So, you finally did it. You made a significant investment to your home by getting new carpet installed. Or perhaps you improved your office, or retail shop with better flooring for the feet of your patrons. It’s fresh, it’s clean, and it instantly makes you feel a new level of comfort in your home – or professionalism in your business.
But somewhere in the back of your mind are growing concerns: how can you keep this new carpet looking this great for as long as possible? Your new carpet is meant for you and your visitors to enjoy, not bring you into a panic. Let’s cover a few tips that will help your new carpet last as long as possible.
Avoid Procrastination
It’s very easy to say you’ll get to that spill later on when you have the time – especially if you’re busy getting out the door, or helping a customer. If you follow our intermittent series, The Bane of Stains, you’re probably aware that prompt attention to spills and stains is vital. That’s much more important with a new carpet – you want to get up the excess as soon as possible. Letting it sit allows staining agents to do their dirty work.
Clean Up with Proper Equipment
It’s really easy, especially for businesses, to make ends meet by cutting costs in cleaning equipment. However, using the wrong tools can make matters worse. Make sure your cloths and paper towels are clean and white. Any color runs the risk of transferring into the spill, regardless of its nature. If you use paper towels, make sure they are a good quality. Low-quality towels often shred or disintegrate as you try to bring up the excess spillage.
The same goes with cleaning products. Cheap products lead to ineffective cleanup efforts, sometimes making a bigger issue. If you’re not sure of the best solvent or chemical to deal with a spill, a quick internet search might provide sound answers. However, calling Preferred Carpet Care will lead to experienced, insightful options to make sure the spill does not compromise your new carpet.
Vacuum Regularly
The more often you get dirt and debris up from your new carpet, the less chance it has to do any damage. Invest in a high-quality vacuum (preferably one with HEPA filters) and use it at least once a week. Thoroughly vacuum your carpet – not just in the high traffic areas, but make sure you get the edges near baseboards and furniture footing. Our blog posts have tips and pointers on purchasing vacuums as well as how to vacuum your new carpet properly.
Plastic Coverings
We’re not talking about thin wrapping plastic, here. We’re talking plastic walking mats. They thoroughly help as a protection against dirt, debris, wear and tear. Of course, you’ll want to maintain your plastic mats as well, with regular vacuuming and inspection. If you see cracks or disintegration with rough edges, those edges can dig into your new carpet and compromise the fibers underneath. Of course, using plastic mats is a personal choice. If you purchased your new carpet so you can enjoy the feel of its fibers under your feet, you might want to refrain from using them.
Professional Cleaning
Some people insist that a new carpet doesn’t need to be cleaned in the first couple of years or so. Those individuals are entirely mistaken – in fact, most manufacturer warranties require professional cleaning of new carpet, or else the warranty becomes void. Not only that, but professional carpet cleaners like Preferred Carpet Care in Redding are very experienced in maintaining the look, feel, and function of your new carpet. We are even familiar with warranty information from many carpet manufacturers, including any limitations.
Of course, there are other tips in keeping your new carpet fresh and clean for its lifetime. We’d love to discuss them with you. Please give us a call, or schedule a free consultation on our website. Preferred Carpet Care is happy to help you keep your carpet looking the best it can for its entire lifetime!