Most people buy furniture and let the fabric on that furniture go its entire lifespan without ever doing anything more than using the occasional spot cleaner on it. If that sounds like you, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s less a matter of neglect and more a matter of just not knowing better. The reality is, even when upholstery looks clean, it usually isn’t. A clean white cloth and a little bit of water rubbed on one of the arms or headrests will show you that pretty quickly.

Manufacturers and professional cleaners recommend getting upholstery (like carpet) professionally cleaned once every 6 months to 1 year, depending on use. For light colors, that frequency may increase. For homes with pets or similar circumstances, it may even be an as-needed basis.

The Process of Cleaning Upholstery

The upholstery cleaning process goes through a number of simple steps to ensure a thorough and accurate cleaning:

• The professional will examine the piece of upholstery, noting any specific concerns or trouble areas and then discuss with the owner.
• Spotters and chemicals will be tested in an inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure the colors won’t run and no damage will be done, always in accordance with manufacturer labels or recommendations.
• Stains and problem areas will be addressed with the appropriate cleaning methods.
• Steam extraction or similar method will remove remaining dirt and grime from the upholstery.
• Post-inspection will be performed with the owner, noting any issues.
• Optionally, there could be the application of a protector, like ScotchGuard, to help reduce soiling in the future.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, whether your upholstery needs to be cleaned or not is a choice that is up to the individual. If it is dirty and isn’t a problem for you, don’t clean it. However, bear in mind that regular cleaning and inspection can greatly extend the life of your fabrics. At the very least, I would personally recommend cleaning your most-used pieces once a year and having a protector applied. That will save you money in the long run by not requiring the same frequency of cleaning down the road.

I’d love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns. For more information or an inspection of your own upholstery, call Alex with Bon-Care at 757-715-0503 or email info@bon-care.com. We service many areas in southeastern Virginia, including Hampton, Yorktown, Newport News, and Norfolk.

Paint can be one of the most difficult and frustrating stains to remove from carpet. It should also be noted up front that not all paint can even be removed. When the paint hits the carpet fibers, the fibers can easily become dyed, changing color regardless of whether the actual paint is cleaned up or not. The longer it sits, the more damage can be done in this way.

Here are a few important things to note up front:

• Once the paint dries it becomes exponentially more difficult, time consuming, and potentially dangerous to remove.
• The solvents used to remove paint can also remove the glue from the backing of the carpet (delamination) and cause buckling and further damage.
• Never apply solvents directly to your carpet.
• Try to get up as much paint as possible prior to beginning the actual process of cleaning your carpet.
• Paint will ruin rental steam units and, worse, the units won’t clean them up adequately to begin with.

While homeowners and landlords can do well for themselves by learning to clean up messes, the process can also cause more harm than good. Hiring a processional to clean up a paint spill is going to require much less hassle than replacing your carpet because you accidentally dissolved the backing trying to clean that spill up by yourself to begin with.

Cleaning Up Small Spills

A drop or two of paint, even a small smear, is usually something that can be handled by the homeowner. It is essential, however, that you begin the cleanup process as soon as the spill occurs and do not wait for it to dry. For spills larger than the size of the palm of your hand, see the cleanup procedure below this one.

Here is the process to cleaning up small paint spills on your carpet:

1. Get a clean white cloth and some spotting solvent, ideally isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). White vinegar will also work for this, though it can cause an unpleasant odor if not cleaned up properly afterward.
2. Apply the solvent to the white cloth and begin to blot (not rub) the affected area, working from the outside of the stain toward the center.
3. Repeat the procedure with clean portions of the cloth until no more paint is coming up.
4. Moisten a new clean white cloth and go over the area to get up remaining paint and solvent.

It is very important not to use too much solvent during this process or, again, there is a risk of damaging the carpet. Once the paint has dried, it is highly recommended that the only action you take is to call a professional, as the job will have become much more difficult.

Cleaning Up Big Spills

Cleaning up larger spills is largely a process of ensuring the stain doesn’t set while a professional is called.

