Vacuuming is an important part of your cleaning routine and should be done regularly. However, it is not enough to keep carpets clean and healthy.
In addition to vacuuming weekly, you should have a professional carpet deep clean a few times a year. Here are five reasons why.
1. Vacuuming Doesn’t Remove All Debris
Vacuuming is the best way to remove dirt and debris from your carpets, but it doesn’t remove everything. In order to get your carpets as clean as possible, you should vacuum 1-2 times a week or even daily in high-traffic areas. This will help keep your carpets looking good and feeling fresh. It’s also important to use a vacuum cleaner that is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for soil removal. This means that your vacuum will pick up most of the dirt and debris in your carpets.
When vacuuming your carpets, make sure to vacuum in several directions rather than just one. It’s best to begin in a corner at the furthest edge of the room, then vacuum across each row of carpet, overlapping slightly each time you go over it. This will ensure that you’re getting all of the dirt and debris that might be hidden in your carpets. In addition, it’s important to use the nozzles and attachments that come with your vacuum cleaner so that you can get all of the hard-to-reach corners and edges.
Regular deep cleanings are essential to keep your carpets looking great, minimize allergies and other health issues, and extend their lifespan. This is because deep cleaning gets rid of the dirt and debris that can wear out carpet fibers over time. If you’re going to be doing any spot or stain treatments, it’s always a good idea to vacuum first to remove any debris that might block your ability to get the stain out.
Of course, the best way to keep your carpets clean is to prevent them from getting dirty in the first place. This is easy enough by asking your family and guests to remove their shoes before entering your home so that dirt on their soles won’t be trampled into the carpets.
2. Vacuuming Doesn’t Remove Odors
Most homeowners have a vacuum cleaner. They use it daily to keep carpets, area rugs, and other furniture clean and free of pet hair, dust, dirt, and other debris that can cause indoor air quality issues.
Vacuuming removes the majority of visible debris, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t suck everything up. Depending on your carpeting type, it’s a good idea to vacuum at least twice weekly or more often in high-traffic areas.
Dirty carpets become a breeding ground for dust mites and other organisms that can contribute to odors. In addition, the abrasive particles grind away at carpet fibers, causing them to break down and look dull and lifeless. Vacuuming regularly keeps your home smelling fresh while extending the life of your flooring and preventing the need for costly replacements.
Even the best vacuum cleaners can’t get to all the dust and debris that is embedded in your carpeting. This includes anything from sand and gravel to dead skin cells and bacteria. This debris isn’t able to be removed with just a broom, so it’s important to vacuum frequently and have professional deep cleaning every six to 18 months.
To help keep your home smelling clean in between professional cleanings, you can try sprinkling baking soda on the carpet. Mix two cups of baking soda with 15 drops of essential oil (lemon, grapefruit, or lavender are some of our favorites) and let it sit for about an hour before vacuuming it. This will also help absorb odors from pets and other sources. You can repeat this process as needed to keep your home smelling fresh.
3. Vacuuming Doesn’t Remove Stains
While regular vacuuming keeps carpets clean and dingy-free, spots and stains are something that even the best-rated vacuum cleaner cannot eliminate. Vacuuming only removes surface dirt, and if you are dealing with red wine spills or other food stains, it may be time to call in the experts or invest in some household cleaning products that will help.
To prevent the onset of stains, keep a damp cloth or paper towel handy and blot spills as soon as they happen. This will help absorb the stain and reduce its impact on the carpet fibers. Also, try not to rub a spot because this can cause it to soak in and create an even deeper stain.
Once a stain has occurred, the best course of action is to start with an interim cleaning method such as bonnet cleaning or dry encapsulation, which uses low moisture and a scrubber that does not damage the carpet fibers. If the stain is still present after these treatments, professional carpet shampooing may be necessary to remove the stain completely.
In addition to a thorough interim cleaning, it is important to vacuum your carpet often — at least once weekly and daily in high-traffic or pet areas. Keeping up with regular vacuuming will help your carpet last longer and prevent the build-up of deep soil.
If you are serious about keeping your carpets and furniture looking their best, scheduling regular professional cleaning services is essential. These cleanings will eliminate the ground-in dirt that vacuuming, sprays, and foams fail to reach, preventing wear on the fibers and allowing them to look their best. Regular cleaning will also improve indoor air quality, minimize health problems, and reduce allergies and asthma symptoms.
4. Vacuuming Doesn’t Remove Bacteria
While it’s true that vacuuming can remove some of the bacteria on the surface of your carpet, it doesn’t get down to the root of the problem. Carpets act like filters and trap air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, tars, pollen, fungi, and chemical residues. These pollutants are usually invisible, but they cling to the fibers of your carpets, causing them to look dull and stain more easily. Vacuuming just doesn’t have enough suction power to suck these contaminants out of your carpet.
Carpets can also trap germs such as norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea. These germs can survive in the fibers of your carpet for up to six weeks before becoming airborne and spreading to other people in your home. Norovirus can cause more severe symptoms, such as a fever and muscle aches.
When you have to vacuum your carpets, make sure you use a high-quality machine with a good filter. A full bag or clogged filter reduces the efficiency of your vacuum and can cause allergens to be released back into the air. Changing your vacuum filter regularly and emptying the bag often can also help. You should also check the brush roll frequently for hair and other debris that can get wrapped around it.
You can also use a carpet-protecting product such as Scotchgard to prevent dirt and stains from sticking to your carpet fibers but always remember that cleaning and sanitizing are different from disinfecting. To keep your carpets hygienic, getting everyone in your household into the habit of taking off their shoes inside will prevent the build-up of obvious dirt and other pathogens.
5. Vacuuming Doesn’t Remove Allergens
Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, including sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy skin. They can also lead to more serious problems, such as difficulty breathing and a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Whether you suffer from mild or severe allergies, there are several things you can do to help reduce your allergy symptoms and prevent them from getting worse. One of the most important is keeping your carpets and rugs clean. Regular vacuuming and deep cleaning are necessary to keep dirt, bacteria, and allergens at bay.
Vacuuming removes the top layer of dirt and other debris from your carpet but does nothing for stains, deeper-seated dirt, or allergens. To get those, you need to invest in regular professional cleanings.
A recent study found that older vacuum cleaners released dust and bacteria back into the air while newer models did a better job keeping these particles in the vacuum. This is especially important for those suffering from allergies because a high level of these contaminants can trigger an immune response that results in sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and other respiratory issues.
Allergens like pet dander, mold, mildew spores, and other bacteria can become trapped in your carpet. They can also attract dirt and other pollutants, making them even more harmful to your health. Allergens can also contribute to hay fever symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes.
Although it may not be the most fun task, you need to regularly vacuum your carpets and rugs. Keeping them clean helps maintain the investment you made in your home, reduces health problems and allergies, and ensures that your carpets stay looking great. You should use a vacuum with good suction and a rotating brush for the best results. If you’re concerned about allergies, choose a vacuum cleaner that is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) as allergen friendly.
