6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Carpets Clean

Carpet is one of the biggest investments in your home. At an average cost of $4.50 per square foot, carpet replacement is an expense that most people want to avoid for as long as possible. Keeping your carpet clean and free from dirt, grime, stains, and dust will keep your carpet looking new longer and also increase its lifespan. Our Rug Doctor experts put together these six simple ways to keep your carpet clean to increase the life of your carpet and protect your investment.

Stop Dirt and Grime at the Door. The easiest way to keep your carpet and rugs cleaner longer is by keeping dirt and grime from getting on them in the first place. Be proactive, and utilize door mats. Use outdoor and indoor mats, which work together to reduce the amount of dirt tracked into your house. Encourage family and visitors to wipe their shoes before entering your home.

Ditch the Shoes. Want to go a step beyond the doormat? We suggest you stop wearing shoes in the house. A simple Google search shows all the gross stuff shoes track into your home and on to your carpet: bacteria, chemicals, dirt… even fecal matter! Ew! Your carpet and rugs act like a magnet, collecting everything you track in and transferring it all to your floor. And let’s not overlook the wear and tear shoes cause to your carpet and floors. Shoes can literally grind in dirt, damaging carpet fibers and resulting in matting. Don’t be afraid to put a sign up for visitors to remind them “no shoes allowed.” It’s your carpet, and you have the right to protect it!

Change or Clean Your Air Filters. The more dust and particles removed by your air filter, the fewer will fall on your carpet (and tables, chairs, bed, etc). Did you know a dirty air filter causes your HVAC system to work extra hard and use more energy? That’s no good for your furnace or your wallet. It’s recommended you change your air filters every 90 days; and if you have dog or cat in the home, change them every 60 days.

Vacuum Regularly. This seems like a no-brainer, but something as simple as vacuuming is the easiest and most effective way to keep your carpet and rugs clean. Vacuuming has a significant impact on the cleanliness of your home, the air you breathe, and the life of your carpet and rugs. Aim to vacuum once a week and increase the frequency inhigh-traffic or pet areas. And don’t forget to check your vacuum bag or filter regularly. If the bag is too full, the vacuum loses suction.

Treat Stains as Quickly as Possible. The longer a stain sets in, the harder it is to remove. Always blot the stain – never rub! – using a white paper towel or cloth. Beware of using a cloth with color, otherwise you risk transferring dye and creating a bigger problem. Rug Doctor offers various spot and stain sprays that remove stains and odors at the source. Rug Doctor Pet Stain Remover is scientifically engineered to eat away biological pet stains (blood, urine, sweat, etc.), and it discourages remarking. Rug Doctor Spot Stain Remover safely eliminates odors and stains from food spills, wine, mud, grease and more. No matter your needs, Rug Doctor has a cleaning solution for you.

Give your Carpets a Professional-Grade Deep Cleaning at Least Once Every Year. Although vacuuming is important, it only removes dirt from the surface of your carpet. A professional-level clean gets deep below the carpet fibers, pulling out all the gross stuff you can’t see like dust mites, pet dander, pollen and allergens. Rent a Rug Doctor deep carpet cleaner to deep clean it yourself, and save at least $200 versus hiring a carpet cleaning service. Rug Doctor deep carpet cleaners are ranked platinum level by the Carpet and Rug Institute. That’s the same level ranking as truck-mounted deep cleaning systems used by expensive carpet cleaning services, so you know you’re getting a professional-level deep clean. And doing it yourself is easier than you think! The average room only takes about 20 minutes. Remove stains, dirt and odor from your carpet on your own time by renting a Rug Doctor at one of 40,000 rental locations!