Here are the recommended steps for cleaning up larger paint spills:

1. Using a large spoon (that you don’t particularly care about), skim as much of the paint as you can. Do not use much pressure or smear it. Skim it toward the center and into a container or trash can.
2. Once you have removed as much paint as you can, get two large towels and moisten them. Moisten, not soak. You will place these towels over the stain to keep it moist.
3. Cling wrap can be placed over the towels for added protection, but is not always necessary.
4. Call a professional to come out and clean it. If the professional cannot get there within 12-24 hours, call someone else who can. It is essential to have it cleaned prior to it drying.

Larger paint spills are going to require a professional for a true cleaning. The damage that can be done by homeowners and renters looking to solve the problem themselves simply cannot be overstated. What was a nasty stain can quickly turn into permanent damage. If you are on the fence about the size of the stain, just call someone.

Bon-Care Custom Cleaning is a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning company operating out of the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia, servicing Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and the surrounding areas. For a free estimate or advice on what to do, email info@bon-care.com or give us a call at 757-715-0503.

The things that tend to stain carpet the most, greases, oils, starches, sugars, and others, are often not the ones which cause damage to the carpet itself. What does cause physical damage to the carpet fibers, however, are particulates like sand. Sand is, ultimately, tiny pieces of silicate which resemble glass. Imagine rubbing your feet all over tiny shards of glass and grinding them into your carpet fibers every day. Unfortunately, that mental image is closer to the truth than most homeowners would like to admit. During the winter, salt from roads and sidewalks can cause the exact same problems as sand, though often compounding them and making them even worse. Just like the silicates that comprise sand, salt is made of a sharp crystalline structure as well, causing damage for exactly the same reasons.

Counteracting the Negative Effects of Sand in Carpeting

Vacuuming on a regular basis is essential for the local area. Additionally, consider having both an indoor and an outdoor mat (which should also be cleaned regularly) in order to catch anything on your shoes without allowing it to track into the home. For people interested in even more “carpet protection”, it may pay dividends to remove shoes once in the house and place them on a rack. That will prevent anything from being tracked in and will also prevent the carpet from wearing faster in high traffic areas.

It pays to have your carpets professionally cleaned at least once every 6 months, more often if your carpet sees heavier traffic. A good maintenance program can extend the life of your carpets by decades. One final thing to note: while rental steam units do clean better than simple household vacuums, they do not have the suction or power necessary to do a true deep cleaning or remove all embedded particulates in your floors. They may be less expensive but you pay for the low cost in other ways, unfortunately.

For residents of the tidewater region in Virginia, regular carpet cleaning and maintenance is even more important for the longevity of flooring than it is in other areas. Protect your investment by scheduling regular cleanings and considering a floor maintenance plan.

Bon-Care Custom Cleaning is a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning company which has been serving the people of southeastern Virginia since 1975. For a free estimate and inspection, call Alex at 757-715-0503.

Here are 5 important differences in carpet that looks clean vs. carpet that actually is clean.

1. Clean carpet won’t have anything lurking under the surface – Carpet that looks like it is clean is typically only truly clean on the very surface where the carpet fibers are visible. Generally, the tops of the carpet fibers get the most wear and they will display signs of being dirty the fastest. However, anyone who has come home from the beach covered in sand knows what can be invisible underneath. Dust, skin cells, residue from food or drinks, or small particulates filter down to the bottom of the carpet, invisible to the naked eye.
2. Air filtration is maximized with clean carpet – Carpet that isn’t actually clean will have an impaired ability to filter the air. Like it or not, your carpet is the largest air filter in your house, as evidenced by the dark filter lines under many doors. A truly clean carpet will maximize clean air throughout the house and improve indoor air quality significantly.
3. Bacteria are not removed with vacuuming alone – Bacteria can only be removed through chemical extraction, heat, and pressure. They aren’t coming out with a vacuum, and you can’t see them. Children, pets, and even adults use the carpet on a day to day basis without thinking of what may be in there.
4. Odors can only be eliminated or removed by professional cleaning – You can’t see smells, obviously. Over the counter products mask smells, but they do not remove them. Even if they were to remove the smells, you would be left with the broken down enzymes and the cleaning solution still in your carpet. A clean carpet has no residues, has no broken down enzymes or bacteria,
5. Home cleaning products, including steam machines, simply don’t remove enough – Perhaps the biggest crime against clean carpets is the sale of over the counter cleaning products. Consumers are fooled into believing that home steamers are strong enough to do the job. They aren’t. Not only that, but they don’t pull out enough water and can lead to mold and mildew. Home spot cleaners cover up problems and leave residues in the carpet, they don’t actually remove Home cleaning solutions make your carpet look clean without actually cleaning it.

