Five tips for clean carpet

It is warm, comfortable and attractive, but a carpet also has valuable practical functions. It insulates against the cold, it absorbs sound and it cushions as well as protects the floor. On top of that, the modern carpet is highly durable, stain-resistant and is easy to care for. Keeping it clean is the best way to prolong a carpet's life. Here are some further tips for ensuring that your carpets stay clean.

Vacuuming

Vacuum your carpet every week. Frequent vacuuming (once a week or more often, depending on traffic) is the best way to keep your carpet in good shape. Here is how to get the most out of your vacuuming efforts: - Go back and forth using slow, even strokes. - Use your hose and attachments so as to vacuum underneath furniture. - Get rid of fluff and hair, and use a lint roller to help to lift the fluff, if necessary. - Change the bag regularly so as to ensure that the suction power is optimised.

Use protective runners

Use protective runners or rugs for an easy way so as to prevent excess dirt from settling on your carpet. Use the runners in high-traffic areas, especially hallways. The runners can be strips of offcut or contrasting carpet which is 'whipped' along the edges by a commercial carpet supplier to finish them. It is much cheaper to replace a runner or rug than an entire carpet.

Lift furniture

Never haul furniture along the room when you rearrange a carpeted room. Pulling furniture over carpets causes unnecessary wear. More importantly, you can snag a loop of yarn, rip a carpet seam or bunch and wrinkle the carpet. If the carpet is made of nylon, the friction that is caused by the dragging can melt the fibres. However heavy and awkward the furniture is, always lift the furniture to move it.

Block out UV rays

To prevent the carpet from fading, try to protect it from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Draw curtains and blinds on the sunny sides of the house during peak daylight hours. Take care Avoid carpets or rugs cleaning methods such as carpet shampooing or methods that use dry powders and powerful rotating brushes. They may cause harm from the force of the brushes or by leaving behind residual detergent or solvent. The most effective way to get your carpet clean is to use a professional steam cleaner.