25 Easy Ways To Maintain a Clean Carpet

I love carpets! And with that comes a burden and responsibility to keep my carpets clean in my home. Truth be told, a smelly and dirty carpet is not an interesting thing to set our eyes on.

At the very heart of our homes, lies a carpet. You could have one, two, or multiples i.e. most rooms in your home have one. I know am speaking for the majority when I say there is what we want to experience with our carpets:

A spotless and fresh-smelling carpet!

But like all things cherished, your carpet needs care.

I have cleaned my carpets at home (and still do) and there are times I seek professional cleaning service. Why? In this article, I will list simple and easy ways I engage to keep my carpets clean and smelling fresh (at least most of the time LOL!). And also highlight when and why I seek professional cleaning services.

Regular vacuuming

This is the foundation of carpet care.

How often should a carpet be vacuumed? Well, I would say this depends on several things such as people traffic (the higher the traffic, the more often it should be vacuumed), the locality of your home i.e. some areas are more prone to dust than other areas, are there pets in your household so pet hair/fur, and kids in your household. The frequency of vacuuming varies from household to household depending on the need.

I prefer doing it weekly and that has worked well for me.

Here’s an awesome tip: Before vacuuming, sprinkle baking soda sparingly on your carpet and let it rest for a few minutes before you vacuum. Baking soda absorbs any bad smell and gives your carpet that fresh smell after. If you do essential oils, you can add a few drops to the baking soda. Lemon or lavender essential oils are my favorites in this case.

So, when it comes to vacuuming your carpets;

1. Vacuum regularly to remove dirt, dust, debris, fur, etc. that can accumulate on the surface.
2. Invest in a vacuum cleaner with good suction power and a HEPA filter to capture small particles and allergens.
3. Make sure you are vacuuming in different directions to smoothly pick up any embedded particles.
4. While at it, please vacuum the baseboards and corners to prevent dust and cobwebs from settling back onto the carpet.
5. Most importantly, when done vacuuming, remember to empty the bag/canister and clean the filters to maintain optimal suction power.

What if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner?

Well, there are several ways you can still clean carpets if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner.

These are some of the ways i clean my small area rugs and i feel they can be as effective for mid and large carpets.

1. Sweep the carpet with a good broom; the kind of broom that will not shred on your carpet. Then use a dustpan to collect the particles.
2. Use a carpet sweeper. This is a manual device that has rotating brushes that effectively pick up debris and particles. It is a good alternative to a vacuum cleaner if you get a good one. Comes in handy for quick cleanups.
3. A lint roller is good when picking up pet hairs and small debris off the carpet.

Handling spills to keep a clean carpet

A few days ago, I poured a full cup of tea on my carpet. Sigh! The quickest thing I thought of doing was picking a brush and some soap and scrubbing out the spill. Wrong move! The spill found its way deeper into the fibers of the carpet, and I had to seek professional help.

Spills are inevitable for as long as we are consuming foods and drinks on our carpets.

One thing to note, attend to a spill as quickly as you can to prevent it from sinking deep into your carpet’s fibers.

Here are a few tips to guide you on how to clean a spill off your carpet.

1. Attend to the spill as soon as you can to avoid its contents spreading and sinking deep into the fibers of the carpet.
2. Blot, don’t rub! Rubbing pushes the liquid deeper into the carpet. So, use a clean white cloth or paper towel to blot the spill. Other items you’ll need include; a container with cold water, a mild soap solution, and a clean dry cloth.
3. Start by working your way from the outer edge of the spill towards the center to avoid spreading. Apply gentle pressure when blotting to absorb as much liquid as you can. If the paper towel or cloth gets absorbed, change and continue blotting until you can absorb as much spill as possible.
4. A mixture of mild dish soap and cold water can be used for most spills. Mix a few drops of dish soap with cold water, dampen a clean cloth, and blot the affected area to remove any remaining residue. Then, blot with a clean, dry cloth.
5. Some spills, such as red wine and coffee, may be a little bit stubborn to blot out with just a cloth and soap solution. They may require specialized stain removers. Be sure to read through the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the product.

Your pet/s and a good, clean carpet

It is not an easy task to keep a carpet clean while you have a pet or two. But with time, as you get the hang of it, your rags and carpets will do just fine. Apart from the regular vacuuming to keep pet’s fur and hairs at bay, there are a few additional tips to help maintain a clean carpet while enjoying the company of your pets.

1. With pets in your household, get a vacuum cleaner that’s suitable to thoroughly suction pet hair and dandle.
2. Keep your pets’ claws trimmed to prevent them from snagging and damaging the carpet fibers.
3. Regularly groom your pets to reduce shedding. Brushing your dogs and cats can help remove loose fur and prevent it from ending up on your carpet.
4. Just like any other spill, address pet accidents promptly! Blot up liquids, clean with an enzymatic cleaner designed for pet stains, and follow up with a carpet stain remover if needed.

Handling your furniture

What is the ‘ideal imagery’ of furniture on carpet?

Couch on the carpet, a coffee table, a cozy corner with furniture and a rug, a bed and a nice carpet under it, etc. This is actually a real picture of how we place carpets in our homes. We need to know how to handle having furniture on our carpets, keep the carpets clean, and extend their life.

Therefore;

1. Rearrange your furniture occasionally to prevent uneven wear and traffic patterns on your carpet.
2. Place furniture coasters or pads under heavy furniture legs to distribute the weight evenly and prevent indentations.
3. Lift and vacuum under area rugs periodically to prevent dirt and dust buildup.
4. If you have area rugs, rotate them periodically to ensure even wear.

What else should you do to maintain a clean carpet?

Sometimes, it is the small everyday habits that help in maintaining a clean carpet. By doing this, we minimize the amount of dust and particles that spread onto the carpets. This is what we want! Here are some additional tips you can consider.

1. Dust and debris from upholstery and curtains can settle on these surfaces and eventually transfer to your carpet, so vacuum or clean them regularly.
2. Maintain proper indoor humidity levels to prevent mold and mildew growth, which can damage carpets.
3. Avoid using carpet powder products. Some carpet powders can leave residue and be difficult to fully vacuum out, so use them sparingly or avoid them altogether.
4. Implement a ‘no-shoes policy’ in your home. You can encourage your household members and guests to adhere to the policy by placing friendly reminders/signs near entrances, offering alternative footwear such as flip-flops, or offering disposable shoe covers to accommodate those who can’t remove shoes for some reason.

Engage professional carpet cleaning services

Even with regular sweeping and vacuuming, your carpets need some professional love from time to time. Beyond the surface-level cleaning achieved through regular vacuuming and spot treatments, professional cleaners employ specialized equipment and techniques to extract deep-seated dirt, allergens, and stains.

How often should you clean your carpets professionally?

I do this twice per year. Why? Because I feel the regular maintenance I do can keep them nice and tidy for 6 months, do a professional clean, and repeat the cycle for another 6 months. Ultimately, the best schedule for professional carpet cleaning will vary from one household to another. It’s essential to strike a balance between maintaining cleanliness, preserving the carpet’s condition, and staying within your budget.