How do I know if my carpet is clean? Carpets are one of the most high-traffic areas in your house, so they need to be cleaned frequently to keep them looking clean and smelling fresh. How often you should clean your carpets depends on what you’ve spilled on them, whether you have kids or pets, and other factors.
If you’re like most people, you want to know if your carpet is clean or needs cleaning every time you see it. Here are some ways to tell if your carpet needs to be professionally cleaned and maintained. Read on!
How do I know if my carpet is clean?
Check for Signs of Soil
When you get home from a busy day, do you notice how your carpet immediately absorbs any dirt and debris? If so, that means it’s time for cleaning. What many homeowners fail to realize, though, is that soil build-up can happen outside their homes as well. This could include areas underneath your carport or patio—areas you might forget about when focusing on indoor carpeting.
Use Your Nose
The best way to know if your carpet needs professional carpet cleaning is by using your nose. If it smells like dirt, mold, or mildew and you can’t get rid of the smell with a vacuum cleaner and deodorizer, call for professional help. Professional carpet cleaning professionals use products that clean more deeply than home remedies and will kill any mold spores left behind.
Another way to tell whether you need professional carpet cleaning is by touching your carpet. If it’s filled with dust and lint or feels dirty, it may be time for professional carpet cleaning.
Brush it Up
A clean and healthy home starts with a clean carpet. A quick vacuum every few days will catch the dust, but you should also have your carpets cleaned at least twice per year.
This will remove any dust, dirt, and allergens left behind from everyday living. Make sure to use a vacuum cleaner with good suction or an upright that has been designed for cleaning curtains, upholstery, or drapes so that it doesn’t push the particles deeper into the carpet.
Use two large pieces of cardboard to move furniture out of the way and get started by vacuuming all along one wall until you reach its end. Next, turn 180 degrees and vacuum until you meet up with your first row again; repeat this process across the entire room.
Check the Label on Your Carpet
One way to tell if your carpet needs cleaning is by looking at the label. The label should give you the manufacturer’s instructions for how often to clean the carpet. If the manufacturer’s instructions say that you can’t vacuum or shampoo more than once every six months, then your carpets might not be dirty enough to warrant professional attention, but don’t risk damaging them further.
Another thing to look out for is whether or not the carpet has stains that won’t come out with just vacuuming and shampooing. If there are stains, consider having them professionally cleaned as soon as possible before they become permanent.
Check How Often You Vacuum
Depending on the type of carpet you have, it may be necessary to vacuum it every day or once a week. In any case, you must be doing it regularly. If your carpets are constantly dirty or don’t seem refreshed after vacuuming, you may need to clean them with professional cleaning services.
It also helps to know what kind of carpet you have: for example, some carpets can’t handle spot treatments, so use a cleaner instead. Also, high-traffic areas and spots tend to accumulate more dirt and stains than other areas on the rug.
Know When to Call an Expert
If you’re unsure about the cleanliness of your carpet, there are a few things you can do. For starters, take your shoes off and walk around on the floor. You may be surprised by what you find. Next, look at the color of your carpet and compare it to the manufacturer’s original color label; this should be on the back or bottom of your carpet.
If there is any variation then it needs more attention. Finally, check the condition of your carpet fibers- they should not feel rough or have excess fuzzing. If they are starting to feel like sandpaper, then it’s time for professional help!
Get Rid of Dirt Traps
Is there dirt or hair underneath your carpet? If so, then you will need to vacuum regularly. However, before doing so, check whether it’s time for a deep clean. A thorough cleaning once every two years should be sufficient.
This may include using warm water and detergent on your carpets and letting them dry naturally. It’s also advisable that you wear protective clothing while undertaking such tasks. This is because carpets can harbor harmful pathogens which can cause infections and illnesses like Legionnaires disease.
Think About Where You Are Living
The type of environment you’re living in can have a huge impact on how often you need to clean your carpet. If you live in an area that has high amounts of pollen and allergens, for example, you may find yourself needing carpet cleaning much more frequently than someone who lives in an environment with lower levels of airborne particles.
In the same way, people who have pets are likely to require more frequent carpet cleaning. Pets shed hair constantly and this hair can get ground into the fibers of your carpets during routine use.
Conclusion
Whether you’ve just finished an intense carpet cleaning or your carpets are showing signs of wear, they will benefit from regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. By regularly maintaining your carpets, you’ll ensure that they look great and last longer.