No homeowner wants their carpets to look worn, shabby, and soiled. Professional carpet cleaning is the key to making your carpets look new and fresh. It removes all the dirt, grime, dust, and pet hair that are stuck in the fibers. Aside from this, it helps extend the life of your carpet and improve indoor air quality.
After getting a professional carpet cleaning treatment, it is necessary to maintain your freshly cleaned carpet. Keeping it clean until your next service might seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Listed below are some aftercare tips and techniques that you can follow to keep your carpets fresh and clean.
Don’t Walk on a Wet Carpet
As much as possible, keep people and pets off newly cleaned carpets until they are dried properly. No matter what carpet cleaning method you choose, the surface will take some time to dry. Walking on the carpet will flatter the fibers and cause them to get re-soiled immediately. A damp carpet may also be a slipping hazard, so you must stay off for at least 2 to 4 hours.
Turn on Your Heater
Your heating system can help in speeding up carpet drying time. The heat and warm air from your system will absorb the moisture and help the carpet fibers dry as quickly as possible. If it’s cold outside, you can turn on your furnace and set the temperature up to 75 degrees. This will create a movement of warm air to allow greater evaporation and decrease the time that it takes for your carpet to dry.
Crack Open the Window
Air movement will lower the humidity level inside the house and help dry out the carpets faster. When you open your windows, you let air circulate and help the moisture evaporate and escape. You may also use a ceiling or floor fan and direct it toward the carpets. These home appliances help dry out the fibers and keep the air moving.
Don’t Move the Furniture Immediately
Wait at least 24 hours to move all your furniture and appliances. This is to ensure that the carpets have dried completely and to avoid any chance of attracting mold or mildew under the furniture. The entire area should also be vacuumed to get rid of all the remaining dust and dirt caught on the fibers.
Apply a Carpet Protector
A good carpet protector will prevent re-soiling and keep the carpets’ tip-top condition until your next cleaning service. After the procedure, apply it to a newly cleaned carpet as soon as possible. This product is designed to repel dirt and stains and prevent them from penetrating the fibers. When you use a carpet protector, minimize foot traffic to let the product cure properly.
Vacuum Regularly
By regular vacuum cleaning, there won’t be any build-up of dust and allergens that can reach deep inside the fibers. You don’t have to wait until your carpets look dingy and dirty. You can vacuum your carpets at least once or twice a week. Regular vacuuming will prevent your carpet from turning into a germ breeding ground and keep it looking fresh and beautiful. It can remove at least 75 percent of stains and promote a healthier environment.
Don’t Wear Shoes Inside
The heel of your shoe will leave dirt and a heavy mark on your newly cleaned carpet. Implement a no-shoe policy to ensure that dirt from the outside won’t end up in your carpet fibers. You should also avoid walking barefoot because the natural oils in your feet will leave oily residue behind. Instead of walking completely barefoot, wear a pair of socks or indoor slippers to keep your carpet free from dust.
Clean Spills Immediately
Always clean all spills and stains before they completely set into your carpet. May it be wine or pet urine, be sure to remove them and dry your carpet as quickly as possible. It will be much easier to clean stains if it is still wet. Use a carpet spotter and paper towel to get rid of the excess liquid.
Remember to don’t scrub the spill. Simply just blot the spot and dab with a dry cloth. Scrubbing too hard will eventually damage the fibers and cause the stain to become permanent. Moreover, rubbing causes it to soak into the carpet fibers and worsens everything. If you can’t remove a permanent stain, ask for assistance from a professional carpet cleaning provider company.
Watch Out for Pet Accidents
Keeping your carpets clean can be a challenge when you have pets at home. Dogs and cats shed a lot, so you need to perform regular vacuuming at least thrice a week. Routine deep cleaning should also be done to remove pet stains and odors from your carpets.
Use Mats and Area Rugs
Walk-off mats help remove soil and keep them off the carpeting. Having mats and area rugs in high-traffic areas will reduce the amount of dirt that tracks inside the home. Aside from taking off your shoes, this tip will prevent wet and dirty shoes from leaving tracks across the floors.
Avoid Letting the Sun In
Be sure to keep your carpets away from sunlight. Doing so will stop ultraviolet rays from damaging your carpets. UV rays can cause your carpets to fade and lose their luster. To preserve your carpet’s colors, keep it away from direct exposure to sunlight.
Need A Carpet Cleaning Company?
Follow these tips in mind and keep your carpets looking great even after a professional carpet cleaning session. Get in touch with Carpet Cleaning Pros of Lancaster today and let our experts handle your carpets with care!