOA). The SOA is the carpet industry’s only scientific program that tests the effectiveness of carpet cleaning products and equipment. Here is a list from CRI of approved vacuums.
Spots and Spills
Accidents are an unavoidable reality of life. It is important that you promptly address any spots and spills on carpet to prevent staining and discoloration. No carpet is stain-proof but many are stain-resistant, allowing time for removal. Check out this handy site from Shaw that addresses specific spills and how to clean them.
Here are some basic guidelines for cleaning spills off carpet:
Scrape – remove any residue by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.
Absorb – for liquid spills, blot repeatedly with paper towels. Always blot, never rub or scrub excessively.
Rinse – use water to rinse out any detergent used during cleaning.
Weight – remove remaining moisture by placing several layers of paper towels over the spot.
Professional Cleaning
Carpet in a typical house should be professionally cleaned every 12-18 months, with busier households on a more frequent professional cleaning schedule. Hot water extraction cleaning is the recommended type of professional cleaning. You can reference the CRI Seal of Approval Program discussed above to ensure that the cleaning products used are appropriate.
How Can We Help?
Do you have additional questions about the maintenance of your carpet? Are you interested in replacing the carpet in your home? Johnson’s Flooring has been in the business of carpet sales and installation for over 68 years, and we are here to help! Contact or visit us in our Clayton, Ohio and Springboro, Ohio flooring stores today!
