Carpet Cleaning is an important process that involves removing dust, dirt, stains and allergens from the surface of your carpet. It is necessary for a healthy home and to protect the investment in your carpets. Whether you are cleaning your own carpets or employing the services of professional cleaners, it is important to understand what goes into the process.
Keeping your Carpets Clean
Your carpet is probably one of the most used furnishings in your home, and it is subjected to a lot of foot traffic. Over time, this can result in a build-up of dirt and debris that can cause deterioration to your carpet fibers and leave them looking dirty and stained. This can be prevented with regular carpet cleaning and vacuuming.
Stains and Discoloration
Unlike your hardwood floors, which are relatively easy to keep clean, carpets are more difficult to remove stains from. The reason for this is that they have a deeper layer of fibers that are usually resistant to most cleaning solutions.
It is recommended to have your carpets professionally cleaned on a routine basis. This is a good practice for any type of carpet and it will extend the life of your carpets.
The amount of traffic your carpet gets will determine how often you need to have it professionally cleaned. If your carpet receives a lot of foot traffic, it is best to have it cleaned at least once a year. If you have kids or pets, you may want to have it cleaned more frequently.
How to Avoid Carpet Stains
You can prevent most stains by vacuuming regularly. This will help to keep your carpets from getting dingy and stained, which can be a big pain to deal with. Another option is to use baking soda and white vinegar, which are great at absorbing stains without being too harsh.
A specialised carpet brush or a stiff-bristled brush are also very effective at removing stains and keeping your carpets looking clean. Just make sure to test a stain on an unseen part of your carpet first.
How Often You Should Have Your Carpets Cleaned
The frequency of your carpet cleaning depends on several factors, including the amount of traffic it receives and how active your household is. If you have children or pets, you will need to have your carpets cleaned more frequently to keep them looking their best and smelling fresh.
When to Have Your Carpets Cleaned
According to the Carpet Institute, you should have your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year. This will extend the life of your carpets and will ensure they look their best.
If you have very light or very dark carpets, you should consider cleaning them every six months. This will ensure that your carpets are always looking their best and are not dingy and stained.
Using a Spot Cleaner
When you do spot clean your carpet, it is best to use a stronger than normal solution. You can purchase a specific spot cleaner or you can mix your own solution.
Getting your carpets cleaned is a great way to freshen up the entire home. Professional cleaners use a number of methods to remove dirt, stains, and allergens from your rugs.
Preparation
The first thing that you should do before you call a cleaning service is to vacuum your carpets at least twice a week. This helps to prevent a buildup of soil and other contaminants that can affect the cleaning process and damage your rugs. If you have children or pets, you should also increase the frequency of vacuuming.
A professional carpet cleaner will usually start the process by pre-vacuuming your carpets. This helps to prevent the dirt and debris from being ground into the carpet fibers during the steam cleaning process.
They will also spot treat any stains that need to be removed before they begin the actual cleaning. They should be able to tell you the best type of product to use for each particular stain so that it can be removed quickly and easily.
Before the carpet cleaners begin the actual carpet cleaning they will take out all of the furniture from the room to allow for easier access during the carpet cleaning process. This allows for them to move around the furniture and reach all areas of the room that may be hard to reach with a regular vacuum.
Once the carpet cleaners are done with their work they should walk around the entire house to check for any odors left behind in the area. They should also make sure that the carpets are completely dry before leaving the home.
The odors that you may have noticed in the immediate aftermath of your carpet cleaning are normal. These odors are created when certain gases escape from wool fibers as they are being soaked in hot water during the carpet cleaning process.
This gas is released by the wool in the fibers and it is actually a natural smell that many people are accustomed to as it can be found in the air. This odor will dissipate as soon as the carpet is completely dry and the air is able to circulate.
If you have young children or pets that are likely to spill something on your carpets, it is important to clean up the spill immediately. This will help to prevent any stains from setting into the carpets and will also keep your kids and pets from being injured while playing in the area.
Test a carpet cleaner on an inconspicuous part of the carpet before using it to ensure that it is safe for your carpets. This is especially important for carpets that have a lot of traffic or are made from high-end fabrics like wool or silk.
Baking soda and salt is an effective homemade carpet cleaning solution. It can be used as a spot treatment for many different types of stains, including pet odors, food odors, and even paint stains.
The ingredients in this natural formula are powered by plant-based enzymes, making it pH neutral and biodegradable without any VOCs or propellants. It also has a citrus scent that helps to break up stains and smells into their basic elements and is safe for use on natural fibers such as wool.