The most important step in keeping your new carpet clean and in top condition is proper carpet maintenance. Good maintenance habits will extend the life and beauty of your carpet.
Vacuuming
The first step in your maintenance routine must be vacuuming. Dust, dirt, and other materials that find their way onto your carpet can become embedded in the pile of the carpet. Over time this can affect the color and may also cause the carpet fibers to mat.
Vacuuming the debris out on a regular basis, about once a week, will prevent an accumulation that could affect the long-term appearance of your carpet. Use a vacuum with beater bars and strong suction. The carpet setting on most modern vacuum cleaners utilizes the beater bar to help loosen dirt and other particles from the carpet so they may be more easily removed.
Spot Cleaning
If something spills onto the carpet, it is important to try to remove the substance as quickly as possible. Fast action may prevent a stain. Be sure to keep a stain removal guide and a stain removal kit on hand for emergencies.
Stain Removal Kit
● Carpet cleaning solvent such as perchlorethylene
● Detergent solution; one teaspoon non-bleach powder mixed with one cup water
● Ammonia solution; one tablespoon ammonia mixed with one cup water
● Vinegar solution; 1/3 cup vinegar mixed with 2/3 cup water
● Absorbent white cloths or white paper towels
Pre-treatment
First, scrape the spill using the edge of a spoon. Begin at the outer edge of the spot and move towards the center. Next, blot any excess liquid by applying downward pressure on the area with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel. Do not attempt to rub the spot. Finally, wet a clean white cloth or paper towel with the cleaning solution you will be using. Use it to dampen the carpet but do not wet the carpet all the way through. If a cleaning solution is necessary, test it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it is compatible with your carpet.
Stain Removal Guide:
● Beer – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Blood – water, blot, detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot *use only cold ingredients
● Butter – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Chewing Gum – freeze gum with ice, shatter the frozen lump with a blunt object, vacuum, apply solvent, wait, blot and repeat as needed
● Cheese – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Chocolate – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Cocktails – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Coffee – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Crayon – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Excrement – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Fruit – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Furniture Polish – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Garden Soil – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Glue, white – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Grease – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Hair Spray – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Ice Cream – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Ink, point or felt – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Ink, permanent – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, vinegar, blot, water, blot
● Ketchup – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Mascara – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Mayonnaise – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Milk – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Nail Polish – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Paint, latex – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Rust – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Shoe Polish – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Soft Drinks – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Soy Sauce – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Tar – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Tea – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Toothpaste – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Type Ribbon – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Urine, fresh – blot, water, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Urine, dry – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, ammonia, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Vomit – detergent, blot, ammonia, blot, vinegar, blot, water, blot
● Wax, candle – freeze wax, shatter with blunt object, vacuum, solvent, wait, blot, repeat as needed
● Wax, paste – solvent, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
● Wine – detergent, blot, vinegar, blot, detergent, blot, water, blot
Professional Cleaning
Even if you perform routine maintenance and carefully clean any stains before they have a chance to set, you will still need to have a professional cleaning every twelve to eighteen months to ensure your carpet retains its beautiful appearance. A professional cleaning service may use a number of methods including steam cleaning, bonnet cleaning, rotary shampoo, and dry foam.
When choosing your carpet cleaner remember that they will be caring for an important, and expensive, component of your home. Ask the cleaner for references and a firm estimate.
Carpet Tips
Place doormats outside any external entrances into the home. This will limit the amount of dirt and debris that enters the home and makes its way into the carpet. Close blinds or curtains to limit direct sunlight on the carpet that can cause surfaces to fade. Finally, move the furniture in the room occasionally to give the carpet fibers a chance to recover. This may increase the life of the pile. Additionally, you can use floor protectors under the furniture to diminish the load on any one spot. For additional carpet and stain removal information, visit the Carpet and Rug Institute.
