Turn Back Time For Carpets and Upholstery

Tips From Professional Carpet Cleaners

It's a hard life for carpets! We literally walk all over them. So naturally, they will need a little tender loving care now and then. The good news is that with the right care, your carpets and upholstery can retain their youth for many, many years.

www.pickapro.ie have asked the professionals for their advice on keeping carpets and upholstery in tip top condition.

Philip Scallan
ChemDry Express

First of all, what can homeowners do to keep their carpets and upholstery looking good?

According to our professionals, the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your carpet is to protect it from abrasive dust and dirt. These act like a sandpaper on the carpet and wear down the fibres. The first line of defence is, as your mother would say, to 'stop tracking dirt through the house'. Wipe shoes on a door mat or better still, take off your shoes at the door. According to our experts, slippers are best of all, as 'burrs' from socks can get locked into the carpet.

Equally important is vacuuming carpets and upholstery regularly to remove the abrasive dust and grime as soon as possible.

A final important measure to consider getting a carpet protector applied. This prevents stains soaking into your carpets and is especially useful for cream or light colours carpets or for carpets in high traffic areas. It should be reapplied every couple of years, especially in high traffic areas. Most professional carpet cleaners will be able to apply a carpet protector to your carpets or upholstery.

Yikes, I've spilled something on the carpet - what should I do?

Our experts say to pour a little carbonated water on it and blot it up with a white cloth. DON'T rub it and DON'T use a detergent like Vanish or Fairy Liquid. These detergents may initially seem to be resolve the problem, but they will actually introduce two new problems. First, these cleaners have a high pH level and are sticky. Within a week or so, the sticky residues will have attracted enough dust to leave a black mark on the carpet. The residues can also be damaging to the carpet fibres. DO call in a professional cleaner as soon as possible to address the problem.

How often should carpets and upholstery be cleaned?

In general, between every 6 months to 18 months. Exactly how often, depends on the amount and type of traffic. Remember that regular cleaning will extend the life of your carpet, by removing dirt and raising the pile.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting a DIY steam cleaner?

This is something I've tried myself once (but never again -weekends are just too short!) so I was interested to hear what the professionals thought. They said to consider:

• Cost: Check how much you will really save, especially when you to factor in the cost of cleaning solutions.
• Convenience: Remember, it will take the best part of a day to do this, including driving to hire shop, collecting machine, cleaning carpet and returning machines. Also, the machines tend to use excessive water, so carpets will take a long time to dry properly.
• The Result: Before cleaning a carpet, a professional will spot treat stains with the appropriate treatment. If this step is skipped, the carpet may be cleaner in general but with still visible stains. Also, the machinery and cleaning solutions won't be as effective as what the professionals use.
• Risks; For example, are you sure that you're using the right product for your carpet. Wool carpets can be ruined with the wrong cleaning solutions.

Finally, what should I ask professional carpet cleaners before I hire them?

Our experts say to check that their cleaning solutions are detergent free, so that they won't leave a sticky residue. And check that they are enzyme free so that they won't be bad for asthmatics. Remember that wool carpets in particular need a neutral pH cleaner.