Tips to Keep Your Carpet Looking Brand New

2/22/2016 (Permalink)

Carpet.

Carpets can be one of the most difficult things to preserve and keep that clean, brand spanking new look because we walk and put weight on them every day. Regardless of how much we abuse them, there are some precautions you can take to keep your carpets in top shape.

Regular vacuuming is key to preserving your carpets. When dirt and dust get pushed into carpets, they bend, twist and sometimes break the fibers if they aren’t removed. This is what results in that dull dirty look you may see in some spots if you don’t regularly vacuum you carpets. Try to vacuum twice a week in heavy traffic areas and hit the baseboards and any crevices with a brush once a week.

Area rugs and runners can also help keep your carpets clean, especially in high traffic areas. This will minimize soiling and crushing plus cut down on the amount of time you spend vacuuming.

Professional carpet cleaning can breathe new life into old carpets. Routine maintenance is key. Carpets should be professionally steamed cleaned about every 6-12 months to up their life expectancy.  

Cut snags. Snags should be cut immediately with scissors to prevent further damage. Do not vacuum over snags as they may get stuck in the clean and unravel more of the carpet.

Rake dents. Those dents under your couch or other furniture can easily be taken care of. Use a wet rag to saturate the spot where the dent it and gently rake your fingers back and forth. Make sure to do this gently to prevent breakage in the fibers.

Removing stains when they first happen can prevent a lot of frustration later on. Common liquid stains can generally be removed by blotting and dabbing the stain with water at first and then applying a type of carpet stain remover solution. You can always try white apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, shaving cream and grease cutting dish soap lying around the house if you don’t have any chemicals handy.

Last but not least, be more attentive to the types of carpets you are purchasing in the first place! They make carpets with stain repellant which make it had for dirt and stains to stick to the fibers. You can also buy darker carpets with patterns so when stains do show up, it’s much harder to pick them out. 

Follow these tips and your carpets should remain brighter and cleaner for longer.