When you buy a carpet, you make a large decorating investment. You carefully choose everything but you can ruin the carpet really fast if you do not properly take care of it. Unfortunately, it is very easy to make mistakes when you clean your carpet. The most common ones that have to be avoided, based on the experience of Plano TX specialists, are highlighted in the following paragraphs. They will help you to extend the lifespan of the carpet.
Using Elbow Grease When Cleaning Carpet Stains
If you have a stain, you are obviously tempted to vigorously rub it when you want to remove it. This is a mistake. Using way too much grease can lead to two possible problems:
- The substance that causes the dirt goes in deeper into carpet fibers.
- Carpet fibers end up being damaged.
Keep in mind that the carpet is basically made out of several fabric fibers. As you rub hard, carpet fibers end up twisted. They are then fraying. You need to use a correct motion, which means blotting instead of rubbing.
Not Taking Advantage Of Area Rugs Or Runners
A runner is a long rug that you are meant to be used in areas with heavy traffic. Just like the runners, the area rugs are very useful for protecting some carpet areas from wear and tear. When you neglect the use of the runners, the carpet area can be worn out. You will then have to replace it sooner than other parts of the carpet. Basically, you end up having to replace the carpet in a room simply because you did not use an area rug or a runner as the area is heavily trafficked. It is just a lot simpler and cheaper to replace runners and area rugs.
Not Using The Right Stain Removal Products
Small carpet stains do not mean anything can be used to clean them. You can find countless bad advice on the internet about natural products to be used to remove stains but when you use such guides, all you do is ruin your carpet.
The big problem is that carpet fibers can be made out of several different materials. Every single material has to be handled differently. The carpet manufacturer can tell you what materials are used so you can use the right type of stain removal. If you do not know what fibers are present, the best thing you can do is to use a completely natural option and to test first on a small part of the carpet that is not visible (like one placed under a piece of furniture). Alternatively, you want to use the services of carpet cleaning professionals.
Not Using The Vacuum Cleaner Often Enough
Last but not least, you might not be vacuuming the carpet as often as it is needed. As a simple rule of thumb, when you see noticeable debris and dirt present, it is most likely way too long since you vacuumed.
The best thing you can do is to use your vacuum cleaner one time per week. When you have pets, the best option is to vacuum every other day.