Carpet Maintenance Tips

Basic Carpet Maintenance Tips

Vacuuming

Choosing the right vacuum is essential to preserving and extending the life of your carpet. Not all vacuum cleaners are made equal. When investing in a new machine, look for the following:

• Superior filtration / dust control
• Accurate / multiple brush height adjustments for your type of carpet
• A beater bar or rotating brush to loosen dirt and grit*
• *Vacuum brushes can damage some thick loop pile carpets. Always follow the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations.

• TIP: Sprinkling salt an hour before vacuuming brightens carpet.
• TIP: Hold a steam wand over flattened carpet to pull the fiber up. Don’t touch the wand directly on the carpet.
• TIP: Set an ice cube in indentations left by furniture. The water left by the melting cube will make the carpet fibers rise again.
• TIP: Carpet runners and mats will help to keep dirt and soil from being tracked inside. Pads under desk chairs can prevent carpet damage and ground- in soil.

Deep Cleaning

Most manufacturers recommend their carpets be deep cleaned with hot water extraction (steam cleaning) every 12 to 24 months. Steam cleaning involves spraying a high-pressure solution of water and detergent and vacuuming the dirty solution. Always refer to the manufacturer’s warranty for the recommended deep cleaning method.

How to Choose a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company

• Ask for recommendations from friends and family
• Ask how long they have been in business and contact references
• Check for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICR)
• Make sure the cleaner screens / does background checks on their technicians
• Make sure the cleaner is insured for liability and carry workers’ compensation insurance
• Beware of unrealistic claims (particularly in advertisements and coupons)
• Check for written estimates, guarantees and conditions