Carpets and rugs are a great way to add color and warmth to your home. Unfortunately, they can also attract a lot of dirt and debris that wears down their fibers over time.
The average carpet lifespan is 12 years, but homeowners can extend its life significantly with proper cleaning and preventative measures. Regular vacuuming, timely stain removal, and rotating area rugs can all help to lengthen their lifespans.
1. Vacuum Regularly
Carpet fibers trap dirt and debris that can cause the fibers to wear out prematurely. This is why it’s important to vacuum regularly, especially in high-traffic areas. However, the most effective way to extend a rug’s lifespan is to prevent it from getting dirty in the first place. This can be done by using door mats, encouraging family and visitors to wipe their shoes before entering the house, and rotating the furniture around on a regular basis.
Vacuuming frequently also helps to maintain the appearance of a rug. This is because it removes dirt particles before they can damage the fibers and tangle with each other, which in turn prevents matting. It also helps to prevent the accumulation of dust mites, mold, and other microscopic life that can impact the health and well-being of those living in a home with carpeting.
As a general rule, homeowners should vacuum their carpets daily in heavy-traffic areas and twice weekly in other parts of the home. Additionally, it’s important to replace vacuum bags when they are half full to help maintain powerful suction.
2. Keep the Area Clean
Carpet and rug cleaning is a vital part of maintaining your home furnishings. It removes accumulated dirt, dust, and other debris that damages the fibers and reduces the life of your carpet and rug.
Using rugs and mats by entryways can trap dirt from shoes and reduce the amount of dirt that is tracked in and over your carpet. Also, having a shoe rack and encouraging guests to remove their shoes will significantly increase your carpet and rug lifespans.
Another way to extend your rugs’ lifespans is by quickly treating any spills as soon as they happen. This prevents the stain from settling and becoming harder to remove. Cleaning up any solids and dabbing the affected area with a clean cloth soaked in club soda or a commercial spot cleaner will do wonders.
Finally, rearranging your furniture in rooms with carpeted floors regularly (if possible) can help prolong the lifespan of your rugs by helping to evenly distribute wear and tear. This will also prevent the development of those pesky indentations left behind by heavy furniture.
3. Take Your Shoes Off
In Japan, it is customary to take off your shoes when entering a home. This tradition is not only hygienic but also helps to extend the lifespan of carpets and rugs. Studies have shown that bacteria and germs cling to the soles of shoes, and can be carried into the home on footwear. These pathogens can then be tracked over carpeting, damaging it over time.
The abrasive soles of shoes can also damage floors and carpeting. Requesting that family, friends, and guests remove their shoes at the door will help you to avoid the need for frequent and deep cleaning of your carpeting. This will help you to extend the lifespan of your carpeting, as well as make it look better and more appealing.
If you have a rug that needs to be stored, make sure that it is completely dry before putting it back in your home. A rug that isn’t properly dried can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and fungus, which can damage both the carpet and the flooring underneath it.
4. Rotate Your Furniture
The way that rugs wear depends on where they are located in the house. Rugs placed in areas that are often walked on will show more wear than those that are not used as frequently. Rotating your furniture on a regular basis ensures that all areas of the carpet are getting equal use and prevents certain areas from becoming more worn than others. You can also switch your rugs between rooms so that they get exposure to natural sunlight in different parts of the house. This will slow down fading caused by direct sunlight. By following these simple steps, you can extend the lifespan of your area rugs and carpets.
5. Don’t Place Your Carpet in Direct Sunlight
Keeping carpets and couches clean is a big part of prolonging their lifespan. However, it is not the only step you can take. Carpets and couches also need to be protected against environmental elements that could degrade them over time.
For example, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage carpet fibers and cause them to fade. This is especially true for dark-colored carpets that are exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day. To protect your rug from fading, avoid placing it in direct sunlight and consider drawing the drapes during peak sun exposure times.
Carpets and couches are a major investment and it is important to take steps to protect them. Regular vacuum cleaning, rotating the furniture and avoiding placing heavy furniture on the carpet can all help to extend the life of your rug or couch.
FINAL THOUGHTS – ALWAYS CHECK WITH AN EXPERT
If you doubt which strategy is right to remove the odor, it’s always a superb idea to talk with an expert carpeting cleaning-up company. They can evaluate the trouble of your carpeting and likewise encourage one of the most effective cleansing approaches for your demands. We offer free estimates to ensure the best application.
We are a family owned and operated business and we have been servicing families in Fort Worth and Arlington for more than 30 years. We have built a solid reputation based on the sound principle of delivering professional, high-quality cleaning and services to each and every one of our customers. Our team of professionally trained technicians uses only quality non-toxic cleaning products and equipment to clean your carpets. We use all truck mounted equipment or also know as Hot Water Extraction/Steam cleaning, as our method of cleaning. This process is recommended by most major carpet manufacturers as the most thorough and effective method.
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