How To Care For Carpet
You’ve invested in a brand new carpet, and now it’s time to look after it, to keep it looking its best for years to come.
Cleaning your carpet regularly will help to keep it in prime condition, saving you money in the long run, as well as preventing any nasty smells, allergens or bacteria.
Our simple care guide below is full of helpful hints and tips from the carpet experts. So whether you’re looking for guidance on stain removal or general maintenance, just scroll down to view it all…
Carpet Care Tips: DO
- Vacuum your carpets regularly
- Place doormats by entrance doors
- Regularly trim your pets’ nails to avoid scratching of floors
- Rotate furniture regularly
- Use furniture castors to minimise weight impact
Carpet Care Tips: DON'T
- Saturate the carpet when cleaning
- Rub at stains, but blot them gently instead
- Allow carpet to be in direct sunlight
- Pull loose carpet threads
- Use abrasive chemicals like bleach on carpets unless they are 100% polypropylene
Important: Do note use bleach on any carpet apart from 100% polypropylene carpets. Check the type of carpet fibres at the time of your purchase.
Stubborn stains like ink or red wine spills may be carefully dabbed at with a bleach mix on 100% polypropylene carpets only. Bleach will cause the colour of wool, cord or any other carpet type to fade so it is essential to ensure that your carpet is 100% polypropylene to avoid colour patching:
- When working with bleach it is important to work in a ventilated area and to wear rubber gloves and a mask to protect yourself from fumes.
- Make a solution in a spray bottle of half domestic bleach and half tap water.
- Spray the stain evenly all over and leave for a half hour to one hour.
- Rinse thoroughly with water.
- Brush away any remaining dirt.
If treated well, you can expect your good quality carpet to last for many years.
- Stains will disappear more easily if they are treated immediately after they occur:
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- A clean cloth or paper towels should be used
- Stains should be blotted, never rubbed
- The stain should be dabbed from the outside in to ensure it is contained
- The pile should be brushed up to help the carpet retain its appearance as it dries
- Any cleaning agents used should be applied to a cloth and not directly onto the carpet. If a cleaning agent is used then the area should be rinsed with clean water, but be careful not to saturate the carpet.
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- Use blinds or curtains to protect your carpet from fading which can be a result of direct sunlight.
- Use furniture castors to help avoid deep indentations in the carpet pile.
- Placing doormats at entrances and exits will help to trap dirt and moisture.
- Vacuum daily if possible during the first few weeks, this will eradicate the shedding (loose fibres working their way to the carpet surface). Regular vacuuming will also help to prevent dirt from getting into the carpet fibres.
- Carpet fibres rising above the surface should never be pulled out but maybe carefully trimmed to the level of the other tufts.
- It is common for there to be a slight odour present after a new carpet is fitted, which will normally disappear within a few days.
- A vacuum cleaner fitted with a beater bar or brush is recommended for cut pile carpets. A vacuum cleaner without a beater bar or brushes is best for loop pile carpets.
Here’s how to remove those pet-induced stains to help you bring your carpet back to its best.
- Look for an enzyme-based solution suitable for your carpet’s fibre type.
- Test the product on a small patch of your carpet to make sure that the colour isn’t affected. If all is well, apply to the damaged area.
- Once the solution has worked its way through the stain, rinse frugally with water.
- Domestic carpet washers can be bought or hired to tackle small stains, as well as vacuum cleaners specifically designed to pick up animal hairs.
Leave the mud to dry.
- Hoover up the dried muddy area thoroughly.
- Apply a carpet shampoo to a white cloth and blot from the outside of the muddy area inwards.
- Apply a spot remover to a cloth and continue to blot until the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
- Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove any residue.
- Rub the area with a white cloth or paper towel to dry.
- Brush the cut pile carpet with a soft brush to smooth out the fibres.
- Remove everything from the room, including furniture (if too heavy to move, place castors under the legs to protect from the moisture).
- Dust the skirting boards and thoroughly vacuum the carpet.
- Follow your steam cleaner’s instructions to prepare for cleaning.
- Start in a corner away from the door, so you won’t be walking on damp carpet. Don’t use short, back and forth strokes as you would with a vacuum.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Clear the floor entirely of all furniture and loose objects.
- Hoover the carpet thoroughly so as to eliminate the surface dust and dirt.
- If you have rented or bought a carpet cleaner, follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
- Work backwards from the room’s furthest end so that you can avoid stepping on the cleaned areas.
- Leave to dry.
- Remove any excess liquid by dabbing at the stain with a cloth or disposable paper towel.
- Blot until the liquid no longer transfers onto the cloth.
- Pour a small amount of water onto the stained area. Keep on blotting up the liquid.
- If the stain still remains, use a solution made up of equal parts of white vinegar to water and sponge onto the stain.
- Remember to test the vinegar in a hidden spot first, as it can bleach your carpet.
- Leave to sit for 5 or 10 minutes.
- Rinse and blot up the liquid with a clean white cloth.
- Remove any excess liquid by dabbing at the stain with a cloth or disposable paper towel, until the liquid no longer transfers onto the cloth.
- Pour a small amount of water onto the stained area. Keep on blotting up the liquid.
- Allow to dry.
- Brush with a soft brush to allow all fibres to fall smoothly into place.
- Treat the stain immediately before it has a chance to set in.
- Using a clean cloth, blot the stain – do not rub.
- Pour a little cold water directly onto the wine stain.
- Keep on blotting until no more of the stain comes out.
- Make a paste of 3 parts water to 1 part baking soda and apply to the stain.
- Allow to dry, then vacuum the area.
- Blot with a clean cloth and cold water, removing as much of the stain as possible.
- Blot a small amount washing up liquid onto the stain with a clean cloth, dabbing all around the stained area.
- Remove any excess water with a cloth and leave to dry. Brush up pile once dry.
- Pour a little white spirit onto a clean cloth and apply the cloth to the stain.
- Leave for two minutes, then gently blot up all the excess liquid.
- Pour a small amount of remover on to a cloth and blot repeatedly.
- Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove any residue.
- Dry the area with a white cloth or paper towel and brush pile into place.
- Treat the stain immediately, before it has a chance to set in.
- Fill a plastic bag with ice and lay over the stain for several moments to allow it to freeze the wax.
- Remove the plastic bag and use a blunt-edged knife to scrape off the wax.
- Lay a disposable paper towel or clean cloth directly over the stained.
- Using an iron set at warm, gently glide the iron over the paper towel or cloth.
- Repeat this until the cloth absorbs all the wax.
The advice and guidance provided above are for general information only and Carpet City Ltd. bears no responsibility or liability.
If in doubt always contact the manufacturer for product maintenance instructions.