How to Maintain Carpets During Winter
Winter is a particularly tough time for carpets. Rain, snow, dirt and debris can all cause damage to them. To keep your carpets in tiptop shape, it's important to come up with a plan for daily, interim and deeper carpet cleaning. Here are five simple tricks to make sure your carpets stay clean this winter.
PROTECT CARPETS WITH MATS
After the snow falls, the salt, slush, and mud you track in on your boots may leave stains. More seriously though, the moisture can promote mold growth. Get yourself a strong pair of doormats that can withstand the elements.
Using entrance mats is the first defense against dirt being tracked into the house. If you want to prevent water and dirt from spreading through your home, invest in high-quality mats. The use of indoor and outdoor mats should be separated. Outside mats are likely to see higher volumes of water, so they need to be designed to allow it to pass through. Indoor mats are likely to see smaller volumes of water, and they are also the last surface stood on before feet meet your floor. That means they need to absorb smaller amounts of water more reliably.
A scraper-style mat that individuals routinely clean their feet on is another viable alternative for outdoor use. Once inside, use a mat made entirely of textiles to collect any stray dirt and dampness.
VACUUM REGULARLY AND OFTEN
Due to the increased dry air and poor ventilation in most homes, dust mites and mold spores flourish throughout the winter.
Don’t let too much time pass between vacuuming, or the dirt and debris will become more profound in the carpet fibers. So, make it a practice to vacuum at least twice a week throughout the colder months. You’d need to vacuum rooms that experience a lot of foot traffic daily.
Don’t forget to vacuum your walk-off mats. Vacuuming walk-off mats will help to reduce the number of times the carpet needs to be cleaned each year. If you are a property owner, it's important to share this information with your building owners and managers to help save money in building maintenance.
CLEAN THE OUTSIDES
One of the most effective ways to prevent dirt and filth from being tracked inside your home is to always keep the outside of your property clean and well-maintained. It is important to sweep the pavement and walkways that lead up to the front door daily to avoid the accumulation of mud, moss, and algae on these surfaces. This helps eliminate any potential trip hazards that may have been there and keeps muck from being tracked inside.
WHEN CLEANING, BE CAREFUL OF MOISTURE
If you decide to shampoo the carpet during the winter, tread lightly. In the winter, when you cannot open the windows, drying a carpet could take longer, which could contribute to mold development. That said, in some cases, carpets will dry faster in the wintertime because the warm, dry interior air can absorb more moisture, facilitating the carpet drying process. While the carpet is drying, increase ventilation by turning on the ceiling fans.
CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER
The benefits of monthly filter changes for your heating system are not limited to the appliance itself; your carpet will also benefit from it. Carpet fibers capture pollutants like fungus spores, dirt particles, pollen, and pet dander. If your carpet is light enough, you may notice black lines around the outer edges where the carpet meets the baseboards. These thin lines are evidence of how the air circulation patterns in your home trap pollutants in your carpet. As warm air cools and falls along the walls, the edge of the carpet along the wall acts as the first “filter” of the air as it comes to floor level. When you’re diligent about changing your filter, there will be less dust and other debris blasted through the ducts and deposited on the carpet. You should also notice less dust build-up in your vacuum.
FINAL WORDS
If you have a hard time maintaining a clean carpet during winter, we highly recommend enlisting the help of a professional carpet cleaner. Hire Total Care to give your carpets a fresh look. We’re who you call to get the job done right. Call today (319) 382-9815 to schedule an appointment!
