How To Keep Your Carpet In Great Shape

Your new carpet will bring you much satisfaction, but only if you keep it in great shape. Here are a few tips to make your relationship with your carpet a long and happy one.

Routine Maintenance
Regular carpet care and routine maintenance are essential. Over time, normal foot traffic and soiling will cause a change in any carpet’s appearance. Hot water extraction, either alone or in combination with cleaning, is required to maintain some fiber warranties. A trained carpet care professional must perform the service every one and a half to two years to refresh the texture and rejuvenate the fibers in your carpet. You must retain your receipts for proof of maintenance service should a warranty claim arise. Each fiber manufacturer has its own definitions and limitations regarding stain, soil and static resistance. Abnormal matting, crushing or loss of texture retention from normal foot traffic is defined by the standard rating scales and definitions set forth by each fiber manufacturer.

Vacuuming is key
Vacuuming is key to keeping your new carpet young, fresh and beautiful. Dirt and grit will become embedded in the pile where they will affect your carpet’s color and cause matting of the pile. So, you’ll want to vacuum heavy-traffic areas as often as possible – every day if possible. Less heavily used areas can be maintained with once-a-week vacuuming. Vacuum about three passes for light cleaning; up to seven passes where there’s more soil.
For best results, use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or rotating brush with plenty of suction used according to the vacuums manufactures instructions. Make sure you’ve adjusted the attachments to the proper height for your carpet. For loop pile carpet, avoid attachments with teeth or ridges that might catch and pull a loop loose.

Give it a rest
Redistributing the load your carpet bears can lengthen its life. So, rearrange your furniture periodically to give some areas of your carpet a rest.

Spot cleaning
Vacuuming won’t always take care of your carpet cleaning needs. Sometimes, you will need to do a little heavy-duty cleaning to get your carpet looking like new again.
Many different types of carpet cleaners are commercially available, including dry cleaners, spray-on foam cleaners and wet shampoo. Whatever carpet cleaner you use, be sure that it is made exclusively for carpets. Always test a cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet first. Avoid using alkaline soaps, ammonia, or cleaing liquids meant for hard surfaces such as wood or tile. These can damage your carpet. If you need assistance choosing a cleaner, call and ask us which cleaning method is best for your particular fiber and carpet type. Do not use any cleaners that include color brighteners.
When you decide to have your carpet cleaned professionally, choose the carpet cleaner with the same care you’d take in maintaining any major investment. Don’t be afraid to ask your carpet cleaner for a reference and a firm estimate.

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