All carpets can use a good professional cleaning from time to time. But it’s not always feasible to have your carpets professionally cleaned as much as you’d like, unfortunately. Still, there are plenty of things you can do between professional cleanings to keep your carpet looking great for a long time.
Vacuum regularly
If you can, vacuum at least once a week to keep dirt and debris from embedding deep into the carpet fibers. If a section of your carpet sees more foot traffic than others, you may want to vacuum it even more often.
You’ll also want to keep in mind the type of vacuum you use and how you use it, as that can make a big difference. One of the most important things to look for is setting your vacuum to the proper height. If it’s too low, you can damage the carpet and the vacuum’s roller brush and drive belt. If it’s set too high, it won’t actually pick up the dirt. One sure-fire way to make sure it’s at the proper height is to raise it to the highest setting, turn it on and lower it until you can feel the vacuum trying to tug itself forward.
You also want to clean the vacuum’s filter and bag regularly. A dirty bag, dirt cup, or filter can cut a vacuum’s suction power in half. Replace vacuum bags when they’re three-quarters full.
Treat spills immediately
The longer a stain sits on carpeting, the harder it is to get out. The first step is to soak up any excess liquid with something absorbent, like a sponge or microfiber cloth. Keep doing that until the carpet is as dry as possible. You’ll want to gently blot the fluid up to avoid pressing it down further into the carpeting.
Once you’ve done that, you can add a small amount of water and blot it with a towel. Change towels as often as necessary once they get dirty. Only use a stain removed if you still are having difficulty removing the stain, and make sure to only use one that is approved for the type of carpet you’re trying to clean.
Rearrange your furniture
You know when you finally move that couch after a few months, and you see that indent in the carpet where the couch leg is? Moving around your furniture a few times a year is a great way to help protect your carpet. Moving the furniture will distribute the wear and tear on your carpet, and can prevent items from damaging carpet fibers over time. It can also be a great way to redirect traffic to avoid wearing out specific areas of the flooring.
Don’t Pull Snags
Another great little trick for maintaining carpet health between professional cleanings is to not pull snags on your carpet. If you see one, use a pair of sharp scissors to clip the snag even with the rest of the fibers.
Remove shoes before stepping onto the carpet
Whether you’re having people over, or you’re just trying to get that heavy grocery bag to the kitchen counter before your arms give out, it can be hard to keep shoes off the carpet. It can be hard to monitor, but keeping shoes off the carpet can greatly reduce the amount of dirt, mud, and other debris that ends up in your carpet’s fibers. If you don’t want or think you can, enforce a shoes-off policy at your front door, consider placing a dirt-trapping mat on all the entrances of your house. And, yes, that means even ones leading to decks or patios. This way, dirt will be left outside rather than tracked into your house and potentially onto your carpet. Of course, you’ll have to remember to shake out and/or vacuum those mats regularly.
However, a no-shoes policy isn’t the only foot monitoring you’ll want to do to keep your carpet safe. Walking barefoot across your professionally cleaned carpet can mean the natural oils in your skin can leave an oily residue behind. It can make our carpet look somewhat dirty, or even attract dirt itself. While it might feel nice on your bare feet, walking on the carpet in socks or slippers is the safest bet for keeping your carpet clean.
At Quam’s, we use state-of-the-art equipment, low rotating brushes, less water, and no harsh chemicals. Since we use less water, that equals less drying time. No matter how well you’ve been maintaining your carpet, we can make sure your carpet ends up looking brand new.
If it’s time to clean your floors, contact Quam’s Carpet Cleaning today at 360-513-6627. In addition to a single cleaning, we can also set up a regular maintenance schedule.