Carpet is a luxurious and versatile but expensive commercial flooring option. Carpets come in varied designs, styles, colors, and textures, and a new carpet makes the space look eye-appealing and feels soft, cozy, warm, and comfortable. However, carpets collect dust, dirt, debris, and germs over time. Dirty shoes, pets, messy toddlers, and stains can wear out the carpet fibers quickly, causing them to look dull, faded, and dirty, especially in high-traffic areas.
Fortunately, with proper care, carpets can last a long time. With a small amount of routine maintenance, your carpets won’t require frequent replacement, and it will also be beneficial for the environment as a carpet takes about a thousand years to degrade.
Whether a carpet flooring is new or has been there for a while, here are a few steps you can take to extend its life, maintain its appearance, and get the most out of the investment:
Vacuum frequently
The best and the most reliable way to keep the carpets clean and extend their life is by vacuuming them regularly using a quality vacuum cleaner with powerful suction. Vacuum twice a week or more often, depending on the carpet usage and how much dirt it tracks. It will prevent dirt and dust build-up in carpet backing. Also, follow the manufacturer-recommended care and cleaning routine for your particular carpet material.
Get high-quality, suitable carpet padding
For carpets, an investment in quality padding is worth it. Pads make the carpet more resilient and offer more comfort underfoot. With quality padding, the carpet backing and binding stay protected, and the vacuum cleaner also performs its job better.
Instantly clean the stains and marks
While it is impossible to protect the carpet from spills and stains all the time, it is possible to prevent them from settling deep into the carpet fibers and causing damage. Time is crucial when it comes to preventing stubborn and permanent stains. Whether it is wine, coffee, or food spill, clean them up immediately, so they do not get time to dry and get soaked into the fiber. Treating the spills quickly using a clean, dry cloth and an appropriate carpet cleaning product will prolong the carpet life.
Make carpets a ‘shoe-free zone’
Dirt, dust, and grime tracked in by shoes can accelerate carpet wear and tear. A critical step to keep the carpets looking beautiful and avoid premature replacement is to avoid walking on them with shoes on. Remove the shoes at the door and request guests and other family members to do the same. It will reduce the dirt and germs tracking into the house and keep the carpets clean.
Place protective rugs and mats
Positioning walk-off mats or area rugs over the carpet in high-traffic and common areas will add a protective layer over the main flooring. The mats and rugs will prevent the carpet from accumulating dirt, mud, and dust and protect it. Regularly cleaning the mats is simpler and easier than carpet cleaning.
Ensure periodic furniture rearrangement
Another thing that can extend the carpet life and reduce its wear is furniture rearrangement in carpeted rooms. Moving around tables, couches, and chairs regularly ensures that particular carpet areas do not fade, get damaged, or wear out faster than the others.
Avoid direct exposure to sunlight
Direct sunlight from windows and doors can harm the carpet and unevenly fade its color over time. Use curtains, window films, awnings, and blinds to block the UV radiation and prevent exposing the carpeting to direct sunlight.
Get the carpets deep cleaned professionally.
Call carpet cleaning professionals to deep clean the carpets once or twice a year.
Carpet cleaners use advanced equipment and best methods like hot water extraction or steam cleaning, carpet shampooing, encapsulation, or dry cleaning to refresh the carpet's appearance. Routine cleaning and maintenance by professionals go a long way in prolonging the carpet life.