How often should you get your carpet dry cleaned?
When was the last time you dry cleaned your carpet? Remember, the weekly or biweekly vacuuming doesn’t count. While it is a necessary practice, vacuuming only eliminates surface dirt and particles. It does not remove stains, tacky dirt and mud, and abrasive particles that ruin your carpet over time.
Unlike steam cleaning, dry cleaning does not introduce excessive moisture into your carpet. Moisture can encourage mould growth, especially if you don’t dry the fibres properly. Instead, the dry cleaning method removes dirt and stains and refreshes your carpet without exposure to unnecessary moisture. But how often should you get your carpets professionally cleaned? Here are a few pointers to help you decide:
Consider the number of people in your household.
The more people who use your home, the higher the chances of your carpet getting soiled often. A household with two occupants may not have the same carpet cleaning needs as one with five.
Thus, if your home has more than two or three people, dry clean your carpet at least once or twice every twelve months. Doing so will improve air quality and boost the overall appearance of the carpets and floor rugs in your home.
If you have children …
If you are a parent, you likely have seen your child spill a drink on the carpet or track dirt into the house from playing outside.
To keep the carpet clean and fresh, parents should clean high-traffic carpet areas every six to 12 months and professionally clean the entire carpet once annually.
If you have pets …
Pet owners typically require carpet cleaning more often, due to dogs tracking in dirt and grass, pets shedding, and any urine or accidents your pet may have on the carpet.
In addition to vacuuming at least twice a week, pet owners should clean high-traffic areas every three to six months and professionally clean the entire carpet twice per year.
5 answers to whether you should deep clean carpets
Why Deep Clean?
Vacuum cleaning is a great way to keep surface dirt off your carpets and floors. However, deep cleaning takes the process a step further and actually washes the carpet fibres and removes dirt that is hidden deep down inside the carpet.
How Much Effort is Required?
We have made it our duty to provide great deep cleaning products without having to double up the work. The effort needed to deep clean your carpets when using a BISSELL machine is as easy as vacuuming, and just as cost effective. Carpets can hold 450 grams of dirt per square foot. Deep cleaning your carpets and rugs will preserve their condition by removing fine debris and larger dirt particles from the very bottom, keeping them looking like new and smelling fresh.
How Often Should I Deep Clean?
Deep cleaning all depends on the amount of traffic in your home. We recommend deep cleaning your carpets and rugs at least twice a year, however, if you have pets, kids or a smoking habit, we recommend deep cleaning every quarter. This will keep your carpets grime free and in the best shape possible.
How Hard Is It To Empty the Tank?
As soon as your dirt reaches the ‘full’ line, it’s time to empty the tank. Simply remove the tank from the machine and empty the dirty water into the sink. Refill the tank with clean water and solution, pop it back in to the machine and you’re ready to go again!
Is Deep Cleaning the Same as Steam Cleaning?
No, steam cleaners such as the BISSELL Vac&Steam are used on sealed hard surfaces and create actual steam which is used to clean the surface. A deep cleaning machine such as the PowerWash™ Deluxe carpet cleaner is designed to get to the bottom of the dirt and remove it from carpets, rugs, stairs and upholstery with its 6 rows of DirtLifter™ PowerBrushes and removable water tank.
Deep cleaning is a great way to preserve your carpets for a long time, to prevent them from having to be replaced so soon. Carpet cleaning machines can cost the same as hiring in a professional but allow mums and dads to keep their carpets in tip top shape as often as they feel the need. Don’t call in the experts, be an expert yourself with your own deep cleaning machine.
Signs Your Carpets Need To Be Professionally Cleaned
The exact frequency your carpet needs to be cleaned varies based upon the type of carpeting, the amount of traffic it gets, and how soiled it becomes over time. Some signs that indicate the need for steam cleaning including:
#1. One Stain Keeps Reappearing
You noticed a nasty stain on your carpet, so you went to work cleaning it and as you scrubbed you watched with satisfaction as it disappeared. The next day you noticed the stain was back again, so you went to work cleaning it up… and then, the very next day, there it is again, just staring at you, taunting. Now what? Reappearing stains require professional carpet cleaning services.
#2. Your Carpet Has Lost Its Fluffy Look
Regular traffic smashes carpeting down and the dirt trapped within fibers keeps them held down. Eventually, carpeting starts to resemble a flattened cardboard box as opposed to a plush surface you want in your home. This flattened and un-fluffy appearance is a sign that carpets need to be deep cleaned. After cleaning carpet fibers, they should fluff back up.
But, at a certain point, the carpet is no longer salvageable. We are happy to asses your carpeting and let you know if steam cleaning will help, or if carpeting needs to be replaced. Regular cleaning helps prevent carpet from becoming so flattened down that it needs to be prematurely replaced.
#3. There’s Dust Trapped Inside
If a lot of dust enters your home through open doors and windows it is possible for your carpets to host pounds, literally pounds, of dust and dirt. If you notice big puffs of dust coming up out of your carpeting when you vacuum, or when you hit it with the flat palm of your hand, it’s time to have your carpets professionally cleaned.
#4. Your Carpet Has A Funky Odor
If your carpet smells stale or musty it needs to be professionally cleaned. Odors signify a buildup of impurities and possibly even mold spores, which can make you sick.
#5. Your Carpets Are Not Looking So Good
If your carpets have lost their original color or texture, or simply appear dirty right after you vacuum, it’s time to deep clean surfaces.
Some forms of nasty bacteria commonly found in household carpets include:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): This penicillin-resistant bacteria is especially common in households with athletes or occupants that regularly go to the gym. The nasty bug is commonly found in gyms and commonly gets brought home on clothing, shoes, and gym bags.
- MRSA loves cuts and can jump right in. A healthy person can carry MRSA for years and not even know it. It leads to red bumps that are painful and get worse with time, leading to fever and rashes. Certain cases of MRSA remain untreatable and can even lead to death.
- Campylobacter: Most common in the winter, this type of bacteria can lead to bloody diarrhea, stomach pains, and fever in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
- Fungi and mold: A few different types of fungi and molds live in carpeting, some of which cause allergies and can even be life threatening in the most serious cases.
- Norovirus: These bacteria cause nasty stomach flus, and can survive on your carpets for as long as 4-6 weeks just waiting to infect you.
- Micrococcus: This type of bacteria is known to cause skin infections, septic shock, meningitis, and even death.