Giving Your Carpet A Longer Life With Professional Carpet Cleaning
Carpets are great additions to the indoor space. First, there is the style they bring. There is a vast range of colours and textures available, enabling the property owner to achieve their unique decor needs. From setting a neutral backdrop, to going with bold colours and patterns that make the carpet the focal point of the space, their impact is undeniable. They even contribute to improving the indoor air quality – as long as the carpet cleaning is done regularly. The fibres of that plush material trap the pollen dust particles and other airborne pollutants within the carpet, compared to the bare hard floors where the particulate matter simply rests on the surface and can easily be kicked up in the air. However, this particulate-retention capacity is not infinite. The more the dirt that the carpet holds, the easier it will be for subsequent particles to be released into the air space when people walk on the carpet – and there will be increasingly higher concentrations involved, putting the health of the occupants in the building at risk.
That warmth and comfort they add to the space also make carpets a highly sought-after flooring material. Whether you’re spreading out a project on the floor, taking a seat or walking around the room, you’ll be much more comfortable doing it on the soft carpet compared to the hard surface floor. The thermal installation is brought about by the material itself, as well as the air spaces between the fibres, which reduce heat loss from the building. This means fibres are also responsible for the cushioning effect with each step that you take – which is also why floors with carpets are a safer option for households with kids or the elderly, by providing a safer space to land on in case of a fall accident. Ever noticed how noise easily bounces off hard floors, such that the home can feel loud with people simply walking about? On the other hand, with carpets the sounds are absorbed, from the foot traffic to even chatter and sounds from the entertainment systems to varying degrees. This ends up creating a quieter space. All these attributes and functionalities of the carpet are on the line if it is not well maintained. The beauty and structural integrity of the carpet is dependent on the quality of carpet cleaning measures that are undertaken.
Threats Your Carpet Faces
- Spills
That morning coffee that accidentally spills on the carpet, the wine that was sloshing in the glass during the dinner date and some of its contents went over the rim and landed on the carpet, kids with their milk and yoghurt making a mess, those who wipe melted chocolate on the carpet, ink drips or cosmetic products like nail polish leaving spots on the floor – these need to be addressed. Depending on the chemical composition of the spill, some can simply cause stains, others can actually corrode the fibres of the carpet, weakening them and compromising the structural integrity of the installation. Note that there is also the risk of mould growth, especially when the liquids soak deeper into the carpet and remain unattended to for long, with the spot remaining wet. When dealing with spills, there needs to be a balance in working with carpet cleaning agents that will chemically break down the stain, without reacting with the carpet itself.
- Foot traffic
As people walk around the premises, they affect the carpet in multiple ways. You can already see the fading and crushed pile in those frequently walked-on sections – which are usually referred to as ‘traffic lanes’. These sections have higher levels of soiling, and more dirt also gets pushed deep into the carpet pile. Having a no-shoes policy can go a long way in protecting the carpet. However, this is not to mean that you walk barefoot on the carpet. It would lead to sweat and body oils getting transferred onto the material – which with this greasy substance in turn being a dirt magnet and trapping more soiling. Instead, have dedicated indoor footwear- such as flipflops or sandals, that are to be worn when in the house. Or at the very least you can walk in socks while on the carpet. Positioning the indoor footwear that the entrance of the household will encourage family members and guests coming in to make the switch.
- Pets
Cats and dogs are notorious for ripping the carpet, scraping the material, and even having urine accidents which can corrode the carpet – and not to mention the pungent odours that develop. Here, each issue has its mode of addressing it. For instance, to minimise the chances of tears and rips, it is recommended that you trim the claws of your furry friend. With the urine stains, ensure that these are cleaned up as soon as possible – with the process having to be thorough to ensure that there are no crystals that are left behind.
- Solar radiation
That sunlight beaming into the household will affect the carpet. Prolonged exposure results in pale and stiff fibres. The fading action is due to the UV arrays converting the water that is in the carpet fibres into hydrogen peroxide. The effect from UV-A rays, which have the longest wavelengths, is gradual. These rays get through the windows, penetrate deep into the carpet fibres and result in the fading, and for white or light fabrics they can turn yellow. UV-B rays on the other hand have shorter wavelengths, and can even bleach the material – but since they don’t penetrate through the window glass, their effects are only seen on the outdoor carpets which are directly exposed to sunlight. Different measures can be taken to protect your carpet from sun damage. For instance, simply keeping the drapes closed limits sun exposure. There are drapes that work with a liner, which enhances the light-blocking ability. For households with old windows, these will need to be replaced since the older windows do not provide adequate UV protection. In case you’re renovating the premises, go for low-emissivity glass, which cuts down the amount of UV radiation getting into the premises. You can also have a fluorocarbon protector applied onto the carpet, as this will help in increasing the protection from the damaging effects of the radiation.
