If I could happily beat a topic to the death, it would be this one. We had a customer call frustrated last week that our technician didn’t get her carpet as clean as our last tech and that each time it is not as good as the last. This customer unfortunately has a synthetic carpet and multiple pets and a very busy schedule so we explained to her what you are about to read.
While poorly maintained carpets are a big part of our business, they also generally are much more difficult to clean and customers much more difficult to please than those with a well maintained carpet. The best thing you can do at home to keep your carpets looking top shape is to vacuum regularly.
Vacuuming does a number of things.
1. It removes surface dirt from carpet fibers reducing odor (Yep- read on!)
- When dirt and dust is allowed to hang out on your carpet fibers, it attracts greasy airborne oil. This creates a sticky dark oily residue that clings to fibers.
- Sticky oily dirt attracts BACTERIA.
- Bacteria creates waste that causes ODOR (running your kitchen exhaust fan before during and shortly after you are cooking will help to reduce this airborne oil.)
2. Vacuuming lifts carpet fibers so they stand up straighter and thus are more durable and have longevity
3. Vacuuming prevents dirt from being crushed down into the base of your carpet fibers.
These fibers are sharp and sandy and combined with foot traffic, quickly deteriorate the integrity of your carpet fibers
4. Vacuuming also means your carpets stay brighter longer.
Oil can be removed from carpets for a time, but as the oil travels further and further into the fiber, with each cleaning your carpets will get less and less clean. Eventually your carpeting will be come dull and increasingly difficult (or impossible) to get clean.
Carpet cleaning professionals often get blamed for this which is why I mentioned earlier that customers who do not vacuum regularly are more difficult to please. Not all cleanings are as effective exactly because of that oil and grime that causes damage over time.
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How often is often enough vacuuming to keep your carpets looking fresh?
- How much do you cook at home?
- Do you walk on carpeting with your shoes on, in bare feet?
- Do you have pets?
- Do you have kids?
Generally twice a week is recommended for general use, but if you have any of the above, then at least three times a week is important to keep your carpets looking their absolute best. Also, a quick vacuum doesn’t always do the job. You need to vacuum slowly, and in multiple directions. See our tips for vacuuming here. <How to vacuum like a grown-up>
Get your carpets cleaned at least twice a year if you have pets, kids or shoes on in the house, once a year if you don’t and PLEASE - if you don’t have the time or energy to maintain your carpets that’s fine by us, just don’t blame your carpet cleaner when they don’t come out looking stellar after years of deferred maintenance.
Happy cleaning!
