9 Tips That’ll Keep Your Carpet Looking Like New in Between Cleanings
Extend the life of your carpet between cleanings with these simple steps
Leaving dirt, dust, and grime to build up between professional carpet cleaning can lead to irreversible staining. Keep that flooring looking and feeling as good as new between professional deep cleaning with these nine tips.
1. Stop Dirt at the Source
Be proactive instead of reactive by using doormats at every exterior entrance to your home. By doing this first, you can stop grime from entering your house in the first place (and in turn, make every tip below a little easier!).
After a rainy or snowy day, you can lay an additional mat or towel inside your entry as well. This can be especially nice during the winter when it’s too cold to remove and leave shoes outdoors.
2. Vacuum Regularly
Make it a weekly habit to vacuum your carpet—especially the highest traffic spaces in your home like hallways, entryways, and the living room.
How often you vacuum depends on how many people live in your house. A common rule of thumb is to vacuum once a week for every heartbeat in your home. So if it’s you, a partner, and a pet, vacuum three times per week.
When vacuuming, make sure to go in different directions multiple times to make sure all the dirt is sucked up. Some carpet textures may hold dirt in sneaky places, so this ensures that even the smallest pieces are removed.
Also, it’s important that you use the right vacuum for your needs. The market today is packed with a wide variety of makes and models, designed to handle specific issues. So, if your top priority is removing pet hair around your home, consider a pet vacuum model that can tackle even the hair of an Akita.
Or if you have a lot of stairs that need to be cleaned, look for a model with different attachments flexible enough to get into all the cracks and crevices.
3. Treat Stains Right Away
The best way to clean a stain is to do it immediately before it sets.
As soon as a spot or spill happens, dab (don’t rub!) water or a cleaning solution on the area. Then, blot the area with a cloth or paper towel, moving from the outside in. Be patient and purposeful as it may take a bit of time. For especially tough stains, consider trying the hot water extraction method to clean your carpet.
If the spot remains, it’s time to hire a professional cleaning company near you. Many offer spot treatments in addition to full carpet cleaning as well.
4. Place Rugs Strategically
Add an extra layer of protection to your carpet by strategically placing rugs and runners in high-traffic areas or where a lot of eating and drinking happens, like:
Hallways
Entry points
Living room
Den
Rugs will minimize stains and help avoid carpet wear and tear—all while bringing new life into your space.
5. Rearrange Furniture Quarterly
While rugs can help hide your worn-out areas, rearranging your furniture every four months can help prevent wear and tear from happening in the first place.
By regularly changing the layout and flow of your space, you can more evenly distribute wear and tear on your flooring from foot traffic and the weight of heavy furniture items, like couches.
6. Take Off Your Shoes
Consider asking family members and guests to remove their shoes at the front door to avoid dragging excess dirt and grime into your house.
Transitioning into a no-shoes household can be awkward at first, especially if you’ve never asked guests to take off their shoes before. Make it a bit easier by placing shoe racks and benches at your front entrance so that guests take the hint and have a comfortable space to take off and put on their shoes.
7. Wear Socks
While you should be shoeless in your house, you shouldn’t be barefoot (at least not all the time). Our feet are naturally sweaty, which can leave oils on your carpet that can attract and seal in extra dirt.
To combat this, offer complimentary slippers for guests who are wearing shoes that don’t require socks, like sandals or heels. Stock up on a few affordable pairs and leave them by the door.
8. Skip Powder Cleaners
You may be tempted to use carpet powders to help eliminate smells and odors in your carpet, but we don’t recommend it.
These are marketed as a way to keep your carpets smelling nice, but they don’t do anything to truly clean your carpets. In fact—they can cause damage to your floors and leave a residue that can ultimately damage your flooring.
Skip these completely and opt for more regular vacuums or carpet cleanings instead.
9. Change Air Filters
Dust and dirt don’t just come from your guests, it can be in the air too. By changing your dirty air filter regularly (every 60 to 90 days), you will have fewer particles fall on your carpet and other belongings.
As a bonus, a clean filter will also help your HVAC system save more energy (and more money) in the long run.