KEEPING YOUR CARPET CLEAN
How to deal with everyday maintenance and when it’s time to call in the pros
As you prepare for the holiday season, you might be looking around and thinking your carpet could use a good cleaning before guests arrive.
Or you might think that your carpet looks pretty good but that you want to have a contingency plan should someone accidentally spill a glass of red wine.
Either way, there are a few things you can do every day to maintain your carpet’s appearance and a few things you should know before hiring a professional cleaner.
DAILY CARE
The best way to protect your carpet day to day is to remove your shoes when you get home.
But don’t go barefoot; your feet have natural oils that rub off on the carpet. Those oils act like a dirt magnet, so it’s a good idea to always wear slippers or socks.
If possible, vacuum your carpets daily to remove surface dirt and dust. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and change the filter every six months so you don’t blow pollutants back into the air.
And for maximum effectiveness, change your vacuum bag when it is anywhere from one-half to twothirds full or when the outside of the bag feels firm.
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
As far as deep-cleaning your carpets, of course you want to clean them if there are visible stains, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends a professional cleaning one to four times a year, depending on how heavily trafficked the area is.
A professional cleaning removes not only the dirt and stains you can see but also what you can’t see.
Carpets are like indoor sponges, trapping all types of pollutants, including dust, mould, bacteria and mildew, that can be bad for your health. When hiring a pro, choose a company that uses hotwater deep extraction