Carpet Maintenance Tips

Installing new carpeting in your home is an investment and a responsibility. You've chosen to not only make your home more beautiful and more comfortable, but you've also added to its value and taken steps to decrease your heating and/or cooling expense. As such, it is important that you protect your investment with proper carpet maintenance and care so it continues to add beauty and value to your home for many years.

Carpet Care

Caring for your carpet is easy with the right tools. All you should need to keep your carpet looking beautiful on a daily basis is a vacuum, a good stain remover and a pair of scissors.

Vacuum weekly. Try to vacuum at least once a week to keep dirt and debris from becoming embedded in the carpet fibers. If the area sees a lot of foot traffic, you may need to vacuum more often.

Keep in mind that the type of vacuum you use, as well as how you use it makes a big difference. For instance, you'll want to use the highest setting on the head of your vacuum to avoid damaging the ends of the fibers. Furthermore, your vacuum should have efficient airflow and large wheels as well.

Address spills immediately. The longer a stain sits on carpeting, the harder it is to get out. Remove as much of the spill as possible by scooping or blotting, and then add a small amount of water and blot with a towel. Only use a stain remover if necessary, and only use one that's approved for use with your type of carpeting. Always avoid scrubbing the fibers.

Clip snags. Don't pull them. When you see snags in the carpet, don't pull them. Instead, use a pair of sharp scissors to clip the snag even with the rest of the fibers.

Remove furniture dents. You can remove dents caused by furniture easily by rubbing the edge of a quarter across them to encourage the fibers to stand back up.

Carpet Maintenance

Your carpet is designed to last for many years, but it will not do so without proper carpet maintenance. For the best clean, it's smart to get on a carpet cleaning schedule with a professional carpet cleaning company. These experts have the right equipment and know-how to properly clean and protect your carpeting so it lasts as long as possible. Many carpet manufacturers recommend professional carpet cleaning every 18 to 24 months on average.