A newly-carpeted home brings a sense of warmth and comfort, but it’s important that you treat and maintain your carpet regularly to keep it looking great for years to come. Carpets require a fair bit more work than other flooring solutions, but if you’re willing to put in a little bit of maintenance in order to keep your carpet clean you’ll ensure that your carpet looks and feels just as welcoming as when you first installed it.

Vacuum Regularly

Regular vacuuming is one of the most important things you can do to care for carpets. New carpets should be clean, but they often come with a surprisingly large amount of small fibres stuck inside during transport and installation. Vacuum your new carpet right away to remove these fibres, and don’t be alarmed if you’re finding them during the first week.

This is the single most important thing you can do to keep your carpet free of mould, allergens, and dust mites that can build and accumulate deep inside your carpet, so be sure to vacuum at least once a week, and preferably twice a week. For those with pets or allergies, consider purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a high-quality HEPA filter, which can help alleviate or remove allergens and pet dander.

Be Mindful of Location

Carpets are great for living rooms and bedrooms; they aren’t so great in kitchens and bathrooms for obvious reasons. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have potentially problematic areas, however. Carpets located in high traffic areas will wear down and accumulate dirt and grime faster than less-trafficked areas. Also consider carpets located outside of the kitchen and bathroom, as the carpet here can soak up grease and water and lead to mould or foul odours.

One tip that can help keep these areas protected is to use an area mat or protective carpet before or on that specific area. Yes, carpet on your carpet in a sense. Of course, removing shoes at entrance ways and encouraging family and guests to use shoe racks and wear slippers is an effective way of reducing wear and tear as well.

Blot, Don’t Rub

Even if you’re meticulously careful and clean, you will encounter spills and stains eventually. How should you deal with them? Firstly, try to deal with stains immediately. Furthermore, don’t rub affected areas as this can help the stain to set, and you don’t want that. Apply moisture by spraying a little water and then blot at the stain until it comes out. 

Persistent stains can often be removed with the help of chemical carpet cleaning solutions, but always test the product in a small area before fully applying it. Incorrect product usage can discolour your carpet or damage it rather than simply addressing the problem.

Protect and Maintain

Cleaning products are widely available in many Australian retailers, but they can vary in usage and potency. Carpet protectors often come in the form of a shampoo or spray and can provide you with a much more thorough and long-lasting carpet cleaning.

These products tend to be as effective as they are powerful, so be sure to follow instructions closely. You should remove furniture and clear out the room fully before using the product, and as always, test the product on a small area first to ensure that you aren’t using an inappropriate cleaning solution. Once applied, allow proper ventilation in the room for at least a day. Carpet protectors can keep your carpets healthy for a much longer time than simply vacuuming.

Give Your Carpets a Thorough Cleaning

These tips can help you maintain a great carpet and to keep it looking just like new even when it isn’t. Even with all of these tips, however, you’ll benefit your carpet greatly by having it professionally cleaned by experts such as Electrovac in Melbourne. Let us have a look at your carpet and we’ll bring it back to life.