The Real Reasons Your Carpet & Rugs Get Dirty So Fast...

Here's something about carpet soiling you probably didn't know. This is the stuff you never hear a carpet cleaner or carpet salesman say.

First, it's important to remember carpet is a fabric. It's the most miraculous fabric commonly used by man. You walk on it every day and it holds up for years, right? If it were any other fabric, like bed sheets, what would carpet look like after it was walked on for six months?

What do experts recommend?

Like the sheets on your bed, carpet needs regular cleaning. Even the U.S. Environment Protection Agency recommends that homes with carpet have cleaning done at least every 1 – 2 years to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Carpet makers recommend professional cleaning every 1 -2 years even if the carpet doesn't appear dirty. Carpet can look clean but hold up to 10 lbs of dry soil in a one square foot area.

In fact, the BEST time to clean carpet is BEFORE it appears soiled. You don't wash the sheets on your bed when they look dirty. You clean them because you know they need regular cleaning. If you wait until the fabric appears soiled, cleaning will help, but there could be residual staining.

Won't carpet get dirty quicker after it's cleaned?

This IS TRUE...if carpet isn’t cleaned properly. Have you ever heard someone say, "After my carpet was cleaned, it just seemed to get dirty again really fast"? This is also true if too much detergent or the wrong detergent was used. As well, cleaning your carpet with improper techniques will leave residue behind that makes it get dirty quick. Some “Professionals” don’t even clean carpet right.

Another problem with waiting too long to have your carpet cleaned is that the soil builds up. If the carpet is excessively soiled, some of the deep soil may rise to the top and require a second or third cleaning to get the appearance up to par. So why else does carpet get so dirty? Every time you walk inside, your shoes track in soil. Oil from the driveway, fertilizer from the lawn, pollen in the grass, and everything you step upon gets tracked in on your carpet. Furthermore, every time you cook in your kitchen, oils get airborne that eventually land in your carpet. Even if your carpet "looks" clean, it may not be clean. Regular, professional cleaning is necessary to keep your carpet looking its best and lasting the longest. And perhaps most important, regular cleaning promotes a healthier home.