Like other home furnishings, carpets require proper care to keep them attractive over the years to come. You can protect your investment, prolong the life of your carpet, and enhance the beauty and quality of your indoor environment by establishing a regular maintenance schedule.
It's important to understand that carpet rarely wears out in terms of fiber wearing away; rather, its appearance simply deteriorates over time. Experience has shown that proper maintenance can help reduce the rate at which a carpet's appearance changes.
Vacuuming Tips
For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. Those areas with heavier traffic require that the traffic lanes be vacuumed daily and the entire area twice weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and reduce matting.
Use Walk-Off Matts
Walk-off mats should be used at all entrances to absorb soil and moisture, and mats should be cleaned on a regular basis so they don't become sources of soil themselves, especially during inclement weather. Sidewalks and entrances should be kept free of excessive dirt and substances which can be tracked into the home.
Use a Quality Pad
Use a quality pad under your carpet, particularly on stairs. Good pad not only gives better resilience underfoot, but it can also add to the life of your carpet. Some carpets carry warranties with specific density and thickness requirements. Before purchasing your carpet pad, review your warranty.
Occassionally Move Heavy Furniture
Occasionally move heavy furniture to avoid excessive pile crushing. Put coasters intended for use with carpet under the legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the weight and prevent crushing the pile. Do not use chairs or appliances with rollers or casters on carpet without a chair pad designed for carpet. Continued use without a chair pad can cause damage to the carpet.
When moving heavy wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc.), prevent damage by placing a protective barrier of heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.
Use Area Rugs
If you use area rugs over your carpet, be sure to remove and clean them regularly. Clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath. Be certain to check area rugs for colorfastness before putting them back over carpet, as the dyes in some rugs may bleed through to the carpet. After cleaning your carpet, remember to allow complete drying before replacing rugs.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades, or awnings. Where direct sunlight exposure is present, consider solution-dyed fiber which is fade-resistant. Anso Color Solutions, a premium solution-dyed nylon offering.
