Carpet Maintenance: Tips For Keeping Carpet Clean

It’s no mystery why carpet floors are still popular these days. Between their affordability, ease in installation, versatility and comfort, carpets remain a top option among homeowners within the flooring industry. But once homeowners choose a carpet style, contractor, budget and placement for new carpets, the last big question to ask is: how do I keep this carpet clean?

Alas, while carpet has tons of benefits, it can also be one of the most difficult types of flooring to keep clean. But not to fear -carpet can be kept clean with just a few key maintenance tips. We created this guide to help you keep your new carpet flooring looking brand new and clean for years to come.

How to Keep Carpet Clean

Carpet maintenance doesn’t need to be difficult! To care for your carpeting, follow these basic maintenance tips:

1. Vacuum weekly

A big advantage of carpet floors is that the fabric can naturally filter a room, trapping dust and other air particles. But to really benefit, those allergens should be vacuumed up. 

It is a good idea to vacuum carpet at least once a week to keep dirt from seeping into your floors. You may need to vacuum twice a week or more if there is heavy foot traffic in your carpeted areas, your pets roam the room regularly, or you have an older or lighter-duty vacuum. Additionally, vacuuming often can help prevent your carpet from premature aging. 

In addition to vacuuming carpet flooring yourself, a key way to maintain carpet flooring effectively is to have your carpets steam-cleaned professionally once a year. Do not overdo the steam cleaning, as over time this can shorten your carpet’s lifespan. 

2. Move your furniture 

Furniture dents in carpet flooring are inevitable. But if you leave heavy furniture in the same place for too long, they can wear terribly on your floors in those particular areas. 

To avoid this, move your furniture around every few months to encourage your carpet’s fibers to keep their integrity. Moving furniture ever so slightly will also help to encourage new foot traffic patterns, so your carpet can wear evenly. A pro-tip we’ve learned is that you can rub the edge of a coin across dents to prompt carpet fibers to stand up. 

Finally, moving furniture helps when it comes to vacuuming around furniture. Leaving furniture in the same place can cause dirt and dust to built up where the carpet is not accessible to the vacuum. It can be effectively to move your furniture away from carpeting to vacuum once in a while to make sure the entire floor stays clean.

3. Don’t let stains sink in 

It is important to spot treat stains as quickly as possible to help prevent a long lasting stain. When there is a spill on your carpet, dab your cleaning solution on the area — don’t rub it! — as soon as you can. This will help push the staining culprit around and discourage it from sinking in. 

The type of stain will determine what type of cleaning solution is appropriate. DIY options can vary from soapy water to vinegar to baking soda solutions. You can also purchase an effective carpet cleaner that works particularly well for your carpet’s material. Ask a flooring professional about the material your carpet is made of, and which cleaning products are ideal for that material. When in doubt, check the carpet manufacturer’s website.

A good idea is to keep your list of cleaning solution recommendations somewhere accessible — like on your fridge or in laundry room — so you don’t have to second guess in the moment. 

4. Consider carpet pads and cushions

When it comes to maintaining carpet floors, a good mindset is to think about its longevity as early as when you are choosing the carpet. These days, there is a wide range of carpet cushions and pads that will not only add comfort, but help extend the life of your carpet floors. Carpet pads and cushions protect the binding of your carpeting, which can effectively absorb the wear and tear of heavy foot traffic over the years. Pads can also make vacuuming more effective by improving air flow and suction pressure.

A good rule of thumb is to discuss pad and cushion options ahead of time with a contractor, since many carpet flooring manufacturers will recommend a particular thickness depending on the model of flooring. Keep in mind that the pad or cushion you opt for may also impact your flooring’s warranty. 

5. Keep carpeted rooms dirt-free

It may sound overly simple, but it helps to make a small effort to keep dirty items away from your carpeting. When it comes to carpet flooring maintenance, the little things really add up: like taking your shoes off. 

Protect your carpet flooring by keeping shoes — which carry dirt — off of the flooring. Additionally, discouraging food and other items that carry debris in carpeted areas can make a huge difference. If debris and dirt is unavoidable in your carpeted rooms, you can always add a layered area rug to better protect your flooring installation investment.

Trimming snags is another small maintenance issue to keep in mind. All carpets will snag eventually, especially if children or pets frequent the area. The best way to care for carpet snags is to gently trim them at their base with scissors. Never pull carpet snags, as it will just worsen the issue. 

We hope these tips for keeping carpet clean and tidy help put you at ease when it comes to proper flooring maintenance. Ultimately, carpet floors are among the easiest to maintain and keep clean. It’s part of why they remain so popular along with their comfort and versatility. If you are looking to install carpet, Modernize can help you find a flooring contractor to give you professional advice and get your flooring project moving right along.