How often should carpets be cleaned, and how to clean them
Your carpet cleaning questions – answered.
Your carpets can often be a source of confusion.
Where did that stain come from? Was it originally that colour? Should I clean it? How often? How?
There are many reasons to clean your carpet, from the satisfaction of the fresh look and feel to the arrival of visitors or even health benefits.
But how often should carpets be cleaned? And how?
At ServiceMaster Clean, we have 65 years of expertise as industry leaders in cleaning carpets, upholstery and furnishings in residential and commercial properties across the UK.
So, our experts know a thing or two about cleaning carpets.
In this blog post, they’ve answered some of those common burning questions, like how often should carpets be cleaned, and how to clean them.
How often should carpets be cleaned?
In our professional opinion, ensure you clean your carpets once a year.
We recommend upping this to twice annually for busier homes with children/pets due to the messes they can leave behind, like muddy footprints or dander.
You can hire a carpet cleaning machine or buy a carpet cleaner to clean your carpets.
However, a professional will know how to care for your carpet and clean it.
Buying carpets is expensive and not something you want to do regularly, so looking after your carpet is essential!
So, while cleaning carpets with a DIY method may seem like the easier option – there are lots of things to consider, including:
- What is the right equipment to use
- What products to buy/use
- How to use the equipment
- What to do with stains
The optimal ways to clean carpets at home
If you decide to clean your carpets yourself and not hire a professional, here are some tips.
Before you clean:
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Check for stains and spills
Look at your carpet and see if there are any stains/ spillages.
If they are, tackle these first, remembering to work from the edge of the stain to the middle and blot the area carefully.
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Blot, don’t rub!
When cleaning a stain, do not rub or scrub the carpet; it could damage the pile.
Wait for this to dry before cleaning the remaining carpet – you might have to tackle the stain several times before it disappears.
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Clear the decks
Remove all furniture from the area to be cleaned.
If possible (and weather allows), open as many doors and windows as possible to aid the drying of your carpet.
Not to mention – cleaning carpets is hard work – it will keep you cool!
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Vacuum the carpet thoroughly
Go up and down the room and then across the room.
Pay extra attention to corners and high-traffic areas.
Now you are ready to clean your carpet!
Carpet cleaning tips:
- Check the instructions for the machine and the product you are using and follow these carefully.
- Do not rush cleaning your carpet – allow yourself plenty of time.
- Remember to keep children and pets away from the area while you are cleaning.
- Once you have cleaned your carpet, it should take a few hours to dry – if possible, keep clear whilst the carpet dries to ensure the best result.
- Once the carpet is fully dry, you can move your furniture back into the room. I would advise placing squares of tin foil under the legs of furniture to ensure that there is no transfer of dye from the furniture onto the carpet – until the carpet is completely dry.
Need a carpet cleaner?
If you want a clean carpet cared for by professionals, find your nearest ServiceMaster Clean business, call 0800 021 3073 today or book a visit from our experts today in select locations.
