Carpet is expensive, and whether you’ve just installed new carpet or you’re trying to coax a few more years out of your old carpeting, there are plenty of ways to extend its life without breaking the bank. Kids, pets, and even just everyday traffic can wreak havoc with new carpeting, but you don’t have to be fighting a losing battle. Here are four of the simplest ways to keep your carpet clean and well-kept.
1. Invest in Carpet Padding
Carpet padding not only makes carpeted floors more comfortable to walk on, it actually extends the life of your carpet. Without padding, the carpet absorbs all of the impact from footsteps and furniture, which lowers its life expectancy.
If you buy new carpet, replace the padding as well. Make sure you consult with your carpet company about the warranty of your carpet or pad as well as what type of pad will work best with the carpet you want.
2. Use a Good Vacuum
A good vacuum might be the easiest trick to extend the life of your carpets. Everyone needs a vacuum, after all, and if you invest in a high-quality machine instead of purchasing the cheapest one on the market, you’ll find that you’ll make up the difference in the improved quality of your carpet.
In addition to owning a high quality vacuum, you’ll need to use it often, of course. Vacuuming at least twice a week (or more often when you have children or pets) will improve your carpet’s lifespan. Vacuuming the high traffic areas of your home (such as entryways) even more often will keep them looking as clean and fresh as the rest of your carpet.
3. Clean Your Carpet Annually
If you have a carpet cleaner, pull it out at least once a year. If you have pets or children, do it more often if you can.
Don’t wait until the carpet looks dirty to pull out the steam cleaner. The particles that cause the most damage to your carpet are so small that they usually go unseen, meaning that by the time you can see the oil and dirt on your carpet, the damage has already been done.
Regular professional cleaning will also help prevent the carpet from matting by removing the oils from the fibers so that they don’t clump together.
If you don’t have a carpet cleaner of your own, hire a professional to come out annually and clean your carpets for you. Companies like Babayan’s will come out and clean rugs, upholstery, or carpet, or you can bring your area rugs to them.
4. Rotate Furniture
Even if you love the set-up of your living room the way it is, change it up every once in a while to give the well-trafficked areas of your carpet a rest. Rotate the furniture so that people are forced to alter their path through the room, and move heavy furniture to give the carpet underneath a break.
When you’re moving heavy furniture like sofas or pianos, place a layer of heavy cardboard or plywood between it and the carpet to act as a protective barrier.
In addition to rotating the furniture, use carpet protectors under the legs of heavier tables, chairs, and bookshelves to help distribute the weight more evenly.
Protecting your carpet doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. Just using these four simple tricks will extend the life of your carpet considerably, leaving it looking clean and brand new for years to come.
