How To Double The Life Of Your Carpet

Frugality is not just about saving money at the grocery store, it is also about extending the life of appliances, furniture and other household items.

I just read an article in The Family Handyman about steps that you can take to make your carpet last longer. With proper maintenance wall to wall carpet that you paid from $6,000 to $10,000 for should last 15 years or more.

There are three basic strategies for protecting your carpet from wear and tear:

First and foremost, keep the carpet clean from dirt. Did you know that dirt has thousands of

little blades that can cut carpet fibers? Just walking across a dirty carpet can cause you to grind those dirt particles into the fibers of the carpet causing them to tear. Dirt also dulls the sheen of your carpet which is why high traffic areas wear out quicker than other areas of your carpet.

To keep your carpet dirt free, vacuum at least twice weekly in high traffic areas and once weekly for the remainder of the carpet. You need to vacuum slowly enough to get as much dirt out as possible. One to two slow passes over high traffic areas is better than multiple quick passes. Another important thing to remember is to have your vacuum set at the correct height because you can do real damage to the carpet if it is set to low. Using mats inside and outside doors will prevent a large amount of dirt from even reaching the carpet.

Secondly, use professional carpet cleaners wisely. Most carpet manufacturers recommend that professional hot water carpeting for synthetic carpets. We often hear it referred to as steam cleaning. When done properly, not only will surface dirt be removed, but deep cleaning will remove dirt particles, oils and allergens and it will not leave behind soapy residue. That residue can cause new dirt to cling to the carpet.

Beware of "discount" carpet cleaners. You get what you pay for. Quality professionals will charge anywhere from .35 cents to .65 cents per sq foot to clean carpet. Professional will move furniture and will include spot removal, preconditioning and deoderizing as part of thier package.

Third,since professional cleanings can be very expensive alternate doing your own cleaning with a rental unit. You can rent units for approx $35 at grocery stores, Lowes Home Improvements and Home Depot.

If you prefer to buy your own steam cleaner for those times that you are doing it yourself you should be prepared to pay $100 - $300 or more. Make sure to do online research to determine which steam cleaner is the right fit for you.

Make sure to clean the carpet before it get really dirty. Vacuum well before cleaning to remove as much loose dirt as possible. Vacuum again after cleaning once the floor is dry to remove any dirt that was drawn up by the cleaner. Be sure to pre-treat stains and high traffic areas to make cleaning easier.

Since DIY cleaners can leave behind soap residue the article recommends that you use less soap than the directions state and use an mild acid rinse to neutralize the soap residue. Make your own with 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Use the rinse after you have completed one swipe with the detergent solution.

Most importantly, DO NOT overwet your carpet. DIY cleaners do not have very strong suction so it is suggested that you complete one pass with the detergent solution, one pass with the rinse solution and then two or three "dry" using just the vacuum.

Make sure the carpet is thoroughly dry before replacing furniture. They suggest that you use a dehumidifier or fans. Leaving moisture in the carpet can cause mold and mildew can cause health issues.

Information for this article was obtained from the April 2009 Family Handyman magazine