Four Common Carpet Problems & How To Resolve Them

Many homeowners prefer the look and benefits of carpet. However, carpets can get dirty fast, which is why you need regular carpet cleaning. Check out these four common dangers to carpets without routine maintenance.

1. Foot Traffic

Over time, carpets can become worn, and foot traffic exacerbates this. This wear and tear is more common where people walk often (high traffic areas), so you will not notice it under the bed or other furniture. Instead, the wear is often near doors and down main hallways.

These areas often have soil, dirt, and other debris. Each time you walk over this area — with or without shoes — you may move the dirt or soil, causing it to damage the carpet fibers.

You have a few ways to slow the profession of wear and tear in high traffic areas. First, keep it clean by vacuuming frequently. Avoid wearing outside shoes, and rearrange your furniture occasionally to change the heavy traffic areas. Nice inexpensive rugs or runners can help to keep traffic areas healthier and save you money by not having to replace your carpet.

2. Pets

Pets and carpets do not always do well together. First, if your pet has dirty feet, they can add to the wear and tear. Of course, one of the biggest dangers for your carpet with pets is urine. While you should detour your pet from urinating inside, this is not always possible. So make sure you clean up any pet stains as soon as possible.

Pets also sometimes imbed their fur in the carpet, which can make the carpet look dirty. Vacuuming regularly is one of the best ways to remove animal hair. But you may also find that a brush can help to pull pet hair up and out of the carpet fibers better than vacuuming and is best used in conjunction with vacuuming. Finally, cats, in particular, can heavily damage your carpet by sharpening their nails. If you have a cat, make sure they have an alternative choice, such as a scratching post.

3. Stains

Pet accidents, coffee spills, or overturned wine glasses — Spots and stains can appear on your carpet in many ways. Without swift intervention, these stains can set in your carpet, causing discoloration, odors, and stiffness. With time, even simple spots that could have been easily cleaned up, can become stains and require a staining treatment to remove.

While household supplies and quick cleaning after the stain appears can help lessen the severity and look of the stain, professional cleaning is often necessary and highly recommended, especially for tough, older, or easily visible stains. Also, many store bought products can leave a residue in your carpet which will attract dirt much quicker. All too often, we come across areas that still have soap in them, that then require us to treat with a defoaming agent in order to properly clean.

Professional carpet cleaning, especially with steam cleaners, can delve deep into the stain, which helps to break up the stain completely and leave a carpet cleaner and stain-free. You will no longer have to worry about unpleasant odors or discolored carpet.

4. Heavy Furniture

Heavy furniture can also cause complications if you try to move it improperly. Ideally, you should lift the entire piece of furniture off the carpet to move it. If you drag the furniture across the floor, it may snag the carpet. This can cause tears, but if it happens at the edge of the carpet or where two pieces of carpet meet, the force of the furniture may actually start to tear the carpet.

Also, leaving heavy furniture in the same place for long periods of time can crush the carpet fibers to the point where the damage is permanent. Either move the furniture every few months or put furniture movers underneath them, so that they can be easily moved while you vacuum. This can help the fibers to remain healthier.

Many people love the look of carpeted rooms. However, your carpets need routine maintenance for a quality look and a clean, healthy appearance. Not only should you keep your carpet well-vacuumed, but you should also consider routine professional cleaning.

If you would like to know more about carpet cleaning and how it can benefit you, or if you just want to request a quote, call, message or email us and we will happily set up the quote for you. We look forward to speaking with you about your carpet cleaning needs. Please feel free to ask us any questions or concerns you may have about your carpets, tile/grout, vinyl, laminate or hardwood floors.