Carpet Care Maintenance - The Ultimate Cleaning Guide
While we all love the feeling of freshly installed carpet, it can all come crashing to an agonizing end the minute there’s a spill or the moment you notice a thread out of place.
Never fear! After scouring the Internet for the best suggestions and how-to’s, we’ve compiled the ultimate cleaning guide for carpet care and maintenance.
Regular care and maintenance for carpet shouldn’t require more than a vacuum cleaner and the ability to walk around. Here is what you can expect for daily/weekly carpet care:
- Vacuum regularly with a reliable vacuum cleaner. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing a buildup of gritty particles that can cut carpet fibers. Every few weeks, take a little extra time to clean around baseboards, radiators and other hard-to-reach places.
- Depending on the type of carpet you have, you may want to use a vacuum with a rotating brush, a beater bar, or suction only. Your carpet installation company can probably help you answer this question.
- Remove heavy furniture dents by stroking the dented area with the edge of a coin. You can also use a hair dryer or a steam iron, but be very careful not to touch the carpet with the iron.
For treating your everyday, run-of-the-mill carpet stain or spill, here’s your best plan of attack:
-
Don’t panic, but treat the affected area immediately. The longer the spill sits there, the harder it’ll be to remove the stain. Use water or club soda to help loosen the material if needed.
-
For a food spill, gently remove as much solid material as you can with a spoon or dull knife. You can also add water, a gentle detergent or stain remover (all sparingly if needed. Then, using the highest suction function, vacuum back and forth and add more water to the stain as you go until completely clean.
-
If you need a spot removal solvent, apply several drops to a clean white cloth and blot the carpet in an inconspicuous area. If you notice a change in the carpet color, consult a professional carpet cleaner.
-
If stains remain after cleaning, moisten tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for one hour. Blot and repeat until completely clean.
Some of the most common carpet stains include wine, coffee, and pet stains. So, here are our best suggestions for removing each:
-
Wine - Gently blot the stain with a dry towel. Never rub a stain as this can make it more difficult to remove. You can also try removing the stain with a mixture of water and white vinegar and dish soap. Let the solution soak for 5-10 minutes and then proceed with blotting with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed
-
Coffee Stains - Dry the spot by blotting with a dry white towel. If there is a substantial amount of spillage, make sure you are not spreading the stain even more by changing cloths as they become saturated with the beverage. Try the mixture of vinegar, water, and a gentle, non-bleach detergent first with the spritzer method, rinse, and repeat..
-
Pet Stains - First, clean up the initial mess. If there is debris, remove it, and soak up any excess moisture without smearing or rubbing. Blot repeatedly until the carpet is almost dry to the touch and carpet stain is removed. If the stain has already dried on the carpet, the best way to treat this type of carpet stain is to moisten it. Then apply a carpet stain cleaning product specifically formulated for pet stains. To neutralize the odor and spot, you may need to try several different tactics. Try using white vinegar (you may also substitute white vinegar for white wine) to perform this action. If this fails, try mixing a quart of water with a stain-fighting laundry detergent in a spray bottle, then spray it on the spot. Allow this mixture to soak for a few minutes, then blot, rinse with warm water, and repeat as necessary.
For heavily trafficked carpets and the less frequently required care and maintenance, professional carpet cleaning is a great way to make sure that your carpets look good as new.
-
Keeping traffic and other use factors in mind, consider professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months.
-
For extensive water damage, consult professional cleaners to dry your carpet from the front and back.