How To Clean Carpet
It's one of life's least exciting tasks, yet is so rewarding that I can't believe I didn't do it sooner or more regularly. That feeling I get upon seeing a newly cleaned carpet, knowing that all the weeks or months of built up dust, dirt and pollen is gone, is truly wonderful. So, how to clean carpet, then? In this article, I'll go through a few strategies for just that, along with some advice for those that may have hardwood floors instead.
Let's start with the obvious: the less you track into your house, the less problem you'll have keeping your carpets clean. This may mean rethinking whether to let shoes be worn inside, or to leave them on a mat by the door. At the very least, I've found that an all-weather mat outside the front door is necessary. In addition to that, I have a less heavy-duty mat on the inside of the front door, as well as the same combination of mats at the back door. Again, the less I track in (including snow), the easier I am on my carpets. As for how to clean carpet, I'm a believer that where vacuums are concerned you get what you pay for. Translation: Don't buy the cheapest vacuum you can find in the interest of saving money. You'll likely spend more in the long run on upkeep and maintenance anyway. Plus, a good quality vacuum will lift dirt and particulates that a cheap vacuum simply cannot reach. And, as I've covered in a previous article on "How to clean furniture", good vacuums will have tools that are invaluable in other housecleaning areas.
Once the vacuuming starts, it's important to be slow, deliberate and thorough. Many people see cleaning as a chore (which it is), and go through the motions as quickly as possible. This is a mistake with vacuuming. Try this experiment: vacuum the same room in your house twice, one week apart each time. The first time, do the vacuuming fast and vigorously, finishing in 30 seconds or less. The second time, take your time and pay attention to detail, making sure to hit every inch of carpet, moving the furniture, and getting into the corners. Now, look at the collection in the bin. Without fail, you'll see a sizable difference the second time. This just isn't a job that can be done both fast and well. As for normal frequency, you're the judge, but once a week is usually more than sufficient.
How to clean carpet with additives, should will be a personal preference. Some people like the deodorizers, but my feeling is that they just add more to vacuum up, and usually they spread fine particles into the air. If I'm thorough about how to clean carpet, I shouldn't need to deodorize anyway.
And for those with hardwood floors, here are a few tips. I personally still prefer a good vacuum, just for the raw power to lift all the dust and, in my case, cat hair. Brooms work fine, but will spread dust as you go. Eventually, nothing beats a good bucket of hot water, diluted soap and a mop. Most wood floors will have been treated so this will be a safe way to clean them. Vacuum or sweep. Then mop. Stand back and admire the results.
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