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How Often To Clean Carpet?


Everyone knows that your cleaning care routine should include carpets and hardwood floors. But how many of us deep clean carpets and rugs regularly? You might zip around with a vacuum once a week, but cleaning your home requires more thorough care. Carpets are full of pollutants, grime, and germs. So, how often should you clean your carpets? 

Why do you need to clean your carpet regularly?

Professional carpet cleanings can extend your carpets' life and keep your carpets looking fresh and new. If you have pets or children, are a smoker, or have allergies, you'll thank yourself for cleaning carpets and rugs more regularly. Moreover, if you habitually wear shoes indoors, weekly cleaning will remove dirt before they stain. 


Finally, deep carpet cleaning will prevent the need for damage restoration. Poorly looked after carpets wear thin and stain easily. You don't want to hopelessly scrub old stains when you can get rid of them now. Regular carpet cleaning can keep your home looking, feeling, and smelling fresh. Plus, it'll save headaches, time, and money.

How often should you clean your carpets?

Superficial carpet cleanings should be a weekly task for everyone. However, the frequency depends on your lifestyle, carpet usage, and type. Consider the following factors to determine how often you should be cleaning carpets.

Pets

Pet owners might find their carpets need regular cleaning. Quickly running around with your vacuum every few days should remove pet dander and hairs. You'll also need a more frequent deep cleaning schedule to remove stains and pet odors. 


Ensure you tackle carpet stains as soon as you notice them. Clean up pet urine straightaway to prevent stains. Professional cleaners may need to assist in getting rid of older marks. 


Deep clean your carpets every two to three months if you have puppies or playful kittens. If you have slightly older, well-trained pets, you can get away with deep cleaning twice a year. You could also consider getting a carpet cleaning expert to help.

Children

You might love your children, but they rarely look after your carpets. How often does your child track muddy shoes across your pristine floor or spill their juice on the white carpets? 


Do your best to soak up any spillages immediately so they don't cause water damage. Sweep up mud and debris so it doesn't get walked into the carpet fibers. Ink stains are more challenging to get rid of. Don't rub any stains, as this can worsen — blot with an isopropyl rubbing alcohol to neutralize the pigmentation.


Deep clean the high-traffic parts of your carpet twice a year. You will need to vacuum at least twice a week. 

Smokers

If you or anyone in your household smokes, you must get your carpets professionally deep-cleaned twice a year. Smoke smells are notoriously tricky to eliminate — the odors cling to fabrics in your home. However, you might be able to tackle smoke stains and smells yourself.


  • Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets overnight and vacuum it up the following day.

  • Leave bowls of baking soda or charcoal bags to absorb the smell.

  • Wash your walls with white vinegar and water solution.


Rug cleaning is more straightforward. Stick your rugs and machine-washable items in the washer with half a cup of baking soda to eliminate smells.

Allergies

You should regularly clean your carpets if you have allergies, such as asthma or hay fever. Dust and allergens can latch onto your carpet fibers and make symptoms worse. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or respiratory conditions, cleaning your carpets twice a year, if not more, is a good idea.


A regular vacuum or steam cleaning will help remove dust and other particles that exacerbate allergy symptoms.

Location

Carpets in high-traffic areas will need cleaning more often. For instance, your hallways and main living areas need regular deep cleaning. Whereas rooms you don't use often might get away with less frequent cleanings. 

Color

A light-colored carpet might look lovely and brighten up your room; it shows dirt and stains more readily. Darker-toned carpets hide dirt more easily. However, don't take this as a free pass. Regularly clean your darker carpets to eliminate invisible germs, dust, and other pollutants. 


So, while you need to clean light carpets more often, you should pay attention to your darker rugs and carpets.

A carpet cleaning schedule


Foot Traffic

Vacuuming

Spot Cleaning

Deep Cleaning

Light

Once per week

Daily or as soon as you notice spots

Once a year

Medium

One to two times a week

Daily or as soon as you notice spots

One or two times a year

Heavy

Two to four times a week

Daily or as soon as you notice spots

Every three to six months

Extreme

Daily

Daily or as soon as you notice spots

Every two to three months


How to clean your carpets?

Learn how to effectively clean your carpets and remove stains using everyday household products and equipment.

1. Soak up spills

You need to soak up liquids straight away. Don't ignore pet urine, spilled drinks, or any other liquids. The key to water extraction is to lay down highly absorbent paper towels and press down on them with your body weight. 


If the spillage is more than water, you may want to lay salt or baking powder to prevent it from staining and smelling.

2. Begin vacuuming

The next step is to begin vacuuming your carpet. You should regularly vacuum, at least once a week. You should vacuum more often if you have kids, pets, or light-colored carpets, you should clean daily. Use a steam cleaner to remove any particles the vacuum cannot reach.


For upholstery cleaning, use your vacuum's extension to access crevices. You should also stick machine-washable fabrics in the washer every few months.

3. Use carpet cleaning products

Carpet cleaning products are regularly available at most stores. You could also shampoo your carpet to keep it fresh for longer. Alternatively, you likely have the right ingredients in your home to create carpet cleaners. Combine water and white vinegar mixture to eliminate stains and foul odors. 

Summing up

Regarding carpet stains, the faster you act, the better the chances of obliterating the stain. Various DIY carpet cleaning methods can help you tackle the most common carpet stains, such as using a combination of baking soda and vinegar or dish soap and warm water. However, consider getting your carpet professionally cleaned for tougher stains, like those caused by red wine or pet urine.


Professional carpet cleaning services use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to clean your carpets deep, removing even the toughest of stains. They also have the expertise to assess your carpet's fiber type and condition to determine the most effective cleaning method.


While regular vacuuming and spot cleaning can help prolong your carpet's lifespan, getting your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months can also help prevent the buildup of dirt and grime, which can harm your carpet's fibers. In the long run, caring for your carpet can save you money and help maintain a clean and healthy home environment.


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