Carpet is a relatively low-maintenance soft floor surface with many beneficial properties. Some of these benefits include: safe and comfortable soft surfaces, filters to control indoor air pollution, aesthetic color and texture qualities, and convective heat.
However, some consumers find carpets difficult to maintain. By following simple maintenance procedures, the carpet will look great and can be used for years to come. Following are some suggestions to ensure the carpet will last for years to come.
Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!
One of the best maintenance measures consumers can take is to vacuum the carpet regularly. It is important to choose a vacuum cleaner that meets or exceeds the Carpet Institute’s (CRI) Green Label certification program. This certification ensures that the vacuum cleaner has surpassed tests for indoor air quality and safety of use on modern carpets. Believe it or not, there are several popular vacuum cleaners on the market that exert too much force on the carpet, which can cause premature wear. Using the vacuum approved by the CRI Green Label program can allay these concerns. Visit the CRI website to find vacuum cleaners approved by the CRI Green Label. (See the link at the end of the article)
A popular question is how often should you vacuum? To be fair, with a vacuum cleaner approved by the CRI Green Label, the answer is often needed. Factors such as carpet use, pets, children, transitional soil (ie, unpaved driveway or sidewalk leading to the house entrance), and other factors that determine the frequency of vacuuming. A loose rule of thumb is to vacuum a few times a week unless the above factors work. It is not uncommon for some consumers to vacuum once or twice a day to control pet hair and dander. Conversely, if the carpet in a room is rarely or not used, it may make more sense to vacuum just a few times a month. The short answer is not to vacuum too often.
Tackle stains and stains immediately
Modern carpets have an amazing ability to hide dry soil. I noted above that vacuuming often keeps most loose, dry soil in check, but vacuuming won’t fix spills, stains and stains caused by liquids. Fighting liquid stains is a fairly easy task, and the sooner consumers deal with fresh stains, the better. Modern carpets are made of barrier chemicals, but they are not bulletproof. Over time, this antifouling chemical will wear off the carpet and the carpet will not be as stain resistant as new carpets. In addition, some over-the-counter and homemade sanitizers are too harsh on the carpet’s antifouling chemicals, which can damage the chemicals.
The best way to deal with stains, spills and stains is to follow the 3-step method below:
1) Determine the source – try to find the source by sight and smell. Note: If the spill is corrosive or dangerous, do not attempt to clean it yourself. If it’s dangerous or if you’re not sure how to handle the spill, it’s best to call a professional trained in professional carpet cleaning to protect yourself, your family, and your pets. When in doubt, contact the Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification Institute to recommend local professional cleaners. Their toll free number is: (800) 835-4624. Consumers can also access their 24-hour referral service online via the link at the end of this article.
2) Scoop/blotting/extraction-If the amount of spillage is large, using Shop-Vac in “Wet Extraction Mode” makes it easier to remove the large amount. Small spots can be scooped out or patted dry with white cotton terry or microfibre cloth. It is important to use white fabric to absorb ink to ensure that the color does not transfer from the cloth or towel to the carpet.
3) Treat-All spots are divided into 2 basic categories (or sometimes combinations, such as certain types of ink): oily and water-based. Oily spots are caused by fuel, oil, some ink, grease, paint, nail polish, etc. Watery spots are caused by urine, vomit, feces, food and drink, fertilizers, etc. It’s important to base each on their type. Water-based spills, stains and stains should be treated with water-based cleaners and oil bases should be treated with water-based cleaners.
Cleaning carpet
Vacuuming is very effective at removing dry dirt, and spot cleaning is an excellent way to keep the carpet looking good between cleanings. As with any textile (such as clothing), even carpet soiling requires a deeper cleaning system. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the carpet factory recommend frequent cleaning between 3 months and 18 months, depending on use and soil type. As mentioned above, carpets have an amazing ability to hide soil. Hoover Vacuum commissioned a study and found that modern carpets can completely hide 1 pound of soil in a 1 square foot carpet! Over time, if the deep soil is not removed, the carpet “ramp” can become permanently corroded. It’s best to clean your carpet before the grime appears because once it builds up, permanent damage may have occurred.
Which method is best?
There are 5 recognized carpet cleaning methods: hot water extraction (steam cleaning), foam, shampoo, hat and dry powder. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. Hot water extraction is the most popular cleaning method and the only way to rinse carpet fibers. However, under the care of experienced professional and technical personnel, each of these five methods is effective.
Do it yourself or opt for professionals?
For minor stains, spills and stains, consumers can usually use the decontamination technology on the above decontamination website to resolve these issues. However, when cleaning a large area of carpet, whether for maintenance or due to large areas, spills or stains, consumers should consider the following:
1) Do you have to do it yourself? if it is like that,
A species. Should you rent or buy the machine?
Which machine should you use?
C. Are you satisfied with the cleaning?
d Is it worth the lower rent or are you doing it yourself?
2) Should you hire professionals? if it is like that,
A species. Which method should you choose?
Which company should you choose?
C. Are the perceived higher costs worth it compared to renting or buying a machine?
Only you can answer these questions, but please think about it. Typical professional carpet cleaners often attend carpet cleaning courses to keep abreast of new trends, methods, techniques and chemistry; typical professional carpet cleaners can also successfully clean thousands of square feet (or more) of carpet each year. Some professional carpet cleaners have also chosen to become certified companies, which also means that they have agreed to the code of ethics, have insurance and licensing requirements for three-party verification, and if there is a problem, they also have a formal complaints policy drawn up.
By following this guide, your carpet will last longer and look great all year round.