Vacuuming

Vacuum your carpet frequently with a vacuum with a high efficiency collection bag or system. In high traffic areas, carpet manufacturers recommend you vacuum at least once or twice a week.  Vacuuming removes the sharp and abrasive soil that can cut, scratch, and abrade the fibre causing premature wear. Particulate soiling left in your carpet has sandpaper like effect on the construction of the carpet. Much of this soil is not visible to the eye. Vacuum before the carpet looks soiled. Remove any loose particles such as loose food, leaves, pieces of crayon, bugs, etc. as these items can cause a spot on the carpet. Keep your vacuum in good working condition – check the belts and change the collection bag frequently.

Spot and Spill Treatments

Immediate spot removal is the key to a clean carpet. Great care also must be taken in how spot cleaning is performed. When a carpet is new, or has sufficient protector on it, plain tap water will remove many spots. However for those spots that will not move easily with water, you must use a spotting solution specifically designed for carpeting. Most spot removers that are purchased over the counter leave too much soap residue and can cause rapid resoiling or yellowing. Avoid using foam carpet cleaners or any product that is not made specifically for carpet. The longer the spot is allowed to dwell on the carpet, the more chance there is of permanent discolouration. Blot up any excess spill. Apply spot cleaner sparingly to white terry cloth and gently massage spot causing it to transfer into the cloth. Never pour spot cleaner directly on carpet. Blot area with water. If the spot persists, consult your professional carpet cleaner. Some spots and spills require the professional equipment, cleaning, solutions, and skills of a professional. Repeated attempts to remove the spot may set the stain or cause permanent damage.

Professional Cleaning

As a general rule for residential carpeting, cleaning by a professional, trained, certified firm should take place about once per year. For extremely heavy traffic areas, homes with pets, and homes with people with allergic sensitivities, cleaning may be required more often. Proper professional cleaning will not leave a sticky residue behind and can be done as many times per year as needed. Professional cleaning with hot water extraction cleaning is the method most often recommended by cleaning industry experts and carpet manufacturers. Professional cleaning removes the damaging soil from the traffic areas that vacuuming has not been able to remove. Not all professional cleaning firms adhere to industry standards for properly cleaning your carpet or carpet manufacturer cleaning guidelines. Our company is trained and certified by the IICRC in the proper cleaning of all types of carpets. Rest assured, your satisfaction is our guarantee.

For commercial carpeting, periodic professional cleaning with hot water extraction may need to be combined with interim low moisture encapsulation cleaning for maximum carpet appearance and performance. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the amount and types of soiling, the traffic load on the carpeting, carpet owner considerations, budget considerations, and other indoor and outdoor environmental conditions.

Protective Treatments

Domestic carpets are often treated with stain and soil resistant treatments when they are manufactured.  These protective treatments will wear and traffic off over a period of time.. After a period of 1 to 2 years, carpet manufacturers recommend the re-application of a protective treatment to enhance the performance of your carpet.. You should consider having a professional carpet cleaner re-apply the treatment after professional cleaning. The soil resistor will help the soil slide off of the carpet easier when vacuuming, spots will be easier to remove, and professional cleaning will be more effective.

Keeping your carpets clean

Speaking at an Association Meeting