When we first purchased our home six years ago, I wish I knew then what I know now about properly caring for carpet. While we don’t have much carpet in our home, the carpet we do have needs to be replaced and looks quite dreadful. Here are some carpet care tips for keeping your carpet in tip-top shape.
- Use door mats at all entrances to absorb any debris or oils that are on the bottom of your shoes or feet. Clean door mats regularly so they don’t become sources of soil themselves and to keep from tracking it throughout your home.
- Put coasters intended for use with carpet under the legs of sofas, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the weight and prevent mashing the pile. When moving heavy wheeled furniture such as a piano, prevent damage by placing heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.
- Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas, to remove all particles from the carpets. A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the pile.
- Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades, or awnings.
- Hire a professional carpet cleaning service once a year for a good, deep down clean.
If we had followed these easy steps, maybe I wouldn’t have to be spending a fortune to get our carpet replaced. So, other than the tips I’ve mentioned, what do you do to ensure your carpets stay in good shape?
Tammy says
We’re from Canada originally and it is standard practice there to always take your shoes off in the house. So that’s a natural thing for us to do. I remember when we first moved to the U.S. and I was horrified when guests would wear their shoes in my home! I think that’s why our carpets stay pretty clean overall. It’s been five years since we’ve lived here though, so I think it’s about time I had them cleaned!
blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I’ve seen what sunlight can do and it’s awful! I definitely think keeping the blinds and curtains drawn is a good tip!
LaKeshia C says
I wish you had on did this post years ago in others words me and you are in the same boat.I have small children and ours get dirty quick to.So I use some pre treat laundry cleaner to get the spots up that way I could do it myself.We also purchased a Carpet cleaner and every since then we have been doing it our selves that way we will not have to get a professional Carpet Cleaner and you know what we maynot can afford one any way.
Crystal says
That is one thing I need to invest in — a carpet cleaner! And thanks for the tip about using a pre-treating laundry cleaner. I’ll have to try that.
Kelly says
We always take our shoes off when we enter any home. Our house is mostly tile but I know shoes track in more dirt and debris than bare/stocking feet would. I’d probably be able to vacuum a lot more often and keep on top of it if my dogs weren’t so put off by the vacuum – one tries to attack it and the other one hides in fear.
Stefani says
When we bought our house, we had tile throughout most of the house. Now that I see how often I have to sweep, I know how often I should have been vacuuming. 🙂
Kasandria Reasoner says
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Kas