Can These 5 Carpet Cleaning Tips Double The Life Of Your Carpet?

The experts tell us that keeping your carpet "fit" will extend its life just like our fitness extends our life.

At 50 years of age, some people look like they are in their 30's while others look like they are in their 60's. Genetics play a part, but it's also how they take care of themselves. The same is true for carpet.

10-year-old carpet can look new while a carpet that is only a few years old is worn out and needs to be replaced. The quality of the carpet sometimes accounts for these differences, but most often it can be attributed to the level of care the carpet received.

Professional carpet cleaning companies like to emphasize the need to have your carpets deep cleaned. According to them, they have the best cleaning method. It's true that you should have your carpets cleaned by a professional, but that is only one of the five processes that you should perform as part of a routine maintenance program to keep your carpets looking like new.

It's all too obvious, but few people realize how much damage to your carpet is preventable. Here are a few examples:

Soil Prevention: - Keep the areas outside the entries to your home clean. - Collecting oil, tar, sand, mud, chemicals, etc., is the job of long mats that should be placed outside and inside all entries to your home.

Vacuuming: Regular vacuuming can remove more than 80% of dry soil. Under a microscope, dry soil has razor sharp edges that can cut and scar carpet fibers. The scars cause the reflected light to bend, creating a dull hazy appearance on the carpet surface. Daily vacuuming is required for all heavy traffic areas such as entry mats, foyers, and halls. Medium traffic areas can be vacuumed twice a week, while light traffic areas can be addressed once a week. Note: Consult the Carpet and Rug Institute for recommendations of vacuum cleaners.

Spotting: Immediately blot spills with a clean, white, absorbent towel and repeat until the spill is full absorbed. A portable spot removal extractor can be used for a final rinse. Avoid the use of chemicals as these can "set" the stain and make it difficult or impossible for a professional cleaner to remove at a later time.

Interim Cleaning: Just as we recommended with vacuuming, some areas in the home need more frequent cleaning than others. Have your carpet cleaner address those areas several times a year as required.

Restorative Deep Cleaning: Deep cleaning should be performed once a year under normal circumstances. To maintain their warranty, major carpet cleaners such as Shaw and Mohawk require hot water extraction (Steam Cleaning).

What is in your carpet? According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, carpet can hold as much as one pound of soil per square foot before it is noticed.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC www.iicrc.org) has performed numerous studies that estimate the typical soil composition found in carpets to be:

- 74% Insoluble - Sand, clay, minerals, and debris tracked in from outside plus fibers from fabrics, people, newspapers, clothing and plants.

- 12% Water Soluble - Fluid residues normally from food and drink spills, and sugar or starch.

- 10% Dry Solvent Soluble - Tracked in asphalt sealant and tar, and from body oils, machinery, cooking vapors or general work process.

- 4% Moisture of undetermined origin.