Keep these things in mind when determining a cleaning schedule for your home. A professional cleaning is usually recommended every 6 months to 1 year, depending on use. For stains and high traffic areas, it may need to be done on a more frequent basis. If you are considering a rental steam unit, get a professional cleaner to come out and take a look first. The units will often cause more trouble than they can solve and, as always, you get what you pay for.

For cleaning in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, consider Bon-Care Custom Cleaning. Give Alex a call at 757-715-0503 for a free estimate!

Carpet, like almost everything else, is susceptible to mold under the right conditions. Mold, generally, is caused by a higher than normal level of moisture in a home. This can come in the form of above average humidity, leaking pipes, standing water, or any other situation in which moisture gets into an area and remains there. Mold is often thought of as occurring in walls where pipes are leaking or in kitchens and bathrooms where humidity and moisture is commonplace.

Any time that carpeting becomes excessively wet, the possibility of mold increases exponentially. This is particularly true in areas of carpeting which don’t have good air flow. Spilling drinks or small containers of water is not typically a problem, but if the carpeting becomes excessively wet due to high humidity in the home or as a result of a leak, the chances for mold increases. This is because the liquids will seep not only through the carpeting itself, but through the layers of padding underneath the carpet (where it will remain for much longer). Basement carpet and carpet that feels damp to the touch are also areas that are prone to molding.

There are a few things to look out for when trying to determine whether or not your carpet has mold:

• Discoloration or odor – Discoloration on the carpet (usually lighter than the surrounding carpet on dark carpets) or an odor like mildew may be a sign of carpet mold.
• Visible mold growth – It is somewhat rare to actually see mold growing on the top of the carpet, but it does happen. It is more likely that mold will be in the padding underneath the carpet where it cannot be readily identified.
• Unidentifiable stains with accompanying odors – If you find stains on your carpet and cannot identify where they are coming from (no spills that you are aware of) and they are accompanied by odors (besides urine, which is very easy to distinguish), it may be a sign of mold. Further analysis of the area may be necessary.

Is Carpet Mold Dangerous?

Carpet mold, just like any kind of mold, can be dangerous. Allergic reactions to mold are extremely common and can include things such as fever, watery and red eyes, runny nose, swelling around the nose and eyes, and some symptoms like those of hay-fever. The symptoms are not always immediate and can take place long after exposure. Some people who encounter mold may wind up with chronic conditions if the mold is not removed in a reasonable amount of time. Mold also commonly release spores into the air which can get into the respiratory passages and cause infections there. Allergic reactions to mold spores are also common. Mold can also release dangerous chemicals known as mycotoxins which can be harmful to humans.

Steam Cleaning and Carpet Mold

Steam cleaning can cause carpet mold under the following conditions:

• Vacuum is not properly applied after cleaning – The lack of a proper vacuum during the steam cleaning process will leave too much water in the carpet. This problem is, at times, hard to diagnose. A slight loss in suction could lead to a lot of water being left behind but would not be readily apparent to the technician. This could be caused by a drop in RPMs on the cleaning machine or a kink in the vacuum hose.
• Cleaning uses too much water – Excess water can occur during the cleaning due to any number of factors. This excess water is not good. Extra vacuuming will be required to remove it. This is something that should be readily apparent to the technicians as they are performing the cleaning.
• Lack of heat in the water – Lack of heat in the water will allow cool water to enter the carpet. This can lead to molding and, at the very least, will not kill any mold or spores that are already in the carpet. This could exacerbate and already bad problem.
• Rented steam cleaning machines – One of the most common causes of carpet mold is the use of rented steam cleaning machines (like the type that one can get from Wal-Mart). These may seem like a cheap alternative to a professional cleaning, but

Steam cleaning, when done properly, is actually one of the best ways to remove mold from carpet. The high powered vacuum is able to remove most of the mold spores and excess water from the carpet. Chemical agents that are used in the cleaning itself, when combined with the extreme heat of the water used during the cleaning, will kill any remaining mold spores and mold itself that is in the carpet. Once the carpet has been cleaned, check for excess dampness once the allotted drying time has passed. If the carpet is still wet, it may be a good idea to consult the company that performed the cleaning to make sure everything is still alright. Though the technician who performed the cleaning should have advised you to do so, it bears repeating: make sure to keep the air conditioning (or heat, depending on the time of the year) running during the drying time and try and make sure you have air flow in the area by cutting on fans.

