Carpet Maintenance Tips
Regular maintenance will keep your carpets looking your best, and it can also extend their lifespan. In addition to regular vacuuming, carpets need occasional deep cleaning. Whether you rent a steam cleaner or hire professionals to shampoo them, deep cleaning removes the dust and dirt that get trapped down in the fibers of your carpet.
In addition to these regular chores, however, there are a number of things that can freshen your carpets and keep them looking their best. Here are some tips and tricks for maintaining pristine carpeting:
- Reduce wear and tear in high-traffic areas by placing rugs over the carpet in these areas and moving furniture from time to time to change traffic flow patterns.
- Hold a steam iron over flattened carpet to pull the fiber up.
- Place an ice cube in indentations left in the carpet by furniture, then let it melt. It'll help the carpet fibers fill out and rise again.
- Sprinkle salt on your carpet before vacuuming. Let sit for an hour. The result will be a brighter finished carpet when the vacuuming is done.
- Treat stains immediately. The longer they sit, the more likely they are to become permanent.
- Sponge club soda on carpet to remove most fresh stains.
- Never scrub at carpet stains or spills. Always blot instead.
- Spilled grease or oils can be absorbed by cornmeal or baking soda. Leave overnight and vacuum.
- Shave off burn markets on pile carpets.
- Test all cleaning solutions in an inconspicuous area.
- Be careful not to use too much shampoo or water when deep cleaning. Detergent residue left behind can dull and damage carpet fibers, and too much water can cause shrinkage or mold growth.
- Never try to steam-clean silk carpeting. If you're lucky enough to have such a luxurious carpet, have it professionally dry cleaned.
Maintaining a carpet is really not as tricky as it seems. The main things to remember are to do regular cleanings frequently, treat spots and stains quickly and use the gentlest cleaning techniques at your disposal so as not to do more harm than good.
