The carpet in your home is a serious investment, and replacing it can be a costly endeavor. So it’s important to take every step you can to extend your carpet’s longevity. The good news is, taking care of your carpets isn’t all that difficult if you know what you’re doing. To help you understand the steps you can take to proactively protect your carpet, the Sams team has prepared this list of helpful tips that will keep your carpet fresh and clean.
Tip #1 – Vacuum at Least Once a Week
Vacuuming is the most effective way to minimize normal wear and tear. Vacuum at least once a week. If you have pets or high traffic areas, more frequent vacuuming may be necessary.
Tip #2 – Leave the Shoes at the Door
Make it a family ritual to take your shoes off when coming inside. When you walk around outside, your shoes pick up soil and residue that will then be transferred onto your carpet. Not wearing your shoes on the carpet will help your carpet stay clean and extend carpet longevity. Besides, who wants to wear shoes at home?
Tip #3 – Shake Up the Living Room
Move your furniture around on a regular basis. Rotating your furniture so that you’re not always walking on the same area will keep an even amount of traffic across your carpet.
Tip #4 – Clean Air = Clean Carpets
Have you ever had your air ducts professionally cleaned? If there is dirt and debris in your air ducts, it will eventually make its way to your carpet where it will then live until the next vacuuming.
Tip #5 – Mats Make a Difference
Use walk off mats at every entry to your home, especially for doors that open directly to carpeting.. They will help get the loose dirt off your shoes before walking on the carpet. Have a more aggressive mat by outside doors to better agitate your shoes and rid them of as much dirt as possible.
Tip #6 – Steam Clean on a Regular Basis
We recommend having your carpets steam cleaned at least once a year by a professional. A fresh water rinse will be applied to your carpet after the cleaning to ensure that there is no sticky residue left over. This will keep your carpet cleaner, longer!
Tip #7 – Use Professional Carpet Cleaning Products
Make sure everything you use on your carpet is made for carpet, especially spot removers. All Sams customers receive a free bottle of our Outta Sight Spotter, which should be used in small amounts to blot stains from the outer edges inward. If you are using an over-the-counter store bought product, we recommend that you test it out in a small, inconspicuous area first. Always make sure your carpets are thoroughly rinsed so there is no residue left behind.
Tip #8 – Apply Protectant to Increase Carpet Longevity
Adding a carpet protectant will help extend the life of your carpet. Sealant-based products will seal the fibers of your carpet so they won’t hold in soil. Your carpet will still get dirty but it will be much easier to clean up.
Tip #9 – Carpet Padding Matters
You probably thought the salesman was padding his own pockets when he sold you on that high quality carpet pad. But a good padding underneath your carpet helps protect it from shock and therefore live longer. Padding is more durable now than it has been in the past so it won’t break down near as easily. Spend the extra. It’s worth it.
Tip #10 – Rugs and Carpet Don’t Mix
We do not recommend putting rugs directly on top of carpet. This can cause the carpet fibers to crush much quickly because you will be putting constant pressure on the carpet. Having rugs on top of carpet could also cause discoloration on the carpet underneath. However, if you want to have a rug on top of carpet for decorative purposes and plan on leaving the rug there indefinitely, then go for it!
Improve Carpet Longevity with the St. Louis Carpet Cleaning Pros
As you can see, there are many things you can do to help extend the life of your carpet. And many of them can be accomplished easily with the help of your friendly neighborhood carpet cleaners, Sams. If you have any questions or concerns about how to care for your carpet, contact us today and we will be happy to help!