Steam cleaning should not be the cause of carpet mold in most cases. Unless the procedure is performed in the wrong way or done by untrained technicians, the risk of carpet mold is minimal. Carpet mold is much more likely to occur as a result of either a leak or excess humidity in the home. Can steam cleaning cause carpet mold? Yes. But only if the steam cleaning is done improperly to begin with.

Steam cleaning is the primary method that carpet cleaning companies use to clean carpets. It is important to note that there is a very real difference between “hot water extraction” and an actual steam cleaning. The actual process of steam cleaning can cause damage to some types of carpet fibers (such as wool). The heat that must be using during a traditional steam cleaning is typically much higher than the heat that would be used during a hot water extraction.

Hot water extraction, on the other hand, is what cleaning companies are usually talking about when they refer to “steam” cleaning. This is primarily because of the common public misconception that all hot water extraction is steam cleaning. Hot water extraction cleaning uses heated water in combination with diluted detergent solutions in order to help clean the carpet. The dilution is meant to help avoid residues will not remain on the carpet fibers after cleaning.

When done properly, steam cleaning and hot water extraction is the best option for residential carpets. Given the fact that dirt can work its way deep into the carpet fibers and the padding underneath, a powerful vacuum combined with solvents (including water, the universal solvent) is the best way (often the only way) to get the carpet clean. Residential carpet, in particular, is best cleaned using hot water extraction techniques. The carpet usually has a higher pile to begin with and has more padding than would be found in commercial carpet. These factors make residential carpet much easier (and better) to clean with hot water extraction than with dry cleaning methods.

Obviously there are some disadvantages to the hot water extraction method (and these problems are present during steam cleaning methods as well). One of the primary issues with hot water extraction is that, no matter how powerful a vacuum is used, the water is never completely removed. If proper technique is used by the technicians doing the cleaning, then the risk of problems associated with that leftover water is minimal. With that being said, there is always a risk that too much water will remain in the carpet due to either a leak in the equipment or a lack of vacuum. Excess water in the carpeting itself and in the padding underneath can lead to bacterial growth or mold.

An issue that can arise with hot water extraction is chemical residue on the carpet. Normally, a chemical combination that is applied with the hot water to clean the carpet (or as part of a pre-spray) will be removed along with the hot water during the cleaning process. If the chemicals are mixed improperly or the vacuum is not powerful enough, chemicals can be left on the carpet fibers. Just like the issues with excess water (which can lead to higher than normal humidity or mold growth), excess detergent on the carpet fibers can lead to volatile chemicals being released into the air. In addition, detergent residues remaining on carpet fibers after cleaning can attract dirt from the surrounding environment and can cause the carpet to become dirty more quickly than it would otherwise.

Dry Carpet Cleaning Methods

Dry cleaning methods typically do not use vacuum power or hot water during their cleaning. The water that is used should be dry within an hour or two of the cleaning the risk associated with that water is minimal. Dry carpet cleaning relies on specialized machines which work to clean the carpet using chemicals and very low moisture.

There are three recognized methods of dry carpet cleaning:

• Dry compound – Dry compound cleaning uses an absorbent and biodegradable cleaning compound which is spread over the carpet and then brushed. This is done on small areas with the use of a hand brush and is used on larger areas of carpet (particularly on commercial carpet) using a rotary machine with brush heads. Hand cleaning usually cleans the top third of the carpet while machine cleaning can get the entire carpet.
• Encapsulation – Using specialized polymers in a cleaning solution, encapsulation methods work to literally encapsulate (crystallize) the soil in the carpet into the dry residues upon contact. This is one of the newest (and best) methods of dry cleaning available. Once the dirt has been encapsulated, it can be removed by vacuuming with a normal household vacuum. This method also keeps carpets cleaner for longer periods of time than most other methods.
• Bonnet – Bonnet methods rely on club soda (or another alkaline solution) mixed with cleaning chemicals and sprayed onto the carpet prior to cleaning. A bonnet is then used with a vibrating rotary machine or another type of oscillating machine. The soil in the carpet is then absorbed by the bonnet (or other type of absorbent pad).

