Signs that your carpet needs some TLC
Carpets can easily come in need of some care as they come in to contact with several bacteria, dust and spills on a regular basis. However, it can be difficult when to know that your carpet is due for a clean, and the signs can be missed, especially is they are not visible.
Below are three common signs indicating that you need to book your carpets in for a clean as well as some useful tips to eliminate the problem and restore your carpet to its original state.
1. When you are having allergic reactions
One of the most common signs that a carpet may need disinfecting and cleaning is if you or anyone in your home or workplace are experiencing common allergies. This can be caused when there is a build-up of dust, pollen and pet hair in the carpet fibres. The build-up happens over time from people entering and walking over the carpet. If you experience coughing and sneezing, or irritation in your eyes or skin, it could be time for the carpet to have a fresh clean.
One easy way to treat this problem and prevent re-occurrence is to hoover the carpet once or twice per week.
The best way to ensure the allergens are getting out of the carpet is to use a HEPA rated vacuum cleaners, these are now very popular in the market. They promise maximum suction from the carpet but minimal amount of particles escape back into the room through the suction motors. HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners are recommended as they catch more allergen particles compared to a regular hoover, as a result, they improve the number of airborne allergens in the room.
If the problem persists, it is best to confide in a Professional Cleaning Service to give the carpet a deep shampoo clean and help to eliminate the accumulated dirt and allergens. It is advised that carpets are professionally cleaned annually to keep its appearance and hygiene to a high standard.
2. The carpets start to smell
Carpets tend to wear over time from its everyday use. If the room is starting to have a particularly bad smell to it, it could possibly be coming from the carpet. Carpet fibres can trap odours which can stay in the carpet permanently until treated and cleaned. Drinks and food are common sources of carpet odour when they are not treated immediately.
A quick solution to try when you have carpet odour is to use baking soda, it can work wonders. Simply apply the baking soda over the affected area and gently brush the area to let the baking soda go into the fibres. Leave the baking soda to set for overnight or 1-2 days. After this, hoover the baking soda up and the odour should be removed or reduced. The baking soda is an effective biodegradable product that is very good at absorbing moisture and stains. When applied unto the carpet, it absorbs most of the stain, as well as the odour relating to them.
If the odour persists, try using a solution of half vinegar, half water and apply it by blotting at the carpet with a cloth. Leave for 15 minutes before blotting the carpet now with solely water, unlike the vinegar has gone. Leave to dry and the odour should be gone! Now if this is not helping, you should really call your carpet cleaner or perhaps the underlay beneath the carpet might be rotten and will need to be changed.
3. Mould and mildew are appearing
Carpet mould can not only leave unattractive stains, but it can also produce odours and potentially damage the carpet. Depending on how long the mould has been there for and its size, depends on the way you treat it. Mould stains build up over time due to excessive moisture and low ventilation, so they are easier to treat if caught sooner rather than later.
Airflow is one of the best ways to prevent more mould from forming. By opening up the windows and doors, you can increase ventilation to the room.
If the mould is relatively small and growing mainly on the surface level, the home remedies of baking soda and use of white vinegar can help to clear up the odour and potential stain. If the mould is still there, the use of an anti-mould or anti-fungal treatment. Alternatively, a carpet cleaning product can help to fight the mould build-up. Any mould removing product from the shop may bleach the colour of your fabric so be careful to test it on a small inconspicuous area first.
For larger mould stains that have gone through the base and back of the carpet, the best advice is to seek a Professional Cleaning Service to deep clean the mould. However, for some cases where mould has been left, the carpet may be too damaged to clean and therefore would need replacing.