If your carpets are clean and smell fresh, it makes a big difference to your home.
Like many cleaning tasks, prevention is better than cure when it comes to carpets.
Regular Cleaning
Vacuuming your carpets regularly helps to keep them clean. It also reduces allergens such as house dust mites, pollen and pet dander.
Ideally, you should vacuum your carpets twice a week. Focus on areas where crumbs and dust gather, such as under the dining table or around the sofa.
In high traffic areas such as the hall and stairs, you might want to vacuum more frequently to stop your carpets getting flattened and grimy.
Choosing a Vacuum Cleaner
You can’t beat cordless for convenience. Most cordless vacuum cleaners are lightweight too, so are perfect for the stairs. A cordless vacuum is perfect for a quick whizz around, but the on-board battery can mean you run out of power before you’ve finished the job. Most brands sell spare batteries, which allow you to have one on charge all the time.
A traditional corded vacuum cleaner (very much your Helper’s preference) gives you unlimited cleaning time, and they are often much cheaper to buy than the cordless versions. Look out for a model with a long power cable, especially if you have stairs. Always vacuum with the cleaner at the bottom of the stairs to avoid the risk of it falling onto you.
Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a good range of tools. Upholstery and pet attachments are particularly useful, and a turbo tool can give you an extra boost when you need it.
We remain stalwart supporters of the Miele range. Look out for Miele bargains around the summer sales.
Treating Spills and Stains
Look at any supermarket cleaning aisle and you will see a huge selection of stain removers for carpets. Always make sure you use a product that is suitable for your type of carpet, and do a patch test in an inconspicuous area, just in case.
For dried-in stains, use a sponge to dab the stain towards the centre. Don’t be tempted to rub too hard or you may make the stain bigger! Use a dry white cloth to blot the area, then leave to dry.
Eco Alternatives
Bicarbonate of soda is a great stand-by for dealing with spills or pet accidents. It quickly neutralises nasty odours. Once you have removed the spillage from the carpet, sprinkle the dry powder over the affected area. Leave for an hour or two, then vacuum.
The Big Clean
Every six to twelve months it is well worth giving your carpets a deep clean by shampooing them. You can hire a machine from many DIY stores. Why not consider splitting the cost by sharing a weekend hire with a neighbour? I recently hired a Rug Doctor machine from my local supermarket. The whole process was surprisingly easy and gave my beige carpets a well-needed lease of life.
When you’re shampooing your carpets remember:
- Vacuum your carpets thoroughly before you begin
- Always read the instructions for the machine carefully
- Check the care instructions for your carpet and do a patch test first
- Use the correct cleaning solution for the machine
- Be careful not to make the carpet too wet
- Open windows when you have finished to let out the moisture, to avoid mildew.
Top Tips for Clean Carpets
- Choose your carpets carefully. If you are replacing carpets, avoid very pale colours, especially in high traffic areas such as halls and stairs. These colours might look beautiful when they are new, but they will show up every mark!
- Consider opting for carpets which are stain resistant.
- If you have young children or pets, this is especially important.
- Use barrier mats or rugs to protect carpets from muddy paws or food spills.
- Treat spills and stains immediately if you can – it will make them much easier to remove.
- Vacuum regularly to keep carpets looking their best.
If you’d prefer to relax and let us look after your carpets for you, contact us here to book your helper or let us arrange a service with one of our tried and trusted carpet cleaning partners.
Useful Links
Big Green Smile offer a range of eco-friendly carpet and floor cleaning products.
More tips here on shampooing, from Vax.
