Tips To Prolong the Life of Your Carpets With Kids & Pets
My grandpa used to have a saying that went like this, “When you’ve got kids, that’s what you’ve got.” Meaning that whenever a grandchild dropped their chocolate ice cream cone on the floor or spilled juice on the carpet, he just chalked it up to…well, kids. Kids can do a number on carpets. Believe me, I have four of them (kids, not carpets), and they are constantly putting our floors through the ringer. Popsicle spills, sliding down the stairs on plastic container lids like they’re sleds, toothpaste remnants that have dribbled down their chins, boogers—you name it, I’ve probably seen it in my carpets. Pets can similarly be rough on carpets and rugs, with hair and accidents. But rather than throw in the towel, take these four measures to prolong the life of your carpets now and save money later.
Pro Tip #1: Vaccum Regularly
To extend the vitality of your carpets and rugs, it’s important to keep the dirt out. Dirt makes your carpets appear dingy and even a few days build-up can weigh down your carpets fibers and make them appear older than they are. To keep carpets looking fresh (even carpet that is several years old), vacuum regularly.
Pro Tip #2: Spot Clean Your Carpet ASAP
When it comes to stains, the denial mindset is brutal for your carpets. If I just ignore it, maybe it will go away. Putting off spot cleaning for ten minutes (I’ll take care of that after this phone call…) usually turns into hours or even days, which turns into permanent stains. If you want to be serious about making your carpets go the distance, you have to spot clean ASAP.
Pro Tip #3: Rearrange Your Furniture Every Six Months
It’s a good idea to rearrange your furniture regularly, not just for decor purposes, but to extend the life of your carpets. When furniture stays in the same place for long periods of time (sometimes years), it compresses the carpet underneath, collects dust and dirt (and a few Cheerios as well), and will look and feel different from the rest of the carpet.
To keep continuity in your carpets and rugs, move furniture every few weeks to vacuum underneath it and rearrange furniture every six months.
Pro Tip #4: Have a Designated Place for Shoes at Each Entrance
When you can, wear socks or go barefoot around the house. Shoes collect dirt, germs, gum, animal poop, and other various life forms that we’d rather not think about. If you want to keep your carpets looking new as the day you got them, keep shoes in a designated place as soon as everyone in the family comes in.
