Caring For Carpeting

Published by admin | Filed under Home Improvement

Regardless of the fiber used, proper care of carpeting requires regular cleaning, the best form of preventive maintenance. Invisible dirt particles on the surface - not foot traffic - do the damage that wears out carpeting. Grit that’s not removed chews into the fabric as the carpet is walked on.

Normally vacuuming carpeting once or twice a week should be sufficient for removing dirt. The vacuuming should be done whether the surface looks dirty or not. Always use a vacuum cleaner that’s in good condition ; one with a vibrating beater bar is considered best for all-round use.

Occasionally, an overall cleaning is necessary to get rid of accumulated dirt and restore a carpet to it’s original brightness. The three basic methods you can use to do a thorough cleaning are hot - water extraction, wet shampoo, and dry cleaning. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Hot-water extraction : Because it doesn’t employ mechanical brushing that can distort pile and cause flaring of yarn tufts, hot-water extraction (sometimes called steam cleaning) is generally recommended as the best method for cleaning most types of carpeting. The system forces hot water into the carpet, then vacuums the water and dirt solution out of the carpeting. A strong vacuum unit is essential in this system, since too much water left in the carpet can cause the backing to shrink, mildew, or stain.

Wet shampoo : This system is the one used most often by do-it-yourselfers because the cleaning units are widely available for rent. A rotary brush works a detergent foam into the carpeting to loosen dirt particles. The dirt is suspended in the foam while the solution dries. When it’s dry, the carpet is vacuumed and the residue removed.

When shampooing a carpet, it’s best to use the minimum possible amount of detergent to avoid leaving detergent residue in the carpet. Any residue causes the carpeting to get soiled faster and leaves a dull finish. If you shampoo your carpets regularly (about once a year ), change to a hot-water extraction method every two or three cleanings.

Dry cleaning : Powdered compounds that can be worked down into the pile of a carpet with no special equipment are available. You simply brush the dry compound onto the carpet and work it in, then go over the carpet with a vacuum cleaner.

Antique
Wood Floor

Tags: care, caring, carpet, carpeting

Share This

Related Posts

• Elder Care - The Challenge Of Caring For Aging Parents
• Getting Back the ?Spark? in Your Marriage©
• Dining Table Arrangement
• Dining Table Arrangement
• How To Care For Granite Countertops