9 Ways To Keep Your Carpet Looking Pristine Before Your Next Professional Cleaning Session
You should have your carpet cleaned professionally every 2 to 4 months depending on the foot traffic over it and the amount of exposure to dirt and stains. When you work with a good crew, it really is not that hard to maintain the results of the cleaning session. If you have no idea what to do, here are 9 simple things you can try to ensure that you have as clean of a carpet as you can before your next professional wash.
- A vacuum every other day keeps the nasties away
This one we all know about. Vacuuming or at the very least sweeping your carpet and rugs regularly helps to keep it clean by discouraging accumulation of particulate matter like dust and dander on the carpet.
However, how often you vacuum is not something that is set in stone. If your carpet gets a lot of foot traffic like in common living spaces then you might want to do it every one or two days. If it is somewhere like a rarely used spare room then you can get away with weekly vacuuming.
- Potty train your furry little buddy
One of the commonest causes of a dirty carpet is pet poo and pee. Fortunately, this is something that you can very easily fix by getting your pet potty trained. This will ensure that you do not have to deal with annoying and smelly little accidents on your precious rugs which lead to staining and funky odours. You could also work on training the animal to stay off the carpet in order to reduce other pet-related sources of carpet dirt including shed fur.
- Maybe start using your dining table
Food is another common cause of dirtiness on carpets. Yes, it is super fun to cuddle up on a couch with a sandwich and a nice cold drink and watch some TV. However, it is completely unlikely that you will get to enjoy this luxury without your carpet paying for it. It could be anything from crumbs to liquid spills.
In order to avoid this, consider using your dining table if you have one or your kitchen island space for meals especially if their floors are not carpeted. This helps you minimize the chances of things like grease stains and food particles ruining your carpet cleaning your investment.
- Keep your carpet dry
Water, ironically, is your enemy when you are trying to keep your carpet clean. It forms the perfect environment for things like mould, mildew and carpet pests to thrive. It also forms a base on onto which dust and other particles can easily attach and accumulate making your carpet dirty very soon after cleaning.
The best way to avoid this is by keeping it dry and in this case there are many little changes to at you can make. For example, keep rugs away from sinks and showers. You could also dry your feet after washing up before you step on the carpet in your room. It is these little steps that will spare you a lot of trouble down the line.
- Clean up any messes as soon as they happen
Never let a mess sit on the carpet. Whether it is your cat’s poop or you accidentally spilled some coffee, you need to take care of the problem as soon as it happens. Ignoring messes allows them to get worse especially when there are liquids involved. They will seek deeper into the fabric and bleed further out leaving you with a larger and more difficult to handle stain. Even with professional carpet cleaning this might end up costing you leaving you with permanent stains.
- Aerate the rugs every once in a while
This is a great way to keep small carpets and rugs clean between professional washing sessions. Just take your carpet outside every once in a while after vacuuming it to let fresh air do its job on the time particles that refuse to let go. This is also a great way to get rid of any moisture holding on to the fibres. Finally, it is an awesome and simple way to minimize odours and though not as effective as professional cleaning will definitely keep you going before your next session.
- Invest in an air filter
A lot of the dust, pollen and even hair that settles on the carpet is as a result of indoor air pollution. One of the best ways to deal with this is by investing in an air filter. These trap the airborne particles that would otherwise have settled on your carpet and made it dirty.
- Change the filters regularly
If you already have an air filter, make sure that you change the filters on a regular basis. Failure to do so makes the system ineffective which allows particles back into the air and eventually on the carpet. So make sure to have the filter not only present but functional and regularly maintained as a way of helping to maintain the results of your professional carpet cleaning session.
- Keep the carpet away from direct sources of dirt or stains
One of the biggest culprits in this case is the home fireplace. The ash from wood and from the fire itself forms carbon particles which then settle on the carpet as dust and as dark stains. This will essentially nullify all your efforts to get and keep the carpet clean. Therefore it is best to have it as far away from these as possible. Other sources include shoe racks, pet litter boxes and food prep stations.
It’s time to schedule another carpet cleaning session
All factors considered, professional carpet cleaning is the way to go. They have all the technical abilities as well as equipment and chemicals needed to get your carpet clean and fresh. However, this does not mean that you have no role to play in the general maintenance of the carpet. The 9 tips highlighted above are a great way to play your part to ensure that the carpet does not turn into a filthy mess as you wait for your next scheduled cleaning.
9 Ways To Keep Your Carpet Looking Pristine Before Your Next Professional Cleaning Session
