Caring for your Carpet and Carpets - From the team at The Floor Store Hamilton

Lots of our customers ask for tips on how to care for their new carpet once it is laid.  How are some helpful tips to ensure your carpet and carpets look great for longer.

Caring for your Carpet

No carpet lasts forever, or is 100% stain proof, but with regular care you can add years to the life of your new carpet. Here are some simple guidelines to ensure you protect your investment.       

Regular Vacuuming

It is important to vacuum your carpet thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffic areas.

Vacuuming not only prolongs the life of the carpet, but also enhances its appearance.

After your carpet is laid, vacuum lightly and frequently in the first week to remove surface lint, dust and fluff. Thereafter continue to vacuum thoroughly at least weekly and more frequently in high traffic areas. This will remove soil and grit before it works its way below the surface of the pile where it is far more difficult to remove and can abrade the carpet and dull its appearance.

Three vacuum passes for light soiled areas will suffice while five to seven passes for heavily soiled areas are necessary. Vacuuming first against the natural pile direction lifts the pile helping to unsettle and remove dirt and grit while reducing matting.  When finishing, vacuum in the direction of the pile to achieve a uniform finish.

To effectively clean your carpets use only a quality vacuum cleaner. Vacuums fitted with micro filter systems ensure fine particles (such as dustmite allergens) are removed and stay in the collection bag (particularly important if you are dust sensitive). A vacuum with a rotating brush which agitates the pile and loosens the soil is best for low cut pile carpet. To prevent excess fuzzing turn the brush off, or change the head when vacuuming loop pile, cut loop pile or berber carpet. Ensure the vacuum is kept in sound mechanical condition and brushes are cleaned and replaced when worn out.  Check and adjust the height of beaters (if fitted) regularly to ensure the carpet is not damaged by excessive beating. Suction efficiency of vacuum cleaners is reduced considerably when bags are half full.  Change or empty dust collection bags frequently and replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

Spot Cleaning

Carpet is not 100% stain proof, but since many are stain resistant.  Prompt and immediate attention to any spillages or stains is paramount to avoid the penetration of a stain into the carpet fibres. Liquids (particularly hot liquids) must be attended to immediately. If allowed to cool or dry, the stain will be almost impossible to remove. Care must be taken as haphazard attempts at spot removal can cause permanent stain setting, pile distortion and loss of colour.

Steam Cleaning

Depending on usage carpet should be professionally steam cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Oily, sticky soil and well-settled soil that vacuums don't remove causes gradual but significant dulling of colours. To remove and revitalize your carpet, use hot water extraction cleaning (steam cleaning).

Steam Cleaning should only be undertaken by a professional carpet cleaner (who is a member of a professional association) in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3733:1995. Shampooing, do-it-yourself steam cleaning or dry cleaning is not recommended.

Other Ways to Protect your Carpet

Door mats – Place mats at all exterior doorways and entrances to carpeted areas to trap dirt and moisture from shoes. Clean mats regularly.

Furniture – Use furniture cups and occasionally rearrange furniture to alleviate pressure marks.

Chair pads should be used under desk chairs with castors. The use of furniture coasters to distribute the weight of heavy items is also recommended, especially for furniture with wheels. Take care when moving furniture with wheels by putting a protective barrier between the wheels and the carpet.

Rugs – Use scatter rugs or carpet protectors in high traffic areas and in front of chairs to protect carpet from localised and uneven wearing. Rugs should be cleaned regularly, at which time you should clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath. Check rugs for colourfastness before placing them on carpet, as the colour in some rugs may bleed through. After cleaning, allow carpet to dry completely before replacement of rugs.

Chemicals – Exercise extreme caution with all bleaches, tile cleaners, mildew removers, oven cleaners, drain openers, plant food and the like.  They are strong chemicals that can permanently discolour or dissolve carpet fibres.

Direct Sunlight – Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with curtains, blinds or awnings.