Carpets are a great addition to your home. They provide comfort and even visual appeal to any room.
Over time, carpets can collect dust, allergies, and other unwelcome pollutants though. This pushes many homeowners to wonder: how often should I clean my carpets?
The answer is more complex than you will first imagine. There are many factors that can influence this, including the material and foot traffic.
With some knowledge from professionals and some guidance on carpet cleaning services, you will soon have a game plan to keep your carpets and rugs in perfect shape.
The Importance of Regular Carpet Cleaning
Why is it so important to maintain clean carpets? Threads often catch and conceal a lot of dust and pollen.
Besides reducing the lifetime of your precious pieces, this can influence the air quality in your house. If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, breathing in these particles will be quite problematic for them.
Accumulated dust can gradually damage the fibres as well, giving them an old and worn-out look. If neglected, what once appeared like a soft, opulent carpet could suddenly become a dull piece of fabric.
Professionals advise regular cleaning habits that go beyond simple vacuuming to help avoid this. That is when expert carpet cleaning treatments come in!
Vacuuming vs. Professional Cleaning Services
Daily or weekly maintenance calls for regular vacuuming. It helps maintain the appearance of your carpet and prevents surface dirt from accumulating.
Vacuuming by itself, though, is insufficient to clean your carpets. The underlying dust and stains require more than the cursory brushing of a vacuum cleaner machine.
When it comes to cleaning these textiles, professional carpet cleaning services are quite revolutionary. These services loosen and remove any accumulated dirt your hoover cannot reach.
This technique is effective as it penetrates deep into the carpet fibres using high-powered steam. Steam also eliminates allergens and bacteria, so your weaves will become even more hygienic.
How Often Should Carpets Be Professionally Cleaned?
Every home is unique. However, professionals recommend having your carpets cleaned professionally every 6 to 12 months.
That is just the norm, though. Let us dissect a few important elements that can affect the extent of this period.
Recommendation About Homes With High Foot Traffic
You will want to schedule thorough cleaning more frequently if your living room is always bustling with kids, dogs, and guests walking through this space.
Experts advise regular steam cleaning every six to twelve months. This helps your carpet to remain fresh and increases its lifetime.
Homes with Children and/or Pets
These two groups are well-known for bringing dirt into the home. Additionally, pets shed fur that ends up on carpets.
Thus, homes with young children and furry friends should schedule expert cleaning sessions every six months. Deep carpet cleaning with hot water extraction is ideal for tough stains and the elimination of nasty smells often associated with children and animals.
What About Allergies?
If you or anybody else in your house has allergies, you should give regular cleaning a top priority.
Pollen, dust mites, and other allergens that compromise the respiratory system can be trapped underneath carpet fibres. Therefore, cleaning every six months to a year will greatly enhance the quality of the air in your home.
Less Busy Homes
If you live alone or with a loved one, your floor coverings are likely experiencing a little less foot activity. This signifies that you can schedule a professional cleaning every 18 months or so. In order to control surface dirt, though, be sure you hoover every once in a while.
Signs That It’s Time to Clean Your Carpets
What are the obvious indicators your carpet needs a good cleaning? Several signs point to the need to schedule a session with a professional service.
- Noticeable Stains. Once you notice these discolourations, it’s time to bring in the professionals. This is especially true if these areas are not responding to your usual spot treatments.
- Remains of Odour. Even after you clean your rooms and dispose of any rubbish, you can still find odd smells inside your home due to your carpets. Pet smells or spills can become caught in the fibres. In such cases, it can only be removed with hot water extraction.
- Carpet Maintenance. Deep Cleaning your carpet will help it look more vibrant if it seems dull or faded. Although the dirt trapped in the fibres detracts from its appearance, carpet steam cleaning can revitalise it.
- Rising allergies. Have you lately started coughing or sneezing more often? Your carpet can be hiding accumulated allergens. Steam helps eliminate these and promote indoor air quality.
Carpet Steam Cleaning: DIY vs. Professional
Now some of you are probably wondering, “Can’t I just rent a steam cleaner and do this myself?” Technically, yes. However, you will still need professional cleaning services for a few reasons.
First of all, the equipment the experts use is significantly more effective than any machine that could be rented. Professional-grade steamers guarantee a more thorough clean by penetrating deeper into the carpet fibres.
They also know just how much cleaning agent and water to use. DIY steamers run the risk of causing mildew or mould growth as they can employ more water than necessary. Besides, who has the time to arrange the furniture and spend hours pushing a large machine about the corners of their rooms?
Getting carpet cleaning services offers both valuable expertise and advanced tools. They understand how to remove stains, treat different kinds of carpets, and ensure ideal drying times.
Moreover, most providers can move your furniture for you, which makes this process a lot easier.
Maintaining Your Carpets Between Professional Services
How can you keep your carpets looking fresh between expert treatments once they have been steam-cleaned?
The key is regular vacuuming since it pulls surface debris out of the fibres and keeps it from sinking into it. To that end, consider purchasing a quality hoover with high suction capacity.
You should also handle spills right away. The faster you intervene, the less likely these stains are to remain. For these unanticipated mishaps, make sure to have a solution for spot cleaning nearby.
Moreover, consider periodically shifting your furniture. This can give your carpet an even look and help you avoid occasional wear and tear.
You should also groom your pets routinely to limit the amount of fur caught in your carpet. In addition, use entrance mats in order to minimise the dirt carried in from outside.
Though it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, carpet cleaning is quite necessary for your house upkeep and should not be undervalued. Regular vacuuming and professional carpet cleaning will make your carpets look and feel new.
So next time you ask yourself whether it is time to clean your rugs, keep in mind that a little care goes a long way in extending the lifespan and appearance of your coverings.