Cleaning Tips for Different Types of Carpets
Clean your carpets smarter, not harder
Carpet is your feet’s best friend. Along with adding warmth to a room and softening sound, carpets can make a house feel like a home. Whether your home is adorned with area rugs, wall-to-wall carpeting, or an eccentric selection of rugs, it’s important to understand the nuances of your type of carpet and how to keep it clean.
Cleaning Tips for All Carpet Types
While different rugs require specific cleaning regimes based on their pile, fabric, and texture, all carpeting can benefit from regular maintenance.
1. Install a Carpet Pad
A carpet pad is a layer of spongy material installed underneath your carpet. Carpet pads not only provide extra cushioning for your feet but also makes it easier for you to vacuum your rug or carpet and clean the floor underneath. Plus, this simple tool also absorbs sound and keeps winter drafts from seeping through the carpet.
2. Vacuum Regularly
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating that you should vacuum your carpet at least once a week or twice a week in high-traffic areas, such as the living room or entryway.
Invest in a quality vacuum cleaner for your specific carpet needs, and ensure that you adjust the vacuum to fit the necessary carpet height settings.
3. Clean Spills and Stains Immediately
It’s essential to clean carpet spills and stains as quickly as possible. The longer the stain sits, the deeper it will sink into your carpet, particularly when trying to remove hair dye from your carpet. When stains inevitably occur, use carpet cleaning products made for your specific type of carpet, or make a homemade cleaning solution to get rid of the unsightly spot.
4. Deep Clean Regularly
While it’s important to maintain a regular vacuuming schedule, it’s also critical to deep clean the carpets on a biannual or annual basis. To scrub your carpet like a pro, rent a steam cleaner to lift dirt, debris, and stains right out of your carpet. Or hire a local carpet cleaning company to tackle the task for you.
5. Remove Shoes
Get your family in the habit of walking through your home barefoot or in slippers to keep the carpets free of the dirt your shoes collect. Place a mat or basket in your garage or at your front door to store everyone’s shoes before walking into the house. If possible, ask your house guests to abide by the same rule.
Cleaning Tips According to Carpet Type
1. Avoid Using Bleach or Alkaline Products to Clean Wool Carpet
If you have carpet made of wool, keep bleach cleaning products far away from it. Using bleach to spot clean stains can damage the fibers and risk creating a patch in the wool carpeting. In addition, you should avoid using ammonia or other high-alkaline cleaners on the wool carpet for the same reasons as bleach.
2. Don’t Scrub Berber Carpet
Berber rugs and carpets are a dream to keep clean because their large loops don’t trap dirt like other carpet styles. However, if you stain this type of carpet, it’s critical that you don’t scrub at it but instead blot the stain from the outer edges to avoid spreading it. Scrubbing berber carpet can cause the material to snag or create fuzzy spots.
3. Skip the Water When Cleaning Sisal Carpet
This type of carpet consists of a natural fiber made from agave leaves, and it’s known for its durability and versatility. But the weaved pattern of sisal carpet is not particularly barefoot-friendly, and its natural fibers don’t react well to excess moisture. With that in mind, avoid exposing carpet to water when cleaning and vacuum up dirt and debris instead. Try blotting liquid spills with a dry paper towel, but ensure that you don’t scrub the fabric.
4. Use Carpet Stain Protector for Nylon and Wool Carpet
Some homeowners go the extra mile to preserve their nylon and wool carpets by using a carpet stain protector. This product is a spray that absorbs into your carpet to protect it from permanent stains. Fabric and stain protectors are recommended for nylon and wool carpets because they are more porous materials. Keep in mind that using a carpet stain protector doesn’t replace the need for regular maintenance and professional carpet cleanings.
5. Conduct a Hot Water Extraction on Polyester Carpet
According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, polyester carpet is certified stain resistant. But, of course, that doesn’t mean this type of carpet is exempt from regular upkeep and deep cleaning. To maintain your polyester carpet, rent a steam cleaner and spend the day giving it a hot water extraction. This cleaning technique will remove deeply embedded dirt and debris from the carpet fibers and should only occur once or twice a year.
6. Thoroughly Clean Olefin Carpet to Avoid Soiling
Olefin, also referred to as polypropylene, is a synthetic fiber that can be made from recycled plastic. While olefin carpet is a less expensive option than other alternatives, it’s not very durable or soil-resistant. That means that dirt and residue left behind by cleaning products get trapped in the olefin fibers easily, and the buildup leaves the appearance of an off-colored stain. To avoid soiling, ensure that the carpet is thoroughly rinsed after cleaning. For additional protection, install olefin carpet in a low-traffic area.