- Furniture
Heavy furniture sets will cause long-term damage, crushing the carpet pile underneath them. To mitigate against this, rearrange the furniture regularly. Doing this also helps deal with the traffic lanes that are forming, evening out the wear effect.
- Colour bleeding
This is caused by multiple things. For instance, when wet area rugs are placed on the carpet, the dyes can get transferred onto it. DIY carpet cleaning mistakes like overwetting the carpet in solution can also cause colour bleeding. This results in the carpet losing its charm and appeal. Speaking of DIY cleaning blunders, issues like overshampooing also lead to more residue remaining in the carpet, causing it to become soiled quickly. Failing to rinse the carpet well is also a common occurrence. Getting the professionals to handle the cleaning is key to prevent damage to the unit, and ensure that you get quality results at the end of the process.
How Long Should You Wait Till The Next Carpet Cleaning
So, you agree that routine cleaning is vital by your carpet – but how often should this be done? There isn’t a fixed rule here. Carpet manufacturers tell the users of their products that they should ensure that it is professionally cleaned at least once or twice a year. The particular frequency is largely determined by the particular situation. Factors to consider include:
- How much traffic the carpet handles on a daily basis
- How many people and pets are in the household
- The kinds of stains on the carpet
- Increased rate of allergic reactions
Waiting until the carpet shows signs of visible soiling – from those dirt particles to where it has become dull and lost its appeal, will have been waiting for too long. The fact is carpets, by their nature, will lock in dirt within the material, which gradually builds up over time. By the time that this dirt is becoming prevalent and hard to ignore, then there will already have been a massive accumulation of soiling and debris within the unit.
In addition to regular carpet cleaning, the carpet will also need to be vacuumed. This is particularly helpful in removing the surface-level dirt and reducing the build-up of debris within the material. Proper vacuuming is part and parcel of carpet maintenance, since the loose particulate matter contributes to the wear witnessed over time.
While taking on the carpet cleaning as a DIY task is a noble challenge, it’s fraught with risks. This can easily go wrong, causing the carpet to get ruined in the process. This includes:
- Using inappropriate products: Carpets come in different materials – including natural and synthetic. These have their unique cleaning requirements. Working with formulations that are incompatible can end up either not delivering the desired results, or even going as far as corroding the fibres of the carpet or bleaching out its dyes. Note that working with agents that weaken the structure of the carpet’s fabrics causes loss of elasticity, as well as that plush texture that you loved the carpet for in the first place.
The training and experience that the professionals come with enables them to ensure that the right procedures have been used when working on the carpet, getting rid of the dirt and stains without ruining the material. This avoids the premature aging that would have been caused by applying the wrong cleaning chemicals
- Using too much water: That attempt to flood the carpet in a bid to flush out the dirt can work against you. Sure, methods like hot water extraction that the professional contractors apply involve the use of plenty of moisture – but there’s a catch. The professionals also have powerful suction gear that removes the heated water being used in the carpet. This enables the unit to dry quickly after the carpet cleaning. On the other hand, the DIYer is likely not to have this high-capacity extraction gear, and end up leaving the carpet soaking wet.
With each passing day that the carpet remains wet, there will be higher chances of mould and mildew growing. Fungi spreading all over the carpet poses health risks to the occupants of the building, as well as putting the structural integrity of the carpet on the line.
Remember that not every carpet can be cleaned with large quantities of water. In fact, a common issue that results from overwetting carpets is the units getting delaminated, where the carpets separate from the backing. There are also cases of colour bleeding, where the dyes of the carpet slowly leach out. These all contribute to reducing the lifespan of your carpet, which is not how you want things playing out. Bringing the professional carpet cleaning team on board ensures that the right procedures are used from the word go.
What about your peace of mind? The carpet cleaning is an involving process, one can take lots of hours of your day. Without the proper skills and equipment to handle the task, things can easily spiral out of control. It is common to find DIYers pausing midway and calling in the professionals to come to complete the job they started, and salvage the situation. It also gets exasperating when you take your time and use up lots of resources to carry out the carpet cleaning, and end up with sub-par results. This can range anywhere from residue remaining in the carpet such that it gets resoiled quickly, stains that refuse to come off, or wick up to the surface a few days later, all through to odours that recur. You end up having to repeat the carpet cleaning, which costs you more in the process. Hiring local carpet cleaning experts enables you to ensure that things go as required, with you getting quality results at the end of the process.
Giving Your Carpet A Longer Life With Professional Carpet Cleaning
