Carpets have many advantages. This is why carpets can be dated back to as early as 2000 or 3000 BC in the Middle East. These early carpets were actually large rugs that could be removed for cleaning. In the 1930s, wall-to-wall carpets started being manufactured. These wall-to-wall carpets are attached to the floor and cover the entire room making them more permanent and harder to clean. These wall-to-wall carpets still have many advantages, but they also have disadvantages. With proper carpet care and stain removal, the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages.
- In 2014 wall-to-wall carpets accounted for half of all flooring sold in America
Advantages
There are several advantages to having wall-to-wall carpets. They are oftentimes less expensive than other flooring sold. Wall-to-wall carpeting can provide texture, color, and style to a room. They are also soft and can soften slips and falls. These types of carpet can also provide warmth, hide dirt, and hide flaws in the floor. Wall-to-wall carpeting is also quieter to walk on than most other types of flooring, and they dampen the acoustics in a room, which is especially good for offices or large buildings that have a tendency to echo.
- Carpet and underlay eliminate excessive noise from footsteps and control sound echos.
Disadvantages
With the many advantages of wall-to-wall carpeting also comes some disadvantages. Several pounds of soil, and dead skin can collect in a carpet each year, which makes it a very desirable environment for dust-mites. Bacteria can live on a carpet for up to four weeks. Carpets need to be kept dry because they can retain moisture and create mold. For this reason, they should not be used in kitchens, bathrooms, or other damp areas. Carpets can trap and hold allergens that can trigger allergies or asthma. Carpets can hold odors. They also soak up stains which can wear them out and quickly make them look old. Most carpets will need to be replaced after 5 to 15 years depending on the type of carpet, how much wear and tear is placed on the carpet, and what type of care has been taken for the carpet. Many of these disadvantages can be avoided or lessened with proper carpet care.
- The mold Stachybotrys chartarum (Black Mold) grows on damp carpets and pads
Proper Care
Proper carpet care begins with regular vacuuming at least weekly or more for high traffic areas. Vacuuming will not keep dirt from getting deep into the carpet, but it will help keep the carpet looking new by removing loose dirt, pet hair, and debris. To help remove pet hair and odors, you can sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and let it set for about 30 minutes before vacuuming. The baking soda will loosen the pet hair and soak up most of the trapped odors. Also to help keep carpets looking newer use mats in entryways and high traffic areas and blinds to block excessive sun exposure. Oftentimes carpets will get furniture dents that can be removed fairly easily by rubbing them with a coin or ice cube to loosen them up then fluff with your finger. Carpet snags should always be cut and never pulled to prevent further snagging. Since wall-to-wall carpets can hold as much as one pound of dirt per square yard, they should be cleaned with a hot water extraction, or steam cleaner about every 12 to 18 months. These regular deep cleanings of the carpet will sanitize and freshen the carpet while increasing its lifespan. It will also remove fungi, bacteria, and mold growing in the carpet along with deep down dirt and dust-mites. Another thing to help keep carpets looking new is to address spills immediately.
- The majority of people’s carpets are 4,000 times filthier than their toilet seats
Stains and Spills
Spills happen on carpets and can make the carpet ugly. Always dry a spill as soon as it happens to keep it from setting into the carpet. When a spill happens, do not rub it dry because that will risk it spreading and working further into the carpet fibers. Instead, a spill should be blotted with a dry cloth until it is as dry as possible. You can then mix ¼ cup of Borax with ½ cup of baking soda and sprinkle the mixture generously on the spill. Let the mixture sit on the spill for 30 to 60 minutes to absorb the remaining moisture then vacuum it up. If you miss a spill and it is now dry and has stained your carpet, there is no need to panic. First address any solid materials by scraping them with a dull knife to loosen the material, spray the spot lightly with hot water, then vacuum it up on the highest suction. If there is still a stained area, then make a mixture in a spray bottle of 1 TBSP baking soda, 3 TBSP vinegar, and 3 cups hot water. Spray the stain with the mixture then brush it and let it set for 10 minutes before you blot it with a damp cloth. Finish by blotting the spot with a dry cloth. Some harder to remove stains include pet urine and blood. To remove pet urine, first blot it as dry as possible, then mix in a spray bottle equal parts vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the urine spot, then blot dry again. For blood stains, mix in a bowl, 2 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dish soap. Wet a cloth in the mixture, then blot the blood stain with the mixture soaked cloth. Once the stain is gone, blot the area dry with a dry cloth. All carpet cleaning materials and stain removers, including DIY, should always first be tested on a small hidden corner of the carpet to make sure there will be no color changing effect.
- The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removable
Proper carpet care and stain removal will help the advantages of having wall-to-wall carpets outweigh the disadvantages by keeping your carpets looking new for a longer period of time. Regular vacuuming and machine or steam cleaning will remove dirt, dust-mites, allergens, and other toxins trapped and hiding in your carpet while keeping your carpet looking and smelling fresh.
Allbright Systems 2 takes great pride in helping businesses keep their carpets clean, fresh and smelling good.
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I appreciate the tips on removing carpet stains. Have always struggled with this.