Let’s face it, carpets are not the easiest things to keep clean. Spills happen, pets have accidents, and dirt gets tracked in from outside. But there are some easy things you can do to keep your carpets looking fresh and new all year long.
Choosing the right carpet
When it comes to picking the right carpet, the tread and pile of a specific carpet type can make or break the ease of your cleaning life.
As a general rule of thumb, flooring companies recommend the following three carpet styles as the easiest to clean:
- Nylon: Perhaps considered the most durable of all carpet materials, nylon is known to retain its structure after cleaning and has the ability to bounce back from general wear and tear.
- Polyester: this durable fabric is oil-based and can therefore repel any water-based spills. Unfortunately, the nature of this fabric means that it is not resistant to oil-based spillages like makeup or natural beauty products.
- Polypropylene: Extremely easy to clean and durable, these fibres are similar to nylon in the sense that they can resist dirt and stains easily. They are also easy to clean, known to be colourfast and abrasion resistant.
How to maintain your new carpet
Now that you’ve got your perfect carpet sorted, it’s important to make sure you prevent wear and tear as much as possible to get the most out of your carpet.
1. Hoover regularly
This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to vacuum your carpets at least once a week, if not more. This will help to pick up any dirt or debris that has been tracked in or that has settled into the fibres of the carpet.
If you have pets or even members of your household with long hair, it’s important that you hoover regularly – especially if you have a carpet with a thick pile. If left hoovered, this hair can build up quickly, creating an unsightly, matted mess on your carpet floor.
2. Spot clean straight away
When something is spilled on the carpet, it’s important to spot clean it right away. The longer a spill sits, the harder it will be to remove and the greater the chance of it leaving a stain.
This is where your choice of carpet can come in handy. You can clean up your water spills quickly on an oil-based carpet, but even an oil spill is not without hope! Get your stain detergent on the stain as soon as possible and you might just be in luck.
3. Use door mats
Placing door mats at all entrances to your home will help to reduce the amount of dirt and debris that gets tracked onto your carpets in the first place.
Door mats are also a good incentive to get guests to remove their shoes before entering your home, which will eliminate the tread of unsightly dirt into your new carpet.
4. Hire a professional carpet cleaner
Even if you vacuum regularly and spot clean spills immediately, it’s still a good idea to have your carpets professionally cleaned once or twice a year. This will remove any built-up dirt and grime and restore them to their original condition.
A professional cleaner will likely have access to harsher cleaning products, chemicals and tools that can properly deep clean your carpet and treat those hard-to-reach areas. A regular professional clean can really help keep you carpet looking fresh and as new as possible.
5. Protect your carpet from furniture
Furniture can damage carpets by crushing the fibres or leaving behind stains from spilled food or drinks.
To protect your carpet, place felt pads under furniture legs and consider using coasters or placemats when eating or drinking on carpeted areas rather than balance a cup or glass on a carpet floor.
6. Take preventative measures
Like any problem, preventative measures are the best way to address spills and stains before the damage is done.
Pests like dust mites and fleas can infest carpets and be difficult to get rid of once they’ve taken hold. To prevent an infestation, have your carpets treated with an anti-pest solution every few months and hoover regularly using a hoover with a HEPA filter designed to trap small particles like dust mites.
Carpet maintenance with First Floors
The first step in keeping your carpet properly maintained is to invest in a good quality carpet. Higher quality carpeting is more durable and resistant to tread and staining than a regular carpet.
Here at First Floors in Glasgow, we offer a range of carpets starting at just £6.99 per square foot, so you can be sure to find a carpet to suit all budgets. We pride ourselves on great service and can assist you from selecting your perfect carpet, to installation in your home – we’ll even remove your old carpet free of charge! Contact us today to get a quote.