If you’ve made the bold choice to live with carpet flooring in your home, you’re probably well-versed in the many advantages and perils of carpeting. While carpet flooring makes for a warm, cozy, and comfortable home, it’s no secret that it can also be high maintenance — especially where children and pets are concerned.
This being said, there are many variations of carpeting today that are robust, hardy, and long-wearing. However, nothing keeps carpet flooring in good shape like regular cleaning and maintenance. If you’re new to carpet cleaning, learn about how to clean carpet floor in this blog.
How to Clean Carpet Floor: Tools, Spot Cleaning, and Deep Cleaning
Carpet flooring is a brilliant way to bring color, texture, and warmth to your home. But keeping your carpet floor cleaning takes a certain amount of commitment and the right tools and products.
Yes, you can always hire a professional for carpet cleaning and other services — but what about the months in-between those deep cleans? This is where proper carpet cleaning knowledge helps to keep your flooring in top-notch condition, year-round. Here’s how to tackle carpet cleaning the right way:
1. Vacuuming
If most of your home is carpeted, then it’s imperative that you invest in a high-quality vacuum. You’re going to need the right tools for the job in order to clean thoroughly, and efficiently. Today, there are numerous top quality vacuum brands on the market. Some of the best products include:
- Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
- Shark APEX DuoClean with Zero-M Powered Lift-Away Vacuum
- Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
Bear in mind that old, outdated, and heavy vacuum cleaners can actually do more harm to your carpet, than good. Heavy vacuum cleaners damage your carpet fibers and can thin it out over time. Softer carpeting is especially vulnerable.
It’s best to go for a lightweight vacuum that offers powerful suction and an adjustable beater bar. Make sure the model you choose has a washable HEPA filter and a dirt cup. Vacuums with disposable bags are not as eco-friendly, either.
It’s also important to note that your carpet manufacturer may recommend a specific type of vacuum for your carpet flooring. Ask them for an approved list of carpet vacuums that will help to maintain the warranty of your carpet flooring.
2. Spot and Stain Cleaning
Busy homes call for regular spot cleaning and stain treatment. With children and pets in the mix, you may find spot and stain removal is an almost daily occurrence. But with the right cleaning products and tactics, you can keep your carpet flooring in good condition, even if mud and paint have been dragged across your floor!
Your first step, however, is to understand the type of carpet fiber you have and ensure the cleaner you use is suited to this type of flooring. A product that works well on polyester carpeting, may not work so well on wool carpeting, etc. There is a myriad of tried and true cleaning products on the market today, but some of these have stood the test of time (and grime):
- Folex Carpet Spot Remover
- Hoover Clean Plus Spot Spray Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer
An added bonus is that these products are not only effective but also eco-friendly. Make sure to always have a soft scouring brush, a bucket, and clean cotton rags nearby.
3. Deep Cleaning
Many homeowners assume the deep cleaning should be left to the professionals. But if you want to save yourself some money, you can deep clean your carpet flooring yourself.
You can either buy your own DIY carpet cleaning machine or rent from a professional cleaning service. But make sure the carpet washer is equipped with a two-tank washing system, a heating element, and good suction power. The suction power is important so that it adequately removes excess moisture from your carpet once you’ve cleaned it. Trapped carpet moisture can lead to a host of problems, including a foul-smelling home!
While DIY deep cleaning is doable, it’s best to keep it to refreshing your carpet every quarter or so. Don’t skimp on an annual hot water extraction by a professional.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Carpet Flooring
So, now that you know a little more about how to clean your carpet and the tools and products to get the job done, it’s just as important to learn what not to do:
- Avoid going to town on your carpet with the vacuum beater bar — this can wear down your carpet prematurely
- Don’t ever use any product on your carpet that’s not designed for it — be wary of products that claim to be ”suitable to all carpeting”
- Always spot test a carpet cleaner before you apply it to the entire carpet. An unsuitable product can melt carpet fibers, cause delamination, and discoloring
- Never use products that contain bleach, ammonia, acetone, oil-based solvents, waxes, colorants, and oil soaps
Lastly, when you’re cleaning your carpet, be careful not to oversaturate it with moisture. This applies to both spot cleaning and deep cleaning. Essentially, excessive moisture becomes trapped in your carpet fibers and can cause your carpet flooring to rot. It can also lead to mold and mildew buildup and leave your home smelling perpetually damp.
In some cases, excess moisture can also cause your carpet flooring to pucker, which would require professional stretching or even full replacement.
Get Your Daily Hit of General Knowledge Here
We hope this blog on how to clean carpet floor has been insightful and will help to extend the longevity of your carpeting. We understand that carpet flooring is a serious investment for your home, and aim to help you to take good care of it.
If you’re interested in learning more about topics such as home and garden, photography, travel, finance, or business, be sure to explore this site for more!
Leave a Reply