Is your carpet old? Do you want to buy a new one but can’t afford it? Well then, you have come to the right place. No! We are not giving away carpets for free but with this article, carpet cleaning can become a little easier and you can make your old carpet look new and fluffy (unless it is way too dirty).
Let’s make one thing clear! Carpets suffer the most abuse out of all your furniture pieces and if you are planning to revive your old carpet, then you will need to put some of your weekend fun aside. Carpets are like attention-seeking pets – they need you to clean them periodically. If you think that cleaning the carpet once a year just before the Christmas rush is enough then let us burst your bubble! If you want to save some bucks by elongating your carpet’s life instead of buying a new one every few years then continue reading!
Ways to Make Your Carpet Look New & Fluffy
Carpet that is neat, soft, and has a pleasant feel is usually an overlooked feature of a home. An older, faded, and stained carpet can affect the overall aesthetic appeal of your home. Sadly, given the cost and difficulties of changing a carpet, you may be forced to make do with whatever you have.
No matter what kind of carpeting your home has – wall-to-wall or area carpets, experts recommend you vacuum your carpet weekly. And if you have pets or children then you will have to vacuum twice a week. One of the most common mistakes people make is not cleaning spills and stains immediately when in fact they should be dealt with as early as possible. Furthermore, consider investing some bucks in professional carpet cleaning services at least twice a year. In this article, we share with you a few budget-friendly ways to make your carpet look new and fluffy.
1. Prioritize Treating Spills & Stains
Spills and stains are inevitable when you have a carpet especially when you have children and/or pets. Prioritizing treating spills and stains is the key to prolonging your carpet’s life. And remember! Do NOT rub! Instead, use a paper towel or a clean cloth to blot.
And if your poor carpet has old stains that now you have no option but to clean, then moisten the affected area first with a washing powder and water mixture. Let it soak for a while and then vacuum! It may take a few tries to completely get rid of the stain and if it still doesn’t, we suggest you look for carpet cleaning services for a professional clean. As opposed to popular belief, DIY does not always work!
2. Regular Vacuuming Feat. Carpet Freshening Powder
As mentioned above, weekly vacuuming is a must to maintain your carpet. But is it enough? Well, it depends on how much abuse your carpet suffers and where your house is located. If your house faces a street that receives a good amount of traffic, then your carpet probably accumulates more dust.
If that is the case then your carpet needs a little extra something! We suggest you visit the carpet cleaning aisle of your local supermarket and buy some carpet freshening powder. Apply the freshening powder evenly throughout the carpet and then allow it to set as per the pack guidelines and vacuum it section by section. (Tip: Baking soda can be used instead of carpet freshening powder although the latter is recommended for a fresh smell.)
3. Reduce Carpet Snagging by Trimming
Maybe your carpet does not accumulate a lot of dirt and you always prioritize treating spills and stains. But then why does your carpet looks worn out? Bent down and pay close attention to those snags. Snagging is especially common when you have children and/or pets in the house.
Just how we get our hair trimmed regularly, experts recommend trimming those snags at least twice a year. (Note: Do NOT pull a snag) Trimming will ensure that there is no further damage!
4. Take Care of Carpet Indentations
You must have noticed that the carpet under your furniture pieces looks different than the carpet area of high traffic zones. Most of us move our furniture a little for a fresh look but this results in visible carpet indentations which can be a major downer when it comes to aesthetics.
If your indentations aren’t too bad, they can be easily removed by vacuuming. If that doesn’t work out then you have two options – leave ice cubes on affected areas or use the steam cleaning method. If steam cleaning is not affordable then a cheaper DIY alternative is to lay down a damp towel on the affected area and then use a steam iron to get rid of those indentations. After ironing, remove the cloth 10-15 minutes later and fluff the fibres.
5. Steam Cleaning Almost Always Works
There are two ways to steam clean your carpet. You can either do it yourself or hire professional carpet cleaners to do it for you. If you can afford it, buy a steam cleaner. Conversely, you can rent one! If you plan to do it yourself, then make sure to vacuum first to remove the dirt and grime from your carpet.
Apart from a steam cleaner, you will also need water and a good carpet cleaning solution or shampoo. Once you have steam cleaned the carpet, let it air dry. Do NOT walk on the wet carpet wearing shoes instead wear a pair of socks! Steam cleaning will not only clean your carpet thoroughly but also leave the room smelling fresh.
Key Takeaway
You must have realized by now that making your carpet look clean and fluffy isn’t exactly an easy task. While the above-mentioned ways usually work well, if you do not regularly clean your carpet then you will have to invest in a new one. If cleaning the carpet, yourself does not go as planned, we suggest you hire carpet cleaning services for a pristine look. Hiring professionals every year will still be cheaper than getting a new carpet.
So, make sure to maintain your carpet if you don’t want to invest in a new one too often. Your carpet will require some additional love and attention every now and then, no matter how careful you are with vacuuming and upkeep. To preserve your carpet and make it look clean and fluffy, undertake a deep cleaning every six months.
