Knowing how to keep carpets clean helps to reduce dust and make your home look cleaner all the time. But, if you have kids or pets, keeping your carpets clean can be a real challenge. As the largest surface in the home, a dirty carpet can make your entire place look messy. To make matters worse, every time someone walks across a dirty floor their footsteps kick up dust and carpet fibers which then float around in the air and settle on your furniture.
In other words, keeping your carpets clean helps keep your entire home cleaner, too. Read on for five easy tips that will help:
HOW TO KEEP CARPETS CLEAN:
1. MAKE A “NO SHOES” RULE
Many people feel uncomfortable asking visitors to remove their shoes at the door, but it’s becoming a more commonly accepted practice. In some regions, you don’t even have to ask: it’s common courtesy because everyone knows it helps keep carpets clean. One way to avoid awkwardness is by providing a bucket of clean house slippers for guests to wear. You can also explain that shoes track in dirt, germs, toxins and harmful bacteria which they grind into our carpets. Becoming a shoe-free home protects your family from these things and reduces the wear and tear on your carpet’s fibers.
2. TREAT SPILLS IMMEDIATELY
The longer carpet stains are left untreated, the more difficult they are to get out. Over time, stains can become permanent, so it’s essential to clean them quickly. On treated carpets, immediately blotting stains with a clean, dry towel will lift the majority of the mess. Follow with a rag dipped in warm, soapy water and press — not rub — to lift out the rest of the spot, then press another dry cloth to absorb moisture. If the stain persists, try these specific methods to clean carpet stains.
3. PUT MATS AT ALL EXTERIOR DOORS
Mats placed on both sides of exterior doors give people and pets a place to wipe their feet and help keep carpets clean. These mats will also catch the majority of loose debris tracked in on shoes (though not the bacteria and pesticides). Vacuum, sweep or shake out your mats every couple of days, so they don’t collect dirt. Set them outside on a rainy day or hose them down every couple of weeks, too.
4. PARTY IN THE BACK
When throwing a cookout, pool party, or just a play date for the kids, focus the fun on your outdoor spaces to keep people from tromping all over your home. A sign by the back door directing guests to your closest bathroom helps, and so does keeping coolers on the patio or deck stocked with drinks and snacks. You’ll still get to enjoy entertaining, but you won’t have to worry about keeping carpets clean.
5. VACUUM OFTEN AND WELL
Vacuum wall-to-wall at least once a week and more often in high-traffic areas to keep carpets clean. It’s important to use the crevice attachment around the base of walls and furniture, too, since dust and pet hair often collect there. Even daily vacuuming won’t get the deep-down grit and dirt out of your carpets if you aren’t doing it the right way. So, learn to vacuum properly, and keep your vacuum clean to ensure it’s working well.
CARPET CLEANING TIPS FOR PET OWNERS
Inspect your floors often. Even house-trained dogs and litter box-trained cats have accidents, so inspect your carpets often for accidents and treat pet stains quickly when you find them. Brush your pet twice a week. Brushing helps remove excess hair before it can wind up on your floor. My dog and cats love these grooming gloves that remove excess hair — they’re easy to use and do a fantastic job. Vacuum their favorite spots daily. Using a hand-held vacuum on Fido’s favorite sunny spot on the floor is just one of many tips to control pet hair in your home.
If you need extra help steaming those carpets cleaned give the professionals at Esteamed Solutions a call!
