- Vacuum your carpet regularly to keep dirt from settling into the pile. Dirt often contains material that is razor sharp and which can shred carpet fiber. High traffic areas should therefore be vacuumed at least twice a week. Low traffic areas should be vacuumed weekly. Adjust your vacuum according to your type of carpet. A rotating or beater brush should be low enough to loosen the dirt, but not too low so as to put strain on your motor or damage the carpet, as carpets with larger loops could be damaged by a beater brush, so just use suction if your beater bar isn’t adjustable.
- Consider a professional-type cleaning (i.e. hot water or steam extraction) once a year to remove the oily film produced from cooking, tracked in dirt and air pollution. This is the type of soil that vacuuming can’t remove.
- Clean up a spill as soon as it happens. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. Never rub a spill. Instead use water and a tiny bit of detergent if needed, and blot the stain with a clean cloth. If a spot remover is needed, test it in an inconspicuous spot in case it changes the colour of your carpet. If a lot of liquid in on the carpet, absorb it by weighing down several layers of paper towel on the wet area. Check it often and replace the wet paper towels until the moisture has been drawn out.
- Don’t pull snags or loose fibres as this could cause unravelling. Instead, use scissors to clip them.
- Move heavy furniture occasionally to help avoid crushing the carpet pile. If carpet becomes indented, use the edge of a coin to help lift it. Consider distributing the weight of the furniture by placing the legs on coasters.
- Use door mats at outdoor entrances and encourage your family and friends to remove their shoes before walking on carpeting. Using entrance matting is the single most important factor in keeping dirt and soil outside of your home and protecting your investment in flooring, including carpeting.
