Although many people have started to opt for wooden and laminate flooring, there's nothing quite as warm and welcoming as a carpet in the home. A good quality carpet in your living room, hallway, or bedroom can create a cozy, comfortable, and often elegant look. And with so many different styles and types of carpet available, it is easy to find one that matches your taste, needs, décor, and budget. However, in order to keep your carpet looking good it needs to be kept clean and properly maintained. Nothing looks worse on your floor than a dusty, ragged, threadbare carpet, but with proper cleaning and care it hopefully won't come to this.
Of course, the best form of cleaning for carpets is through prevention. Your carpets will need to be properly cleaned now and again, but you can minimize on expensive cleaning procedures by taking care of your carpet. This means you will need to protect it from the effects of dust and spills. If your home is particularly dusty, an air purifier might help. Regular vacuuming will also help to keep your carpets free of dust and other debris. Spills are a different matter entirely, and could ruin your carpet if not dealt with properly. Any spills on your carpet should be dealt with immediately and in the appropriate manner. For example, if you spill a drop of ink, you should restrain from rubbing it. Simply blot it, and then use an appropriate cleaner as instructed.
It is also worth investing in mats for areas that are walked on more often, such as hallway carpets. This can protect your carpet from damage caused by dirt coming in and out - mats are far easier and smaller to clean than your whole carpet, so you could save yourself a lot of time and hassle.
For deep down cleaning, there are a number of methods you can use. It is worth remembering that carpet cleaning liquids and products are often packed with chemicals, so they should be used with caution, particularly with children and animals in the house. Wherever possible, go for as mild a cleaning product as possible, although you may sometimes have to use harsher ones to remove stubborn stains and certain spills. A mild carpet shampoo is often the best solution and can produce effective results with minimal risk.
Many people like to steam clean their carpets for maximum results, and this can really bring a dull-looking carpet back to life. Steam cleaners can be expensive to buy, but they are often availableto rent at an affordable price. Depending on the frequency with which you steam clean, this could be the most sensible and cost effective answer. You can also hire a professional to come and do the steam cleaning for you, although this will obviously incur the cost of labor, but will save you the cost of renting or buying a steam cleaner and can save you the time and work involved.
There are many benefits to ensuring that your carpets are kept clean and in good condition. The aesthetic aspect is important to ensure that your carpets look as good as possible. A badly maintained carpet can ruin the look of the whole room, no matter how nice the rest of the décor is. A well kept, clean carpet can have the opposite effects, and can really make a difference to the room, even if the rest of the décor leaves something to be desired.
Another, and even more important, benefit is the potential improvement to health. A great many people suffer from allergies and conditions such as asthma and eczema. A dusty, dirty carpet will throw up particles every time it is walked upon, which can exacerbate such conditions. By keeping your carpets clean and free from debris, the household can enjoy cleaner air as well as cleaner carpet, which can be very beneficial where general health and air is concerned.
