How to Care for Brand New Carpet
Installing brand new carpet in your home can bring a sense of joy and freshness to your home. No doubt that brand new carpet was a big investment and you want to keep the fresh and new feeling around as long as possible. With the proper care carpets can last about 10 to 15 years before needing to be replaced. Her are some tips to keep your brand new carpet feeling new as long as possible.
Shedding– New carpets naturally shed as there are loose fibers left behind when the carpet is manufactured. Don’t worry if your carpet starts to shed or tuft it is common and expected. Shedding or tufting does not mean your carpet is falling apart. As your carpet sees traffic and use these fibers will work themselves to the surface. Vacuuming your carpet will take care of this and the shedding will stop in a short time.
Furniture– Heavy items such as furniture can crush the fibers in carpet if left in one spot for too long. Furniture can leave a depression in carpet and if left for too long those depressions could be permanent. The best way to avoid permanent crushing and depressions is to set some furniture feet cups and move your furniture regularly. This doesn’t mean you have to completely redecorate your home every few weeks just moving the furniture a few inches in another direction will do the trick. If you do see a depression upon moving your furniture simply fluff the fibers with your fingers. If a finger fluff isn’t working lightly wet the depression and fluff with fingers while drying the area with a hair dryer.
High Traffic Areas– High traffic areas will require more care and maintenance. Areas such as hallways, entryways, stairways, and rooms used by the whole family are going to see for foot traffic and ultimately more dirt and soiling. The use of area rugs in a high traffic area can help prolong the life of your carpet. When cleaning these areas be sure to move the area rugs to avoid crushing. More frequent vacuuming in high traffic areas will also help prolong the life of carpet as well.
Dirt, Stains, and Odor– The more frequently you clean your carpets the longer the life of the carpet will be. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week especially in those high traffic areas. Be sure to stock up a few different products that are friendly with your specific type of carpet. Different stains require different products. If you have pets be sure to have some products specifically made to treat pet odor. Make sure to spot treat stains as soon as possible to avoid permanent staining. Try to avoid using carpet powders or use them very sparingly as they can get stuck in the carpet and end up coming to the surface and forming a sticky paste with professional cleanings. Make sure to get your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Professional cleanings are very important in prolonging the life and quality of your carpet as well as improving the air quality in your home.
Give your carpet the right attention on a regular basis and it can stay looking fresh and new for a long time and extend the overall life of your carpet by years..