Carpet Care - Vacuuming
Carpets should be vacuumed from day one and then as often as possible thereafter. Forget the old wives tale about too much vacuuming.
- Ensure you have the correct vacuum cleaner with enough suction to lift dust and grit.
- A cleaner with a rotary brush or beater bar is best for maintaining a cut pile carpet.
- A suction only cleaner should always be used on loop pile carpets, especially woollen berbers.
- For several weeks after fitting you may notice fluff on the surfaces of your carpet. This is normal and caused by short or loose fibres left in the pile after finishing.
- Regular light vacuuming will remove any loose fibres and fluff.
- Occasional tufts may shoot up above the pile surface and can be cut back with a pair of sharp scissors to the normal pile height.
Carpet Care - Wet Cleaning
Wet cleaning is best left to the professionals. Proper shampooing or wet cleaning a carpet will help keep your carpet looking good but if carried out incorrectly can seriously damage your carpet.
Carpet Care - Caring & Maintainance Tips
- As a general rule always act quickly and mop up spills with a clean white absorbent cloth, NEVER use a coloured cloth
- Do try not to rub as this will drive the spill further into the pile.
- A wet and dry rechargeable hand held vacuum cleaner is useful for quickly lifting spills.
- Use a spoon to remove solid spills.
- Finally wipe lightly with a clean damp white cloth.
- Over 80% of the soiling on a carpet comes from dirt brought into the house on outdoor shoes. Try to stop this soiling at source.
- Shoes with a tread pattern can cause severe wear, particularly on stairs where a twisting motion is exerted as we climb steps.
- Ban anyone from wearing heavy soled footwear in the house altogether.
- Wearing slippers will help to prolong the life of your carpet.
- Use barrier mats at the main entrances to your home.
- Protection for at least the first four footsteps of people entering the home is recommended.
- Regular vacuuming is essential.
- A light vacuum once a day is better than a heavy vacuum once a week.
- Animal claws can cause considerable damage, particularly to loop pile carpets.
- Animal hair contains abrasive oils which accelerate fibre wear.
- Castor cups should be used on furniture legs.
- Try to periodically re-position your furniture to help equalize wear in the main walk areas.
- The carpet immediately in front of your favourite chair is particularly susceptible to accelerated wear – try and protect it with a rug or mat.