There are disadvantages to dry carpet cleaning as well. On carpets with a high pile or a lot of padding (like most residential carpet), a complete carpet cleaning with dry cleaning methods is usually not recommended. It does not clean deep enough and it not meant to work on carpets that sit high or have a lot of padding.

Dry cleaning is also not the best option for removing stains such as urine or drink spills. In these cases it is far better to remove the dirt and the spilled (and maybe dry) liquids with steam cleaning. Dry cleaning is best utilized on areas that have become dirty as a result of normal carpet wear and high foot traffic.

Should I Choose Steam Cleaning or Dry Cleaning?

The answer to this question is going to depend on what kind of carpet you have and what kind of problems you have.

Here is a brief rundown of the situations in which to use either cleaning solution:

• Steam Carpet Cleaning
  • Residential carpet
  • Carpet with high pile
  • Carpet with a thick layer of padding underneath
  • Extremely dirty carpet
  • Carpet with lots of stains (urine, spills, etc.)
• Dry Carpet Cleaning
  • Commercial carpet
  • Carpet with low pile
  • Carpet without much padding underneath
  • Carpet with lots of soil from high foot traffic
  • Carpet without a lot of stains

Steam cleaning is the better option for residential carpet (in most cases) and dry cleaning methods are better for commercial carpet (in most cases). It makes sense to call a qualified professional to take a look at your carpet and give you their recommendations. Research online can only take you so far in cases like this and it is relatively easy to get yourself turned around. The question of steam carpet cleaning vs. dry carpet cleaning can be confusing at first, but when you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each you will be better able to make buying decisions when the time comes to get your carpet serviced.

Carpet stains can come from a wide variety of sources. They can come in the form of filtration lines along the walls, around furniture, or in doorways where air naturally filters through the carpet. They can come from sodas or other liquids being spilled on the carpet. They can come from things being tracked onto the carpet from outside such as rainwater, mud, or snow-melt. Never underestimate the sheer number of things that can leave lasting stains on the carpet. Pet owners have an entirely new level of stains to deal with.

One common question among people who own carpets is what to use to clean it. With the huge number of products available on the market for carpet cleaning and the number of companies that are out there offering professional cleaning services, it can become an issue of choice-paralysis. One common suggestion that can be found on the Internet and among friends and relatives is to use bleach to help remove carpet stains. For shame…

Will Bleach Remove Stains?

Yes. It will also remove all of the color from the carpet and damage the fibers and the underlying material. It is simply not possible to use bleach to clean carpet without ruining the carpet itself. Bleach works by oxidizing the molecules that dyes are made up of. Typically, commercial dyes (such as those used in clothing and other fabrics) will be more stable (and, thus, less likely to oxidize) than those that are in common stains. With that being said: they still break down. Even white carpet is colored by dye, so it is not safe to use bleach products on white carpet either.

A common retort to this line of thought is as follows:

Question: “Well, I use bleach to remove stains from my clothes, why not on my carpet?”

Answer: When you use bleach on your clothes it is being extremely diluted by the washing process. Even then, the important thing to keep in mind is that the bleach still removes dyes from clothes. The difference being that since the bleach is being applied to the entire fabric (as opposed to a small section of fabric). Thus the difference in color is not as noticeable. Compare that with spraying a bleach solution on a small part of a large carpet and the issue becomes very clear.

Recommendations:

The only recommendation worth listening to is also the correct recommendation: Never use bleach to remove carpet stains. Don’t use a lot of bleach, don’t use a diluted amount of bleach, don’t use a small amount of bleach. This advice bears repeating: DO NOT USE BLEACH to clean carpet stains. Either buy legitimate stain removers for your carpet, try a peroxide based cleaning solution (Oxi-Clean works extremely well), or hire a professional to take care of the issue. As always, it is recommended to get the whole carpet cleaned at least once a year and the major traffic areas done twice a year (or more often, depending on use). This will prevent stains from permanently setting in the carpet and will keep the carpet looking and functioning the way that it was designed to.

