How to Clean Your Carpets: A Guide
Carpets and rugs add cosy warmth to a home and can bring a whole room together. However, if they are not well looked after, they can make you sick. As ominous as this sounds, with the right tools and cleaning practices, you can ensure your carpets stay clean and fresh all year through – keeping them looking brand new for years to come.
Why you should vacuum your carpets regularly
Carpets are made of fibres that can easily trap dust, pet hair and other small particles. When this is left untouched, it can create the perfect home for allergy-causing dust mites and significantly reduce indoor air quality. In humid regions like the Middle East, the dust and dirt can interact with moisture and turn into grime and mold which is much harder to coax out of carpet fibres. Grime build-up can also make your carpet look dull and time-worn.
Another thing to watch out for as a carpet owner is spillage. In a household with children and pets, spillages are hard to avoid. Carpet fibers readily absorb any spills, and if not dealt with promptly and properly, it can result in stubborn stains and lingering odours. This is why it is advisable to own a vacuum that is equipped with a dual-filtration system that also keeps your air clean.
How often you should clean your carpets
To determine how often to clean your carpets, you need to consider the number of occupants and whether your carpet is in a high-traffic area. If children and pets that shed are a part of your family, then that definitely means more frequent vacuuming. The same goes for high-traffic areas.
A good rule of thumb is to vacuum at least once a week if you live in a child-free, pet-free household. If you have children and/or pets, it is a good idea to vacuum 3 to 4 times a week. If you have pets that shed a lot, daily vacuuming is advisable to maintain a clean allergen-free environment. This is especially true if someone in the household has dust allergies and respiratory issues.
Tips on how to clean your carpet
1. Declutter
Pick up toys and other items that are strewn on your carpet so you don’t have to pause to move things out of the way while vacuuming. It is also a good idea to dust your coffee table or any other pieces of furniture that are resting on or near your carpet before you start vacuuming.
2. Vacuum horizontally and vertically
To ensure no stubborn debris is missed and every inch of your carpet gets attention, it is important to vacuum in all directions – especially in high-traffic areas which receive footfalls from different directions.
3. Vacuum slowly
Push the vacuum head as far out away from you without it being uncomfortable to grip, and then slowly pull it back towards you with the suction on. Work your way around your carpet in sections, making sure that you’re going slow during the pull-back, as this is when a lot of dirt gets pried loose.
4. Don’t miss an inch
At least once a week, move your furniture off the carpet so no stray debris is left behind in hard-to-reach areas. It’s also recommended to flip your carpet and run your vacuum over the back to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned.
5. Maintain your vacuum
Clean out and empty your vacuum regularly to make sure there’s no buildup that can block filters or dust collection chambers. This can hamper the suction power of your vacuum and even reduce its life over time. If your vacuum cleaner has a water filter, it is essential to wash and dry its components to keep it running smoothly. Make sure to follow the instruction manual to safely remove all washable parts from the vacuum cleaner and dry them as advised.
6. Use the right features and attachments
Most modern vacuum cleaners come with a lot of new features and a variety of heads. Take time to understand how your vacuum works and make sure you use the right heads on each surface so you get the most out of it.
What to look for when buying a vacuum cleaner for your carpet
Choosing a new vacuum cleaner can feel overwhelming with the number of options available today. A good place to start is to define your specific need, and then look for a vacuum cleaner that has a proven track record for serving that need.
For example, if you are an allergy sufferer and pet owner who lives in a region like Dubai that has seasonal sand storms, you need a vacuum with advanced dual-filtration technology. This innovation combines powerful dry cyclonic cleaning with an efficient water filtration system that helps clean the air as you vacuum.
Developed by THOMAS Vacuums to ensure allergy sufferers and pet owners enjoy a new standard of cleaner, safer homes, the dual-filtration technology offers deep multi-surface cleaning while improving indoor air quality. To get your new THOMAS vacuum, contact us or check out our online store.
