Carpet Cleaning Tips

There are many benefits to having carpeting in your home, including the fact that it is nice and warm for the feet. But carpeting requires a lot of care to keep it looking good. Vacuuming regularly is important, but it isn't enough. It is also necessary to actually clean the carpets at least once a year, and even more often if there is a lot of traffic in your home or if the carpeting is light in colour and shows the dirt easily. You have a couple of options when it comes to carpet cleaning. You can buy or rent a carpet cleaning machine and do the work yourself. Or, you can call in professionals who have all of the right equipment, as well as industrial-strength cleaning solutions. If you choose to do the cleaning yourself, here are some tips that will help.

Test For Colourfastness

Not all carpeting is colourfast. This means that when it is wet, the dyes in the carpet fibers will run. Before you do any intense carpet cleaning, you need to test the carpeting to make sure that it is colourfast. Clean a small area of carpeting in an area where it can't be seen, such as in a closet. Let it sit for an hour or so, then check to see if the colour has run. Or, you can dampen a light coloured towel and press it into the carpeting. If the towel doesn't stain, the carpeting is likely colourfast.

Protect Your Furniture

Before you start the carpet cleaning process, you need to take steps to protect your furniture. Take as much furniture out as you can, and place it in another room until the carpets have been cleaned. If you can't move the furniture, cover it with plastic, especially any bases or legs, to keep the furniture from becoming stained by the cleaning solution.

Vacuum And Spot-Clean The Carpets

Vacuuming the carpets will make cleaning them much easier. This is going to loosen any dirt that is in the carpet fibers, so the carpet cleaning machine will be able to suck up the dirt and get rid of it. If there are any stains in the carpeting, these should be spot-cleaned before you start using the carpet cleaning machine.

Open the Windows

Even if you are using a steam cleaner, which sucks out most of the water used to clean carpets, there is still going to be some water in the carpets. To avoid mold from developing, make sure that you open the windows in your home so the carpets can air out. If you have any fans, turn them on as well for increased ventilation.