Good carpet care and regular cleaning will lengthen the life of a carpet substantially and keep it looking bright whilst preventing early signs of wear. Use these carpet care tips and cleaning guidelines to deal with any accidental stains and spillages in order to keep your carpet in tip-top condition.
Preventative Measures
Dirt can be very abrasive and will wear out carpet fibres quickly, so some precautions are necessary to prevent dirt from being spread from any area where a hard floor surface leads onto a carpet.
The best way to maintain carpets in areas where people regularly walk through doorways is by placing an entry mat, rug or carpet off-cut in each of those places. This will help to stop dirt from getting into the carpet itself.
Bill Weir at Aquatec Carpet Cleaning Edinburgh Another great way to prevent mud and dirt from shoes coming into contact with a carpet is by getting into the habit of using a doormat or removing footwear when entering your home. Visitors can be encouraged to wipe the dirt off their footwear by placing the doormat at the point of entry. A shoe rack and a box for slippers kept by the front door will act as a practical reminder for all members of the household to remove their footwear at the door.
Preventative Measures
Dirt can be very abrasive and will wear out carpet fibres quickly, so some precautions are necessary to prevent dirt from being spread from any area where a hard floor surface leads onto a carpet.
The best way to maintain carpets in areas where people regularly walk through doorways is by placing an entry mat, rug or carpet off-cut in each of those places. This will help to stop dirt from getting into the carpet itself.
Bill Weir at Aquatec Carpet Cleaning Edinburgh Another great way to prevent mud and dirt from shoes coming into contact with a carpet is by getting into the habit of using a doormat or removing footwear when entering your home. Visitors can be encouraged to wipe the dirt off their footwear by placing the doormat at the point of entry. A shoe rack and a box for slippers kept by the front door will act as a practical reminder for all members of the household to remove their footwear at the door.
Regular Vacuum Cleaning
Even when people remove their shoes or use a doormat, it is inevitable that dirt, crumbs and other fine particles will get trodden into a carpet. When you walk on the carpet, that dirt will cause abrasion on the fibres. If ground-in dirt is not removed through regular vacuuming and there is tiem spent removing pet hair from carpets, the carpet will begin to show more wear and become dull in appearance.
Vacuuming should be the most regular part of your household hygiene and carpet maintenance routine and it is important not to neglect this task. If daily vacuuming is not possible, try to ensure that all areas of the carpet are vacuumed regularly. The more frequently a vacuum cleaner is used on a carpet, the better it will continue to look.
Even when people remove their shoes or use a doormat, it is inevitable that dirt, crumbs and other fine particles will get trodden into a carpet. When you walk on the carpet, that dirt will cause abrasion on the fibres. If ground-in dirt is not removed through regular vacuuming and there is tiem spent removing pet hair from carpets, the carpet will begin to show more wear and become dull in appearance.
Vacuuming should be the most regular part of your household hygiene and carpet maintenance routine and it is important not to neglect this task. If daily vacuuming is not possible, try to ensure that all areas of the carpet are vacuumed regularly. The more frequently a vacuum cleaner is used on a carpet, the better it will continue to look.
The Correct Way to Deal with Spots and Stains
To avoid permanent staining, spillages of red wine, blood and other substances need to be dealt with as soon as possible. There is no need to panic over the appearance of a spot or a stain, obvuiously there is some urgency when to remove red wine stains, but it is important to know how to deal with it so that no further harm is caused to the carpet:
Continue blotting to remove as much dampness as possible, so that mould does not become a problem in future.
Use your vacuum cleaner on the area of spillage when it is completely dry.
Stain Removal
Carpet stain removers are readily available but may cause yellowing, because soap residue will remain in the carpet.
If you use a spot cleaner, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. This type of product should never be applied directly onto the carpet. Use a white cloth with a small amount of cleaner to dab off the spot.
Avoid the use of a foam carpet cleaner for stain removal and never use a cleaning product that is not produced specifically for use on carpets.
You can use a solution of carpet shampoo for stain removal, by applying it to the area surrounding a stain. Try to avoid getting the carpet too wet and keep blotting the stained area with tissues or a clean cloth until the stain has gone and the carpet is dry.