There are very few things that the eye will catch more than red wine stains on a carpet. In a time when many people opt for white, beige, or tan carpets, a red wine stain stands out like nothing else. Most wine stains are, obviously, accidental. They are usually limited to either a drop or two that spilled out of a glass or, at worst, an entire glass that spilled onto the floor. And the biggest problem with these stains? They can seem impossible to get out. Presented with a situation in which there is a glaring red stain on a pristine piece of carpet, many people will turn to friends and family and (perhaps) various chemicals under their sinks in order to try and remove these stains.

How Stains Affect Carpets

The dyes that are contained within red wines are extremely strong. They are easily absorbed by fabrics and carpet fibers (and even your teeth, as some heavy wine drinkers can attest). Once a medium has been exposed to red wine, the red wine begins to work its way into it and will, if given time, set. Once set, red wine can become extremely difficult to remove. It is important to try and clean up any spilled red wine as quickly as possible to avoid this situation. Similar to fabric dyes, red wines have a pigment that is derived from grape skins. That pigment is part of a food-coloring family of chemicals that are collectively known as anthocyanins. These chemicals are quickly and easily absorbed by fabrics through attachment of the anthocyanins to the fibers that those fabrics are composed of.

Red Wine Removal from Carpets and Fabrics

There are a few tried and true methods for the removal of red wine stains from carpets:

• White wine – It may seem counterintuitive to try and clean up one wine stain with another, but white wine is one of the best ways to remove red wine from fabric. Pour a small portion of white wine onto the red wine stain and blot with a clean and absorbent cloth. It is very important to blot and not to rub or wipe. Wiping or rubbing will spread the stain.
• Peroxide – Mixing common 2% hydrogen peroxide half and half with dishwashing soap in a bowl and applying it to the stain can help to remove red wine stains. Let the mixture sit on the stain for up to two minutes, then scrub the affected area with water and a cloth and apply a clean cloth to the area to soak up excess liquid. Repeat until the stain has been removed. Again: remember to blot and not to wipe or rub.
• Salt – Adding salt to a fresh red wine stain will help to absorb some of the stain and will help to prevent the stain from setting and/or spreading. Vacuum the salt and stained area after allowing the salt to sit for a couple of minutes.

One thing not to try is using bleach. Bleach may get rid of the red wine stain, but it will take all of the color out of the carpet (including white carpet) right along with it. Never use bleach to remove a carpet or upholstery stain.

Solutions exist for removing red wine stains somewhat easily at home. These solutions are often best utilized as quickly as possible after the stain has occurred (prior to any drying). While these stains can be removed from carpet by individual homeowners, it may be a good idea to consult a professional cleaning company in order to make sure you are not going to either damage your fabric or simply to review your options. Many companies offer quick and easy solutions for removing red wine stains from carpet and will often include that service along with their other carpet and fabric cleaning solutions.

Vacuuming, unfortunately, is usually seen as a chore. It is something that we do because we either have to or because our carpet has become dirty with all that nasty stuff that is being tracked in from the front porch. So the question is: Why is it actually important?

This question, also unfortunately, is often overlooked by many people. When asked, they flounder about trying to find an answer to the question. Usually the result is: the carpet is dirty. It needs to be cleaned. A solid answer. There are, however, many things that are being discarded to come up with a simple answer like that. The logic doesn’t naturally flow to the consequences of not vacuuming on a regular basis.

Here are a few of the reasons why vacuuming is important for any carpet (and for under cushions and in crevices of upholstery as well):

• Not vacuuming can lead to carpet damage – If you don’t vacuum up sand and dirt that collects in your carpet, then continued use of the carpet will grind those particles together with your carpet fibers, leading to damage. Vacuuming, thus, extends the life of your carpet.
• There are invisible dangers in your carpet – Allergens, bacteria, dead skin cells, and many other particles that are often invisible to the naked eye are collecting in your carpet all the time. Vacuuming will remove these. Make no mistake; even if you do not see these things in your carpet they are
• Not vacuuming could lead to higher soil distribution – First we step in the entryway. Then the hallway. Then the stairs. Then the upper hall. Then the bedrooms. By the time we get to the bedrooms, all of the dirt on our shoes is gone. But where did it go? A lot of it went into the entryway, the hallway, and the stairs. When you don’t vacuum on a regular basis, you risk heavily soiling those areas and then re-tracking that dirt from those areas to the cleaner areas of your home.
• Pride – We are all proud of our homes. Not vacuuming has a very real and obvious effect on our carpeting. Nobody wants their friends, family, or visitors to see a dirty carpet when they walk in.

