The Ultimate Carpet Care Guide: How to Properly Care for your New Carpet Flooring

By / October 10th, 2023 / There are currently 0 comments

Unwanted spills and stains are a part of everyday life. However, they don’t have to be the demise of your new carpet flooring. 

Your carpet is a natural hoarder. From dirt and grime to liquids and grease, it can secretly stash up to 20kg of unwanted debris, which, after time, can seriously damage the quality of your carpet. 

Of course, prevention is always better than cure, which is why here at Morgan & Quinn, we’ve put together the ultimate carpet care guide to help you keep your new flooring looking and feeling better for longer. Read on for our top carpet care tips!

Table of contents 

Why carpet care is important

On your list of things to do, the upkeep of your new carpet flooring is probably near the bottom. However, if you want to keep your carpet fresh, clean and soft underfoot, it’s essential to maintain a consistent carpet care routine. 

Your carpet could be dirtier than your toilet seat, so keeping your flooring clean is important not only for the sake of its appearance but also for your and your carpet’s health. A consistent carpet care routine will prevent carpet mites from taking hold, dirt from building up and health-related issues from occurring.

How often should I clean my carpet?

Hoover

You should hoover your carpet 2-3 times a week, paying special attention to high-traffic areas with the most potential of dirt being brought in.

Deep clean

As a general rule of thumb, you should deep clean your carpets at least once a year. However, if you have pets, children or a smoking habit, you should look to deep clean your carpet quarterly.

Time sensitive cleaning

Spills happen; however, untreated spills turn into stains, which can greatly impact the quality and appearance of your carpet in the long run. Cleaning up and tackling spills immediately gives your carpet a better chance of remaining in tip-top condition.

If you live in a household with pets or children where spills are expected, you should shop for a carpet that caters for this. For example, the Abingdon Stainfree range offers durable carpets designed to withstand accidents. You can read more about their Stainfree collection and other designs in our recent blog, The Best Abingdon Carpets for your Home. 

Hoovering benefits

Hoovering will never be fun; however, before you consider skipping a week, you should consider the various benefits that a daily run around with the vacuum can have on your home.

Whilst your carpet flooring might look clean at a glance, it is a potential breeding ground for dirt, dust, mites and debris. With this in mind, you should aim to hoover at least 2-3 times a week, or more so if you have children or pets. 

If you are a smoker, you should also increase the frequency of your hoovering habit. Smoke infiltrates the carpet’s fibres, eventually making your home smell and contributing to illnesses.  

A regular hoovering schedule will prevent the build-up of debris, which will maintain the quality of your carpet for longer.

Hoovering tips

Whilst hoovering isn’t rocket science, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you’re making the most out of this staple cleaning habit. Here are our top three. 

  1. Hoover in both directions

Hoovering both with and against the direction of the carpet fibres will loosen any debris, allowing your hoover to pick up more dirt. 

  1. Empty your hoover bag frequently

Over time, your hoover will collect a lot of dirt and debris. If this isn’t emptied, it can start to impact the overall performance of your hoover. What’s more, you can end up spreading dust around your home rather than cleaning it up, so it’s essential not to skip this step!

  1. Take your time

While it can be easy to whizz around your home with the hoover, giving your hoover time to do its job properly is important. You will pick up more dust and dirt by hoovering slowly, resulting in an overall cleaner carpet and home.

How to clean your carpet

Many people choose to hire a professional, which can be quite costly, or they choose to avoid carpet deep cleaning completely by opting for alternative floorings, such as our laminate flooring range by Furlong or Lifestyle Floors vinyl flooring.

However, cleaning your carpet doesn’t have to be costly, and you can gain the same results as professionals, without the price tag, by renting a professional carpet cleaning machine or a carpet steam cleaner. Whilst this method will require you to set aside time, your carpet will most definitely thank you for it in the long run. 

Choose a suitable carpet shampoo, invest in some freshener, and you will be well on your way to healthy and hygienic carpet flooring.

For a detailed look on how to clean specific spills and stains from your carpet, read our in-depth guide.

General carpet care tips

As well as hoovering and cleaning your carpet, there are a few day-to-day actions that you can do to prevent the build-up of dirt.

Remove your shoes 

Shoes are the number one way that dirt gets into your house. Whether you’ve been for a walk outdoors or a trail around the shops, you bring a little bit of the outside indoors every time you come home. Removing your shoes before walking on your carpet will dramatically reduce the amount of dirt and debris caught up in its fibres.

Protect high-traffic areas

A high-traffic area is a place in your home with the most activity and is at the most risk of damage. You can protect these areas by placing rugs over them, which are much easier to clean and less costly to replace. Alternatively, you can ensure you spot clean high-traffic areas more often to reduce the potential for damage.

Entrance mats

Entrance mats are a simple but effective way to protect one of the highest traffic areas in your home. Prevention is better than cure, so stopping dirt at the door where possible is one of the best ways to maintain your carpet’s health. 

What not to use on carpets

It’s just as important to know what not to use to clean your carpets as it is to know how to do it properly. Cleaning your carpet incorrectly can lead to long-term damage, avoid the following items when cleaning carpets.

Bleach

Bleach can be a miracle worker when getting stains out of things such as white t-shirts, but it is absolutely one to avoid when cleaning carpets. The best thing it will do is  replace your existing stain with an unsightly bleach stain instead.

White wine

You’ve heard it a thousand times, but unfortunately white wine isn’t always the perfect solution for a stain left by its red sibling. White wine could also leave a stain depending on the colour of your carpet. You’re better off opting for a mix of water and baking soda.

Washing powder

With a tendency to bubble up, washing powder isn’t ideal for cleaning carpets as it can be particularly tasking to get out of the carpet after it may have gotten rid of the stain. It can also take a while to dry and if not properly soaked up, mould can start to form.

How to rejuvenate your carpet

In houses with heavy foot traffic, carpets can appear to have flattened and lose their vibrance over time. Reviving a seemingly aged carpet can bring new life to your space and we have a tried-and-tested method to help your carpet get back to its best. You’ll need to warm up your iron and have a damp cloth or towel on hand.

  • Place your towel or cloth over the carpet
  • Iron over the towel or cloth for around 30 seconds
  • Move the towel or cloth around the carpet and repeat
  • Ensure the iron never makes direct contact with the carpet to avoid risk of burning

When should I get a new carpet?

Carpets are like sponges. They soak up debris, collect grime and grease, and, upon closer inspection, you might find yourself shocked at the dirt they release.

However, a good carpet care routine can help keep ghastly dirt and odours at bay, keeping your carpet flooring looking and feeling its best for longer.

Of course, carpets don’t last forever, and professionals recommend replacing your carpet every 10 years. If you’ve noticed that your carpet looks dull or has lost its shine and softness, then look at our excellent selection of carpets at Morgan & Quinn today. 

Our carpet collection offers a carpet for your every flooring needs. Shop carpets in various contemporary colours and finishes, including loop and twist pile designs, and enjoy high-quality carpets that will stand the test of time.

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