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Guidelines to Keeping Your Carpet Clean
Submitted by Susan Vanderhust of
Georgia
We all have carpets in our homes,
therefore it’s a given that you’ll be doing some carpet cleaning sooner
or later. Here are ten guidelines to consider in carpet cleaning to make
this task easier and keep your carpets looking good.
1. Clean Your Carpets Often
Clean your carpets regularly and frequently. If you simply take a few
minutes to vacuum your carpets every few days, dirt won’t have time to
grind itself deeper into the pile. As a consequence, you won’t have to
use strong chemical products to get ground-in dirt out. This is better
for the environment, too. You can avoid a big, lengthy cleaning job by
vacuuming frequently and removing spots as soon as you notice them. Dirt
becomes more difficult to lift the longer it is left in carpet. Cleaning
your carpets frequently is also better for the health of your family and
is economical because it extends the life of your carpet.
2. Know Your Carpet Type
If you know what type of carpet you have and what it is made of, you can
choose the right cleaning products and methods. Read any labels and
documentation provided with your carpet as well as the labels on
cleaning products. You could damage your carpet if you use the wrong
product or a stronger solution of a chemical than your carpet can
handle.
3. Choose Your Cleaning Products Carefully
Most commercial carpet cleaning products are safe and will not pose a
threat to your health or impact the environment negatively. However,
some carpet cleaning products do contain toxic chemicals that can be
hazardous to the health of the person using them, other family members,
guests, and pets. Always read the labels of cleaning products carefully
before using them. Use them as directed. Always choose a product with
the least amount of chemicals, and use the weakest solution or mixture
that will get the job done.
Cleaning products specifically formulated for stain and spot removal,
however, often contain the most dangerous and toxic chemicals you can
find in any cleaning products. If you use any of these products, be sure
to follow the manufacturer’s directions and wear gloves. You will also
want to protect your eyes with goggles.
Be sure to avoid all type 4 spot removers. These products contain
tetrachlorethylene, which is extremely toxic to people and pets.
4. Hire A Pro When Necessary
When is it necessary to hire a pro? When you have a big carpet cleaning
job and you don’t want to do it yourself! You may be too busy with work
or family to rent a cleaning machine and spend all day doing your
carpets, or you may feel uncomfortable using a steam cleaning machine
without experience. How can you tell if you’re spraying too much or too
little water into the carpet? How do you get the cleaner out? How can
you make sure the carpets will dry quickly enough to prevent mildew? An
experienced pro will know how to clean your carpets efficiently and you
won’t have to spend time figuring all this out. You will also want to
call a pro when you have a stain that you can’t remove yourself.
Professional carpet cleaners will clean your carpets for a reasonable
fee and give you a guarantee on their work.
5. Install New Carpet Properly
When you have new carpet installed, or install it yourself, be sure it
is installed correctly and that it is the right type for the area. You
want the carpet to be both attractive and functional. A carpet should
accent the décor of the room, make the room more comfortable, and
protect the floor. If the carpet is installed poorly, or if it is the
wrong type of carpet for the area, your maintenance costs will be
higher. You may have to clean your carpet more frequently. Choosing the
correct type of carpet, vacuuming it regularly, and removing spots
promptly will lower your maintenance costs.
Carpet should not be installed in areas where water, chemicals, or
hard-to-clean substances are frequently used and could be spilled.
Kitchens, workshops, copy rooms, lockers, and entrances to buildings are
not good locations for carpets. Cleaning costs would be high in these
areas.
6. Select The Right Underlay
Match the underlay to the type of carpet you are installing. Having the
correct underlay is more important than you might think, as it directly
affects carpet cleaning and longevity. Poor grade underlay will not
cushion the carpet properly and will contribute to wear. It won’t
protect the floor adequately, either. The underlay determines how a
spill soaks into the carpet and how difficult it is to remove stains.
7. Stop The Worst Before It Happens
Stop outside soil from getting on your carpets by placing large outdoor
mats at all entrances. The worst soiling is tracked onto your carpets
from outside. By stopping outside soil from coming in contact with your
carpet, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of chemical cleaners you
will have to use to clean your carpets. Vacuum your outdoor mats every
few days to prevent soil from entering your home. Have family members,
if not visitors, remove their shoes before entering so that they don’t
deposit loose dirt on the carpets.
8. Lay Down Some Rules
You can reduce staining and carpet maintenance by having designated
areas for eating and drinking, especially for children. Have children
stay seated at the table. If you’re really concerned about reducing
staining, don’t let any family member carry soft drinks, coffee, or food
items across the carpet.
9. Act Fast on Spills
Clean up spills immediately and remove any spots as soon as you notice
them. Using the correct spot remover for the stain will help prevent a
stain from becoming permanent or soaking in, and it save you from having
to use a carpet cleaner. Be careful to use the right product for your
carpet and for the stain. If you use the wrong chemicals, you could
damage your carpet or smear the stain and make it spread it further and
deeper into the carpet. Always try clear, cold water first. Blot, don’t
rub, the stain up with a clean, white cloth to remove it. Only use a
stronger cleaning product if water won’t remove the stain.
10. Choose Good Cleaning Tools: Steam Cleaners and Vacuums
Steam and rotary cleaners for carpets are excellent choices because they
use fairly mild products. They can still be misused, however, so be sure
to follow the directions. Be careful not to saturate the carpet with hot
water. It may take a long time to dry and could damage the carpet.
Some cleaners that are supplied with rental machines are highly toxic.
Use them with good ventilation, as you want plenty of fresh air. Follow
the directions to remove as much of the cleaner from the carpet that you
can. Keep children and pets off the newly cleaned carpets until they are
completely dry. A residue is always left on the carpets that can be
harmful to kids or pets. After the carpets are completely dry, vacuum
them to remove residual contaminants.
Daily vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner that has good suction and a power
head with a brush-type roller will help prevent soil buildup. The more
often you vacuum and pick up the dirt before it gets down into your
carpets, the less often you’ll have to use a steam cleaner.
Following these ten guidelines on carpet cleaning will make your life
easier and help you stay on top of keeping your carpet attractive.
Guides to carpet cleaning:
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