Differences in Vacuums

The type of vacuum that you are using can make an enormous difference in the quality of cleaning that you are doing. First of all: you want a powered vacuum (that you plug in). The manual ones that work with brushes and have no actual suction look nice sometimes and they are relatively inexpensive, but they simply aren’t going to get the job done. You want a powered vacuum with rotating brushes on the bottom to agitate the carpet and one that has good suction in the vacuum. Try a few out. Ask for recommendations. Don’t settle for something because it’s cheap. You know what they say: You get what you pay for.

Recommendations

I usually recommend vacuuming the whole house once every week or once every two weeks, depending on traffic, and vacuuming the high traffic areas (hallways, stairs if you can, entryways) at least twice a week. Cleaning the high traffic areas more will lead to less requirements for the rest of the carpet. Don’t make things complicated for yourself if they don’t have to be.

A high traffic area on a carpet is an area that sees much more use than the rest of the carpet. Think about areas that you utilize in your home. The pathways leading to those areas are very likely going to be the high traffic areas of your carpet. This could include entryways, stairs, hallways, and areas around furniture that is used often. Anywhere on the floor that sees a lot of foot traffic is going to be a high traffic area. Generally, in residential homes especially, you can walk around the house and follow the traffic patterns on the floor as if they were designed to be there.

How Do High Traffic Areas Affect My Carpet?

There are a number of problems that are often associated with high traffic areas. The first of these problems is the carpet pile. Often, the areas that are the most used on the floor will have had their fibers crushed and will not sit as high as most of the rest of the floor. If you find yourself walking through your home and you come across areas that look flat, dull, or worn, then you have very likely found one of the high traffic areas of your home.

The second problem with high traffic areas, and the more important of the two, is that these areas see a bad combination of two things: extra wear due to increased foot traffic and extra soil. The more soil is in a carpet, the more quickly the fibers will wear down from particles grinding them underfoot. In high traffic areas, the increased foot traffic acts as a force multiplier and will do two things: soil the carpet deeper and more quickly and grind the soil and particulate matter harder into the carpet fibers. The other side effect is that the dirtier an area of carpet is and the flatter the fibers in that area, the more easily that dirt can be transported underfoot to other areas of the carpet and, thus, soil even more of the carpet than otherwise would be.

How Can I Help Maintain My Carpet Health?

There are a few ways that you (or, more likely, a professional) can help maintain the health and durability of your carpet:

• Regular cleaning of high traffic areas – Generally, it is recommended that the entire carpet be cleaned once every year and that the high traffic areas be cleaned every six months (or more often, depending on exactly how much traffic the area sees.
• Steaming flattened pile – There are two ways of doing this: Either brush the pile after a regular steam cleaning using a thick bristled brush in the opposite direction the pile is laying to raise it or lay a damp wash cloth on the affected area and heat the cloth with an iron and use the brush. If you opt for the iron method, be extremely careful that you do not accidentally melt the fibers. They are heat resistant in most cases, but it is better to be safe than sorry
• Raking flattened pile – Some carpet professionals will be able to rake the carpet with a specialized tool in order to restore carpet pile that has been flattened. Ask about this service if you have a professional in your home. Any company worth their salt will either do this as a part of their service or will offer it for no additional charge upon request.
• Utilize mats – This one is obvious. Use a mat and wipe your feet prior to entering the home. This will help prevent the carpet from soiling to begin with.
• Remove shoes – Removal of shoes is sometimes seen as a sign of respect or a cultural thing, but it can help reduce carpet wear and will greatly reduce the amount of soil being tracked throughout the house.

There are a number of issues that can arise in areas of the carpet that see more foot traffic than others. These areas are more likely to wear and, if not kept clean, can increase the risk of tracking dirt and particulates onto the cleaner areas of the carpet. Keeping your high traffic areas clean and durable will lead to keeping your entire carpet looking healthy and extending its life.