Professional Carpet Cleaning
A professional carpet cleaning service will help to extend the life of a carpet and keep it looking good for years. There are several methods used by professionals. Hot water extraction methods are recommended for most types of carpet and are usually the most effective. Alternative methods involve the use of absorbent powder and dry foam treatments.
A heavily used carpeted area might require professional cleaning at least once a year. A stain resistant carpet will need to be cleaned every two or three years. There is no limit to the number of times a carpet can benefit from professional cleaning as none of the processes will leave any residue and it will remove all the dirt that vacuuming leaves behind.
Protective Coatings
Carpets stay cleaner for longer when they have a protective coating. The application of a carpet protection spray makes vacuuming more effective and spot removal easier. Renewing the protection reduces the amount of wear on a carpet and keeps the colour bright.
The protective layer in a stain-resistant carpet wears out after two or three years, so additional spraying with carpet protector will be necessary to guard it against stains.
Before spraying a carpet, always test the spray first on a small portion of carpet, in an area where it is not visible, to check that there is no discolouration. You might prefer to ask a carpet cleaning service to add a protective coating after the carpet has been professionally cleaned.
By following these hints and tips you will be well on the way to keeping your carpet looking as good as new for a lot longer than you might otherwise expect.
At times, though, and at certainly once per year it is wise to call in a professional carpet cleaning firm as their equipment will be able to get to the deep down grime and dirt that domestic vacuum cleaners can't touch. Once such serving Edinburgh is Aquatec Cleaning Group whose owner Bill Weir is WoolSafe approved - you can keep up to date with Bill on the Aquatec Cleaning Twitter account, and by get a hold of him on 0131 603 8425.
To avoid permanent staining, spillages of red wine, blood and other substances need to be dealt with as soon as possible. There is no need to panic over the appearance of a spot or a stain, obvuiously there is some urgency when to remove red wine stains, but it is important to know how to deal with it so that no further harm is caused to the carpet:
- Wet stains and spillages
Continue blotting to remove as much dampness as possible, so that mould does not become a problem in future.
Use your vacuum cleaner on the area of spillage when it is completely dry.
- Hard residues
- Grease and Oil
Stain Removal
Carpet stain removers are readily available but may cause yellowing, because soap residue will remain in the carpet.
If you use a spot cleaner, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. This type of product should never be applied directly onto the carpet. Use a white cloth with a small amount of cleaner to dab off the spot.
Avoid the use of a foam carpet cleaner for stain removal and never use a cleaning product that is not produced specifically for use on carpets.
You can use a solution of carpet shampoo for stain removal, by applying it to the area surrounding a stain. Try to avoid getting the carpet too wet and keep blotting the stained area with tissues or a clean cloth until the stain has gone and the carpet is dry.
Professional Carpet Cleaning
A professional carpet cleaning service will help to extend the life of a carpet and keep it looking good for years. There are several methods used by professionals. Hot water extraction methods are recommended for most types of carpet and are usually the most effective. Alternative methods involve the use of absorbent powder and dry foam treatments.
A heavily used carpeted area might require professional cleaning at least once a year. A stain resistant carpet will need to be cleaned every two or three years. There is no limit to the number of times a carpet can benefit from professional cleaning as none of the processes will leave any residue and it will remove all the dirt that vacuuming leaves behind.
Protective Coatings
Carpets stay cleaner for longer when they have a protective coating. The application of a carpet protection spray makes vacuuming more effective and spot removal easier. Renewing the protection reduces the amount of wear on a carpet and keeps the colour bright.
The protective layer in a stain-resistant carpet wears out after two or three years, so additional spraying with carpet protector will be necessary to guard it against stains.
Before spraying a carpet, always test the spray first on a small portion of carpet, in an area where it is not visible, to check that there is no discolouration. You might prefer to ask a carpet cleaning service to add a protective coating after the carpet has been professionally cleaned.
By following these hints and tips you will be well on the way to keeping your carpet looking as good as new for a lot longer than you might otherwise expect.
At times, though, and at certainly once per year it is wise to call in a professional carpet cleaning firm as their equipment will be able to get to the deep down grime and dirt that domestic vacuum cleaners can't touch. Once such serving Edinburgh is Aquatec Cleaning Group whose owner Bill Weir is WoolSafe approved - you can keep up to date with Bill on the Aquatec Cleaning Twitter account, and by get a hold of him on 0131 603 8425.