Your carpet is an integral part of your home. As such, it won’t be long before it takes a beating due to consistent use. But what if you could avoid exposing your carpet to harm? Even if you have a full home with lots of kids, pets, and guests coming in and out, there’s no reason your carpet should have to suffer. Whether you decide to trust Olympia’s carpet cleaning professionals or want to take on the job yourself, long lasting carpet doesn’t have to be a pipe dream if you take the right steps to preserving your rug and optimizing your investment. A good carpet should last you years without getting beaten up or ratty-looking. To find out how you can keep your carpet looking great no matter what, read on.
Leave Shoes at the Door
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference. If you live in a household where there’s always a lot going on, including kids playing, pets getting into trouble, and lots of guests always filtering in and out, you don’t want to risk damaging your carpet even further by adding shoes to the mix. Asking guests and family members to simply leave their shoes at the door sets an important precedent: Once people start doing it, it will become second nature. If you don’t bring shoes into the house, you don’t bring all the dirt, dust, and weather-related detritus that they track in on a daily basis. Shoes can transport germs and bacteria like e.Coli and Norovirus strains, opening up your household to the threat of some serious illnesses. The best way to keep your home cleaner without thinking about it is to keep shoes off the premises.
Invest in a Protective Layer
If you want your carpet to really last, you might need something more than hopes, prayers, and a good vacuum. Fortunately, there are plenty of carpet protectors out there, many of which can be simply sprayed on to add a sealed layer of protection against stains and spots. Carpet protectors don’t just help you avoid nasty stains. They can help keep your rug’s surface cleaner overall by keeping dirt, dust, and pollen from settling deep into its base. These protectors can come pre-installed by the factory, or you can buy something sprayable and apply it yourself. It doesn’t take long, and it will end up saving you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Spot-Treat Right Away
Even if you’re someone who loves to procrastinate, don’t let yourself fall into the trap of letting a stain go for days without treatment. The minute you spot a stain, that’s the time to take care of it once and for all. Keep a handy “emergency kit” on hand full of different stain removal products for different types of matter. Keep some paper towels, alcohol, natural cleaner, and pet stray in your pack so you can be ready for any stain at a moment’s notice. Cleaning your stain quickly, and with the proper materials, can make all the difference. If you wait too long, that nasty coffee spill or pet accident could end up becoming a lifelong part of your home rug.
Schedule Professional Cleanings
Possibly most important of all is keeping your standing appointment with the cleaners. Don’t assume that just because you’re diligent about keeping your rug free from stains and vacuuming at least once a week means that your rug doesn’t need a thorough professional cleaning at least every few months. Professional dry cleaners can purge your rug of all the dirty, dangerous elements that are burrowing deep inside its fibers without damaging the material or exposing your home to mold and mildew. Even if you spot-treat at home using only a small amount of cleaner and water, chances are you’re still not going to be able to do the kind of damage control necessary. Set aside a cleaning budget and bring your rug in at least every few months for best results.
Use the Right Materials
When you do clean, don’t assume that it’s enough to spray a generic cleaner on your stain and fix the problem. When it comes to home carpets, you can’t afford to make a mistake. While some cleaning products might be good for some stains, such as baking soda and vinegar for acid-based stains like wine and coffee, they’re not great for all accidents, or for all rugs. Make sure you always stick to natural cleaners to get the job done and stay away from harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia as much as you can.
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