When To Save Your Carpet And When To Throw It Away

Abrasive wear to your carpet is typically caused by the loss of fibre due to heavy foot traffic. As the carpet becomes even more worn it loses its original appearance. Vacuum cleaner marks can cause shading, and staining and soiling can show up more quickly on lighter patterns.
Snagging can be due to tufts being pulled out of the carpet, and shedding is a characteristic of carpet fibres that are released from the carpet pile. Pilling and fuzzing can also develop when the carpet is constantly walked on.
At some time, carpets will need to be replaced. Want to know when to save your carpet and when to throw it away? Read on…

Signs to look for

Dirt and grime
There’s actually no need to replace your carpet if stains are the issue. A professional carpet steam cleaner will bring pre-treatment solutions, cleaning products, and a powerful steam cleaning machine to refresh and restore your floor coverings.
Hot water extraction methods involve injecting an appropriate cleaning solution and hot water mix deep into the carpet fibres. This agitates the engrained dirt and bacteria which is then removed with almost all of the excess water.
Professional rug cleaning can also be arranged so that all of your floor coverings will look new following the service.

Tears and wrinkles
A resection of your torn carpet can be done professionally with the insert being virtually invisible, avoiding you having to buy a new carpet.
Wrinkles are often caused by improper installation and can also be repaired, however, if it’s the backing materials that have separated from the carpet this condition is irreversible.

Unpleasant smells
If odours linger following a thorough carpet clean then it probably means that the smell has penetrated into the fibres, the backing, and possibly the subfloor. This can potentially lead to mould and mildew growth. To fully eliminate these aromas, you should get in touch with your local carpet cleaning specialists – they’ll be able to advise whether a steam clean will be successful or if your carpet will need to be replaced.

Carpet backing
The backing of a carpet is a type of padding that gives it support and works as a comfortable foundation to walk on. It also helps with insulation and lessens noise levels in the room. Symptoms of old padding are wrinkles and unevenness in the carpet, and a crinkling sound when you walk on it. All of these signs point to a need to get a new carpet with new padding.

Allergies acting up
If you find your nose is running, your eyes are itching, and you’re having trouble breathing, these are all possible side effects of a dirty carpet. Allergens in the air can become trapped in the carpet, alongside pet dander and dust mites. If you’re allergic or sensitive to any of these substances asthma can worsen and dermatitis can be experienced.
This is rarely a reason to replace your carpets. Antiviral deep cleaning can be carried out by carpet cleaning professionals that will kill 99.99% of all known germs. Eco-friendly cleaning agents will eliminate microscopic organisms and dust mites, as well as dissolving dirt and getting rid of unpleasant smells.

Carpet age
A good quality carpet can last up to 10 years with proper care. After that no matter how many times you have your carpet cleaned it may start to show signs of wear and tear. Loss of texture and colour and lack of padding will all be influential in your decision whether to save your carpet or throw it away.

Taking care of your carpet

Carpet maintenance is essential if you want your carpet to last. See a few tips here:
• Vacuum at least once a week with a cleaner that picks up pet hair if you have pets
• Take off shoes at the entrance and leave them on the mat
• Mop up stains immediately and treat as instructed on the product label
• Use overshoes whenever you have a damp carpet following a deep clean, or you have an event where there are many people walking over your carpet!
• Place rugs in high traffic areas
• Have your carpets professionally cleaned every six months and request carpet protection to help prevent future staining