HOW TO KEEP CARPETS LOOKING GREAT AND LASTING LONGER
Most of us have to worry about cleaning carpets at some stage of our lives, and it’s always a bonus to get some ideas as to how to best go about it.
It’s hard to believe – but apparently people were not at all excited when the early Hoover vaccum cleaner was launched because they felt insulted that the salesmen were demonstrating that there was so much dirt in their carpets!.
What would we do without the trusty vacuum cleaner?! Well, our carpets wouldn’t last very long for one thing (studies show that several kilograms of soil accumulate in a carpet within 12 months) – and most homes would be infested with bad bugs!
With regular cleaning, carpets will not only last longer but retain their good looks too. Ideally, carpets should be cleaned by professionals once a year or once every 18 months, and there are lots of ways of keeping them in tip-top shape in between those deep cleans.
When it comes to carpet care, the number one rule is regular vacuuming. Regular vacuuming can mean anything from daily to weekly effort – and areas that carry higher foot traffic will obviously need to be done more often. When vacuuming, try to move the brush over the carpet in a number of different areas in order to collect all the debris.
Another cardinal rule is take immediate action when there’s a spill. Wet or dry, the spill should be sorted out quickly in order to avoid long lasting damage and permanent staining. Dry dirt can get ground into the fibres of the carpet where it can be difficult to dislodge and could cause long-lasting stains. Also, the less dirt that is trapped in the carpet, the more air can circulate among the carpet fibres, enabling them to ‘breathe’ and stay naturally cleaner.
When there’s been a liquid spill, act quickly. Blot off all the excess liquid with dry paper towel or a clean white cloth. Always start from the outside of the stain and work inwards so as to prevent the stain from spreading. If the stain persists, dab at it with a clean cloth soaked in warm water – but take care not to over-wet the carpet. You can also use a weak solution of white vinegar and warm water, or add a teaspoon of dish washing liquid to water – and test it first on a discreet area of carpet to see if the colour holds.
Place a clean white towel or stack of paper towel over the damp area and weight it down overnight so it presses firmly against the spot to draw up any deeply penetrated residue.
Don’t make the stain worse and risk damaging the carpet fibres by rubbing or scrubbing – and don’t use a circular motion to clean the area.
If the stain doesn’t come out, rather call in professional cleaners for their expert help.
A leading Perth carpets company, Integrity Carpets, offered the following additional hints:
· To remove gum from carpets or carpet tiles, place a block of ice on the area which will make the gum brittle. Then pick of the pieces and remove any remnants with a spot cleaner.
· Red wine spills can be treated with a splash of soda water first, followed by household salt to absorb the liquid.
· To remove wax from candles, put a paper bag onto the area and put a warm to hot iron over it. The melted wax will be absorbed by the paper.
All carpets are different, say the Perth flooring suppliers and if you’re laying new floor coverings, always check with the suppliers as to the best way of maintaining their product.