Homeowners know that clean carpets are central to a fresh, inviting home. However, proper carpet care impacts more than just aesthetics. It also affects air quality and the carpet’s longevity and can be crucial in managing dirt, allergens, and odors. To help us better understand what proper carpet care looks like, we spoke to Jason Lund, owner of Professional Carpet Care in Durham, NC. With his help, we compiled this comprehensive guide to effective carpet care.
Daily and Weekly Carpet Maintenance Tips
According to Jason, vacuuming is the cornerstone of carpet maintenance. “Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum. Your carpet acts as a filter, trapping dust, soil, and allergens,” he explains. “Vacuuming is the single most effective way to remove the most amount of dry particulate (i.e., soil hair, dust, and dander) from your home. Your carpet is a filter. Every day, the stuff that accumulates in your home ends up in that filter. Regular vacuuming helps extend the time between regular deep cleaning. So vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.”
Regular vacuuming prevents debris from embedding deeper into carpet fibers. It extends the carpet’s life and improves overall air quality in your home. Of course, this raises the question: How often should you vacuum? The answer depends. It comes down to the level of traffic. The more people and pets in your home, the more frequently you should vacuum.
Monthly and Seasonal Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning removes accumulated grime that vacuuming alone can’t tackle. Jason advocates for “van-powered hot water extraction,” a method that ensures a thorough clean from top to bottom.
“Hot water extraction is the recommended way for the world’s largest carpet manufacturers, Shaw and 3M, to clean your carpet. It provides a thorough, deep, top to bottom clean. Not just a surface clean but a full restorative clean. And that all gets sucked out of your house to the truck. When we finish a job, we truly remove the dirt from your home.”
Carpet warranties stipulate a minimum of once a year for professional carpet cleaning. Jason recommends professional cleanings three to four times a year for households with pets and children to maintain optimal conditions. He explains, “It’s about understanding the soil load and adjusting the cleaning frequency accordingly.”
“Imagine when someone walks in through the front door. The area right by the front door will collect the most soil. Once that area gets saturated, the soil will travel farther into the space. Then you have areas like the kitchen, the bathroom, and other rooms where soil builds up, but there is no carpet to catch it. Then soil then gets tracked from these areas into carpeted areas where the carpet filter captures it. So just like vacuuming, frequency for deep cleaning comes down to usage. If a house is lived in by four or five people and a couple of pets, that equates to a lot of traffic and a high soil load. In that case, the carpets should be cleaned three to four times a year.”
Addressing Common Carpet Issues
Pet soiling is a prevalent challenge in carpet care. Professional Carpet Care’s approach uses moisture detectors and UV light to identify problem areas accurately. “The most common issue is pet soiling, which requires specialized treatment to remove fully,” Jason notes, underscoring the importance of professional intervention for severe cases.
“The way we address it is first to identify and locate those spots using moisture detectors that detect the salts in the deposits from the urine and feces. Even if it’s not a fresh spot, we can still tell where a carpet has been soiled. And once we’ve identified the spots, we can determine how to resolve the particular issue.”
The next most common issue is excessive soiling from not vacuuming. Jason described how his team tackles this issue, “Instead of just rinsing and extracting, we use power scrubbers that do hundreds of passes from all directions. We scrub and open the fibers to remove the deep-down dirt.”
What to Avoid
We asked Jason if he had any advice for homeowners when it comes to treating stains. He laughed and responded, “Things to avoid are more important than things to do. First of all, do not do a web search. A couple of years ago, the biggest thing on the internet was to mix vinegar and Dawn dishwashing detergent together. One is an acid and one an alkaline. One is a rinsing agent and one is a detergent. When you mix them together, you just make a stinking mess. Don’t try to educate yourself. Call somebody.”
Regarding things to do, Jason recommends water and paper towels. “Paper towels are your best friend. It doesn’t matter if it’s food, drink, or bodily fluid; the paper towel will absorb a lot of it. Paper towels are much more absorbent than your couch, carpet, or fine area rug. Start with a lot of paper towels. After that, I would say that water never hurts anything. Paper towels and water will amaze most people. It’s just the patience of taking the time and using a whole roll of paper towels.”
Why Choose Professional Carpet Care of Durham
When selecting a cleaning service, Jason advises looking for certified professionals. “Certification, experience, and proper equipment matter,” he says. This ensures the team handling your carpets is trained in the latest and most effective cleaning techniques
Jason continued, “We use the best equipment in the industry, van-powered hot water extraction, and we certify and train all our technicians using the industry standard of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).”
“To ensure we do a thorough job, our team always starts with a complete carpet inspection. We take the time to determine what the specific needs are and what the appropriate cleaning solutions are before we start cleaning. We work with the homeowner to make sure we identify any problem areas, high-traffic areas, and stains that need attention, and then we pre-treat everything before we clean it.”
Unlocking a Healthier Home
Maintaining your carpets is not just about cleanliness; it’s about creating a healthy and inviting space for you and your loved ones. Regular vacuuming, timely professional cleanings, and addressing spills and stains promptly can extend the life of your carpets and improve your home’s overall atmosphere. Remember, your carpets are the biggest filter in your home, and keeping them clean is crucial for indoor air quality.
Choosing the right carpet care professional, like Professional Carpet Care of Durham, ensures your carpets are treated with expertise and care. Jason Lund’s emphasis on education, certification, and proper equipment underlines the importance of trusting your carpets to those who understand them best. So, take a step today towards a cleaner, healthier home by giving your carpets the attention they deserve.
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