Properly caring for the carpeting in your home can help prolong its life, allowing you to get the most use possible out of your investment. By being proactive about keeping your carpets clean, you can help them look great for many years to come. Here are some simple carpet cleaning tips that actually work:
1. Vacuum Frequently
Vacuum frequently to remove dirt. When dirt gets down in between the carpet fibers, it can increase friction. Dirt can cause your carpeting to wear out more quickly. It can also result in staining or discoloration in high-traffic areas.
Regular vacuuming can help remove dirt, preventing these problems. When you vacuum, be sure to go slowly, giving the vacuum enough time to latch onto the dirt and pull it up out of the carpet. Most experts recommend making at least two slow passes over each area of carpeting to capture all of the dirt.
2. Avoid Rubbing Stains
Rubbing can not only damage the carpet fibers, but it can also drive the stain deeper down into the carpeting. Instead of rubbing at the carpeting with a rag, use a dabbing motion to blot away the stain gently. Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to keep from making the stain any bigger than it already is.
3. Clean Up Spills
Clean up spills as soon as you can so that they don’t have a chance to set. The more quickly you can act after something spills on your carpeting, the more likely you are to be able to remove the stain. Before you turn to commercial cleaning products, try using plain water to see if it will remove the stain. As long as the stain is still wet, water should be effective at lifting it out of your carpeting. Again, focus on blotting the stain out of the carpeting with a clean, dry cloth rather than rubbing it.
4. Removing Candle Wax
Remove candle wax with an iron and some paper towels. All that you have to do is heat the iron up to a medium heat setting. Then, place a clean paper towel over the candle wax on your carpeting. Gently run the iron over the top of the paper towel a couple of times. While it is still warm, lift the paper towel up off of the carpeting. Some of the wax should come along with it. Repeat this process with clean paper towels until all of the wax has been removed. Avoid leaving the iron on the area for too long, or it could melt the carpet fibers.
5. Hire A Professional
Periodically hire a professional company such as us, Tiger Paws Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. Having your carpets deep cleaned at least once a year can help keep them in great shape. Households with pets and/or young children may need their carpets professionally deep cleaned 2-3 times per year, while homes without children or pets may only need cleaning once every year or two.
These carpet cleaning tips should help you keep your carpets looking beautiful for many years. The key is to always act as quickly as you can any time you spill something on your carpet. Stains are much easier to treat when they are still fresh than they are after they have had a chance to set!