Why Dirt and Grime Will Damage Carpet and How to Prevent it

We walk all over our carpet all the time, but we tend to rarely give it a second thought. What we don’t realize is that the more we walk on our carpets and the longer they go without being cleaned, the more dust and grime settles in. This isn’t such a big deal right? As long as you clean it when you can get to it, even if that isn’t for weeks. WRONG. Dust, dirt, and grime actually are a lot harder on your carpets than you think.

Dust, dirt, and grime can easily settle and permanently leave a less than pleasant color behind. Not only does it affect the initial look of your carpet, but the damage actually goes all the way down to the fibers of the carpet. The longer it sits, the more the dirt and grime will tear at the fibers, ripping them apart, and damaging them completely. This leaves your carpets with a frayed and fuzzy look. However, all of this can be prevented and carpet repair professionals are just around the corner.

Here are a few things to do and look out for when repairing or cleaning your carpets to make sure they stay looking like new and last a long time

VACUUM FREQUENTLY AND THOROUGHLY

Dirt that has been tracked in is the cause of over 90 percent of the wear and tear in residential carpets. When dirt gets on the fibers, it breaks down and damages the fibers over time through abrasion. This can drastically speed up the deterioration of your carpet. Regular vacuuming will help deter this wear and tear to your carpet. Plus, regular vacuuming helps to mitigate another factor: dirt attracts dirt. If you let your carpets build up in dirt and grime, you will probably notice it gets dirtier faster the longer you leave it alone. If you vacuum regularly, you’ll help seriously preserve your carpets and lengthen their lifespan

LIGHT ON THE DETERGENTS

Using too much cleaner could likely result in having residue left over in your carpets – residue that is hard to remove, even with vacuuming. If left in the carpet, will actually start to do more harm than good. For this reason, don’t feel the need to overuse detergents or shampoos. Less is more.

DON’T LET STAINS SIT

Stains that set become harder to remove. If tackled right away, most stains can be cleaned with household cleaning agents.

DON’T RUB OR DIG

Don’t dig, rub, or brush dirty spots. This will not only make the stain bigger but also push it deeper into the carpet, causing more damage and making it harder to remove. You want to start by scraping the stain towards the middle and dab until the stain comes out.

HOT WATER EXTRACTION

If you have residue in the carpets, you want to extract it if possible. Professionals have the proper equipment to use the hot water extraction method, which encapsulates dirt and detergent residue to give your carpet fibers a thorough cleaning. Extraction also flushes out any other potential organisms or dirt hidden deep in your carpet as well.

CALL THE PROS

In general, you want your carpets professionally cleaned once or twice a year. Even if you’re vacuuming regularly, a professional cleaner, such as White Knight in Madison, is important as they have access to equipment and cleaning agents that you don’t – equipment that gives a thorough, deeper clean and could prolong your carpet’s lifetime. Peace of mind and a clean home will be worth the trouble as professionals will save you time and stress.