Our showroom is open, come in and speak to our friendly team about your next project.

Book an Appointment Today!

Carpet Care Guide


13 February 2020

a 4-minute read

Investing in a new carpet can be costly, which is why you want to give it the best care you can. Thankfully, keeping your carpets in great condition really needn’t be that hard. All you have to do is follow our top carpet care tips to keep yours looking as good as new.

 

Regularly vacuum your carpet

Regularly vacuuming your carpet will keep them as clean as possible and help avoid dirt and dust being ground into your carpet and damaging the fibres. Using a regular vacuum at least once a week should prevent this from happening. However, you should use a vacuum with brushes for a cut pile carpet, and one without for a loop pile carpet, to keep them in the best condition. Take it slowly and make sure you clean the whole carpet, and it will stay looking spick and spam for longer

It’s also important that you look after your vacuum. Easier said than done, we know. No one likes the chore of hoovering their home or cleaning their vacuum, but the truth is, this works wonders for your carpet. Particular if they have a brush head or a beater bar. It goes without saying, you should look after your vacuum, and keep it “ready for action” at all times.

 

Introduce mats and a ‘no shoes’ rule

You can protect your carpets from unnecessary dirt and wear if you use welcome mats or ask guests to remove their shoes before they come in. A simple shoe rack by the front door will keep your hallway tidy, and you can even buy a basket of cheap slippers to offer guests as an incentive!

 

Protect high traffic areas with rug runners

If any areas of your home are frequently walked over, such as stairs or hallways, installing a rug or runner can be a good way to protect the carpet in these areas from too much wear and tear.

 

Use furniture cups

Heavy furniture can leave dents in your carpet that you might never be able to remove, which can be annoying if you ever want to change your room around. Using protective cups on furniture legs distributes the weight of the furniture over a larger surface area, keeping marks at bay. If you have any dents that need repairing, ice cubes could be your friend. Yes, you read that correctly. Ice cubes.

 

Rotate and move your furniture around

Naturally, the position of your furniture will mean that certain areas of your carpet will be more worn than others. Have a change of furniture positioning and give your carpet a break. You might be surprised at firstly, how worn some areas are in comparison to the rest of the carpet, and secondly, how much of a difference moving your furniture will make.

This can actually be a great method for avoiding marks entirely. Giving your carpet a break from heavy furniture in one area will also change how you walk around the room, protecting other areas from heavy footfall.

 

Trim away loose bits from your carpet (Don’t pull loose tufts)

If you notice any irregularities in your carpet such as loose loops or pilling, never pull them out. Pulling at your carpet will not only damage its backing but will also loosen any neighbouring fibres, making the problem worse. A simple trim with a pair of scissors works much better.

 

Protect your carpet from the sun

Carpets can be very susceptible to fading when overexposed to sunlight, especially when made of natural fibres, so try to protect yours from the sun as much as possible. Make sure curtains or blinds are drawn when you’re not in the room, especially if you’re going away for a long period of time.

 

Deal with spills quickly

It’s never okay to leave a spill for a large amount of time, your carpet certainly won’t thank you for it. When accidents happen (which they do), clean up as soon as you can and save the need for a professional cleaner at a later date.

 

Use the correct stain removal techniques

To avoid giving them time to set into your carpet, any stains or spillages should be cleared up as soon as possible. However, it’s no good if you’re going about stain removal incorrectly. Firstly, never scrub a stain as this just works it deeper into your carpet fibres. Instead, research the best technique for your stain; for example, bleach should only ever be used on a 100% propylene carpet, while white vinegar and baking soda can be effective on red wine and tea stains.

Never rub a stain. It may look like its doing good, but the yarn of the carpet will be damaged, which will kill off your carpet far before its time has come. Instead, always blot the spillage with a damp towel. In the same way, salt and white wine are not good for the upkeep of your carpet, no matter what you may have heard.

 

Hire a professional cleaner

If you’ve got a really bad stain that you can’t get rid of, don’t be tempted to go for a store-bought cleaner as these often contain damaging chemicals that will do more harm than good. Hiring a professional carpet cleaner might seem pricey, but it’s more economical in the long run. Even if you don’t have any stains, hiring a professional cleaner once a year will keep your carpets looking good as new for longer.

Contact us today!