Carpet Care and Maintenance (Cont.)

Carpet Care and Maintenance

Long Term Care – Deep Cleaning

While vacuuming on a regular basis is essential, consider deep cleaning carpet at least once every twelve to eighteen months.  A professional cleaner may be called or you may wish to do it yourself.  If the choice is to personally clean the carpet, review the manufacturer’s recommendations so that the method used does not void the warranty.

Dry Method – Either absorbent compound, absorbent pad or dry foam method.  These methods are minimum-moisture systems that may be applicable for certain types of floor coverings.

Wet Method – Either shampoo cleaning or hot water extraction method. It is extremely important to not over-wet the carpet.  Over wetting can result in staining materials bleeding through from the backing.  Over wetting may also promote the growth of mold and mildew on the backing or cushion and may result in wrinkling of the carpet.  It is necessary to remove furniture or place plastic or aluminum foil under and around the furniture legs to prevent rust or stains.  Let the carpet dry completely before walking on it. Fans, open windows and moderate room temperatures will speed up the drying process.  The carpet and cushion should be thoroughly dried within 12-24 hours in order to avoid the possible growth of mold and mildew. Be sure that the room is well ventilated with fresh air during and immediately after the cleaning process.

Carpet Care and Maintenance

If your carpet is properly cared for on a regular basis, both soil and wear will be reduced.  Vacuuming won’t wear out a carpet but soil will.  If not removed, dirt and grit will become embedded in the pile resulting in matting and ‘graying’ of the color.  It is essential to vacuum often and on a regular basis using a top quality vacuum cleaner with an efficient dust catching filter to prolong the life of the carpet.  The vacuum cleaner used can help improve indoor air quality while a low quality vacuum may increase the amount of airborne particles.

The following information is take from the Carpet and Rug Institute’s ‘Carpet Owner’s Manual.’

How to Vacuum Your Carpet

Let’s take the light traffic areas first.  You should vacuum non-traffic areas at least once a week.  Areas subject to light traffic should be vacuumed twice weekly with up to 3 passes of the vacuum.  Moderate to heavy traffic areas will require more of your attention and more thorough cleaning or vacuuming.  Thorough meaning at least 5 passes over these areas with your vacuum from 2-5 times per week. Vacuuming slowly can allow the beating and suction action of the vacuum to thoroughly remove embedded particles. Developing frequent and thorough vacuuming habits will help you maintain the beautiful appearance of your carpet and postpone the need for professional cleaning services to restore the color and texture of your carpet.