There are lots of good reasons to have carpeting in your home: the variety of beautiful styles and colors; its soft, cozy feeling underfoot; the way it traps dust and pollen to improve indoor air quality; the warmth and comfort it provides in winter; and many others.
For all these reasons the decision to get carpeting in your home may be an easy one – but that doesn’t mean actually having it installed is something to be taken lightly.
Your home’s carpeting is a serious investment. With new carpet averaging at about $5 per square foot (plus installation), the cost of carpeting 1,500 square feet or more of your home will add up fast.
The best way to get the most out of this investment is to take proper care of your home’s carpets to extend their lifespan. The average home’s carpeting needs to be replaced about every 12 years, but by following these tips to extend your carpet’s lifespan, you could get a lot more.
1) Vacuum Your Carpets Often
Undoubtedly the single greatest threat to your carpet’s lifespan is regular dust, dirt, and other everyday contaminants. Regular cleaning with a simple household vacuum – at least once per week, but as often as every day if you have pets, messy kids, or similar dirt-magnets in the house – is one of the most reliable ways to keep your carpet healthy and new.
2) Stop Dirt and Stains Before They Start
As with most things, when it comes to extending the lifespan of your home’s carpeting an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Simple steps like taking shoes off before entering your home (or at least making a habit of wiping your feet) can go a long way.
But it’s not just everyday dust and dirt that can harm your home’s carpet – stains from food and beverages like wine or soda can be a big problem as well. Try to prevent spills and stains by keeping food and drinks in the kitchen, dining room, or other uncarpeted areas in your home.
3) Don’t Wait to Spot Clean
On the subject of stains from food and wine – when one happens, don’t wait to clean it up. Clean up solids and sop up excess liquid immediately before applying spot cleaner like club soda or a commercial spray.
Moving fast to clean up spills will give you the best chance of preventing stains – be ready and able to tackle them ASAP.
4) Change the Flow of Foot Traffic by Rearranging Furniture
Even in the absence of dust and dirt, carpets will wear out over time from the friction of foot traffic. By periodically rearranging the furniture in carpeted rooms (if possible), you can change the pattern of foot traffic to more evenly apply wear. Rearranging furniture will also reduce pile crushing from the legs of tables, sofas, and chairs.
5) Reduce Your Carpet’s Exposure to Direct Sunlight
We all know that sunscreen is good for people due to the long-term effects of UV radiation on the skin. But did you know that the sun can be harmful to your carpets as well? Direct exposure to sunlight through windows, doors, and skylights will fade your carpeting’s colors over time – often unevenly.
Try to reduce the amount of direct sunlight your carpets are exposed to by using curtains, blinds, awnings, window film, or other means of blocking UV radiation.
6) Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner!
When it comes right down to it, if you really want to take the best care possible of your home’s carpeting, sometimes you’re going to need to hire a professional.
Routine maintenance and cleaning of your home’s carpets definitely goes a long way, but it’s amazing the difference commercial-grade equipment and years of experience can make.
Professional carpet cleaning services provide a deep, comprehensive clean that regular vacuum cleaners simply can’t compete with. Regular cleaning from a professional will remove deep-set dirt, dust, and stains that will erode your carpeting’s fibers over time.
In short, professional cleaning is one of the best, most reliable ways to extend the lifespan of your carpeting, giving you and your family years of enjoyment.
If you’re in Connecticut and you’re interested in carpet cleaning from a team with over 10 years of experience, contact Always Clean LLC today.
