How to Keep your Carpet Flooring Clean and Hygienic

Putting in carpet flooring is an investment in your home – and not a cheap one either. While carpet is an excellent choice for durability and comfort, it does come with some maintenance if you want to keep it hygienic and looking good over the course of the next several years. 

And let’s face it – carpets get dirty. But if you let them pile up, spills, snags, stains, and everyday wear and tear can leave your carpets looking dingy and worn. Worse – if you don’t maintain them properly and clean them regularly, allergens and other particulates can build up and become a health hazard for you and your family! 

The good news is, with the right cleaning strategy and schedule, you can keep your carpets clean, fresh, and looking good as new!

Vacuum Regularly

The number one thing you can do to keep your carpets clean and fresh is to vacuum them regularly. Ideally, you should be vacuuming your carpets once a week – twice in areas with heavy foot traffic. Dirt and other particulates tracked into your home have abrasive qualities and it can actually erode the backing of your carpet flooring when it’s ground into the carpet by daily foot traffic. 

Luckily for you (and your carpet!) vacuuming the recommended 1-2 times per week can remove up to 75% of the dirt and debris in your carpet and help prevent wear and tear. 

Treat Stains Immediately 

Prevention is obviously the best strategy with spills and carpet, but sometimes life just happens. Especially if you have kids or pets, spills and accidents and stains are just inevitable. But when they do happen, treating them immediately can save you a lot of frustration later. 

When dealing with spills there are two commandments we want you to take to heart:

1. Act Quickly
2. Never Rub – Always Dab

Dab cleaning solution onto the spot immediately because the longer you wait, the more the stain will set and the harder it will be to remove later. Next, blot with a clean cloth or paper towels – gently! This puts a small amount of pressure on the liquid, allowing it to soak up instead of setting in. Try to blot from the outside in to avoid spreading. 

Have the Carpet Cleaned Professionally Once a Year

Even when you vacuum weekly, your carpeting will get dirty over time. Dust, dirt, pet dander, and pollen that are too deep to be reached with the vacuum will start to build up and make your carpet dingy and unhygienic. 

Professional cleaning gets deeper than you can with vacuums – even the fancy ones with steam options. And if you do try a steam deep-clean, PLEASE follow the instructions exactly. When done incorrectly, steam cleaning your own carpets can actually attract more dirt and encourage mold and mildew growth.

The Carpet Center offers multi-step, professional-grade carpet cleaning that deeps cleans your carpet and removes allergens and asthma triggers like dander, dust, and pollen. 

How often you need to have your carpets professionally cleaned depends of several factors: 

• How much foot traffic you have
• Whether you have multiple pets or children 
• If you or someone in your family smokes inside your home
• They type of carpet (shag, for instance, is likely to get dirty much faster)

We recommend deep cleaning every six months to keep your carpet in tip-top condition, but many homes can get by with just an annual cleaning. 

Pro Tips for Staying Tidy Between Cleanings

There are several other small things you can do to help keep your carpet clean between deep cleanings and vacuuming binges. 

1: Get doormats for every entrance

This provides a place for people to wipe their feet before they enter your home – cutting down on the dirt and debris tracking across your carpet in the first place. 

2: Take Your Shoes Off

Another great way to avoid tracking in dirt and allergens is to take your shoes off as soon as you walk in the door. This is a popular custom in many cultures for good reason – think about where your shoes have been! You don’t want that on your floor! You eat potato chips off that floor (five-second rule, no judgment)!  

3: Splurge on a Good Vacuum

Obviously we don’t want you to break the bank, but you should buy the nicest vacuum you can afford. There are excellent options for people with multiple pets, steam options for those juice spills, and vacuums that have special filters to keep allergens from re-entering the air of your home.  

If you have questions about professional carpet cleaning, contact The Carpet Center. We’re happy to come out to your home and give you a free, customized estimate.