Learn How Often to Clean Carpet and Rugs to Make Them Last

Some rugs are worth millions of dollars. They are considered to be a fine piece of art from antiquity. Ancient rugs that are still with us testify to their quality and craftsmanship.

Carpets are perhaps not quite so famous or desirable but nonetheless they can be very valuable and play an important part in the comfort and style of your home. In fact, your carpet can be a significant investment.

Carpets are subject to significant wear and tear for obvious reasons, so you need to learn how often to clean carpet, and whether that process can add to the wear and tear even more. You will find the answer here as well as excellent advice on how to best maintain the condition of your carpet or rug.

Here’s How Often to Clean Carpet

The answer to the above depends on several factors. First, consider whether anyone in your home suffers from allergies. This is more a practical point related to personal health than the condition of your carpet, but it is nonetheless very important.

Allergens and Your Carpet

Tiny particles that irritate some people who suffer from allergies can settle on your carpet. These include pollen and dust. When you walk on the carpet the particles that have settled there can become airborne again and cause havoc for allergy sufferers.

If you have family suffering like this, you will need to clean your carpets more often. Another contributing factor is how often you already vacuum your carpet. If you do this often it will help keep your carpet in good condition.

Why Vacuum Your Carpet?

Why does vacuuming your carpet help? Small particles that settle on your carpet work their way down into the carpet fibers and as they move with people walking on the carpet it has the effect of abrading the carpet fibers. This wears the carpet out making it look worn and tired.

If you regularly vacuum your carpet, there will be fewer particles and unwanted matter in your carpet that adds to its wear and tear. You will need to vacuum your carpet several times a week.

Do You Have Pets Indoors?

This is a personal choice. Of course, if you do then it stands to reason your pets will bring unwanted hair, fur, and other unclean matter into your home and ultimately into your carpet.

To protect your health and save your home from unwanted odors you will need to nor only vacuum but professionally clean your carpets. Rug cleaning follows the same principles. It is necessary to clean your carpets with a deep clean at least once a year.

Some households that have pets, light-colored carpets and do not take off their shoes indoors may need to clean their carpets more frequently than this if they want to maintain the good condition of their carpets for as long as possible.

Important Cleaning Considerations

So now you know the simple answer to how often to clean your carpet is that you should vacuum it regularly throughout the week and have it deep cleaned, possible professionally, every 12 months or more often depending on your lifestyle.

If you are going to do deep clean your carpet yourself, then here are some important things you need to keep in mind.

Don’t Drown Your Carpet

It is a mistake to over-wet or over-shampoo your carpet. This can lead to a big problem trying to dry your carpet out. Depending on the weather and how long it takes, you can get mildew in the carpet.

Your carpet may smell funny and even shrink when using too much water. Not only that but it may discolor. If you overdo the shampoo, it can be a big challenge to wash the shampoo out of your carpet without over-wetting the carpet.

Professional services are experienced in this and will use the right quantities of water and product for your carpet. Also, some specialist products allow for effective cleaning while using less water.

Make Sure You Move Your Furniture

Whenever possible you should move the furniture off the carpet that you are going to clean. There are lots of benefits to doing this. Your carpet will be thoroughly cleaned and also dry without any marks.

Further, if you don’t move furniture and the base or legs of furniture get wet then this can mark your carpet. This may be another reason why you want to hire a professional carpet cleaner as they will make sure they adhere to best practices.

Of course, all these principles hold true for carpets and rugs. Although cleaning rugs maybe a little simpler depending on their size.

Last Cleaning Tip

It is easy to forget that a lot of dust will first settle on other surfaces before it settles on your carpet. For example, desks and shelves and sideboards are a classic place for dust to accumulate.

Keep these places clean by wiping with a damp cloth so that the dust is not redistributed to the atmosphere and eventually to your carpet. If you keep on top of these surfaces with regular dusting and cleaner there will be a knock-on benefit for the general health of your carpets and rugs.

Carpets and Rugs That Will Last

In this article, you have read about how often to clean carpet and rugs. The advice here is simple. There is much you can do to help your carpet and rugs last for many years to come.

It is a good idea to consider hiring professional cleaning services for your carpet and rug at least once per year. Your carpets and rugs will look better, last longer and your general health will be better.

Besides cleaning advice you can read other excellent articles about your health on this site. For example, how to reduce your stress. Check it out in the health section.