A simple brush on your carpet is not enough to clean and preserve its durability.
Vacuuming your carpet goes a long way to making it clean, presentable, and saving it for longer use. However, you have to learn the tricks of how to save your carpet with vacuuming.
It’s not only about running the vacuum through the carpet. Below is a step by step outline on how to effectively save your carpet with vacuuming.
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Vacuum Regularly
The number one obvious way to save your carpet with vacuuming is to do so regularly and well. Your carpet is more likely to look cleaner and newer if you vacuum three times a week than if you would just once.
Regular vacuuming helps to pick up dirt and debris before it is embedded into the carpet and stains it.
The speed at which you vacuum also affects the overall results. If you are vacuuming in high traffic areas in your home, you want the speed to be slower so you can thoroughly pick up all the dirt and debris.
In these areas, you should also pass your vacuum through every spot at least twice or three times. In areas with less traffic, you can increase the speed and decrease the vacuuming intervals.
Replace Filters and Bags
Before you begin vacuuming your carpet, always ensure you have a clean and empty filter bag. Doing so guarantees that your vacuum will effectively clean the carpet without depositing any dirt specks or debris.
This is because changing and emptying the filter bag regularly helps to preserve the vacuum’s suction and ability to thoroughly pick up dirt and debris.
You also want to maintain the same suction power consistency so your vacuuming efforts are not in vain. Thus, mid vacuuming, if you notice your vacuum power is decreasing, chances are the filter bag is beginning to fill up.
So, take a break, empty or clean the filter bag and then, resume vacuuming.
Learn How to Pick the Right Vacuum Cleaner
Before you even begin to think about the vacuuming process, you must pick the right vacuum cleaner first. You want your vacuum to boast enough suction power to effectively pick up dirt and debris, even between carpet fibers.
Before picking a vacuum to purchase, examine its key features as they affect its performance and allow you to be able to make an informed choice. Some of the key features include;
- Vacuum type (bagged or bagless)
- Cord length
- Handle and Cord design (ergonomic/padded/ swivel tangle-free)
- Filter design
- Filter bag capacity
- Suction power
- Power consumption
- Vacuum height
- Vacuum weight
- Vacuum size (corner accessibility)
- Extra features (pet hair suction/ water & cleaning solutions/ built-in scrub brushes)
Preparations Are important
To ensure your vacuuming process is thorough and efficient, you must properly prep your tools and working area. Before you begin vacuuming, move obstacles such as furniture out of the way.
Moving obstacles out of the way ensures that you cover fully all parts of the carpet.
Additionally, it also removes the nuisance of having to push things back and forth during vacuuming which tires you easily and affects the quality of your cleaning.
Complement Your Vacuum with Supporting Tools
To ensure your vacuuming efforts are effective, you should complement the vacuum with other tools you may need on the way.
Invest in a Pet Cleaner
If you have a pet, a regular vacuum cleaner is not equipped to effectively remove all the pet hair from your carpet. Thus, if you can’t afford a vacuum that has a pet hair suction feature, invest in a separate pet hair cleaner.
These devices will help to clean off shed pet hairs before you begin vacuuming to ensure your cleaning efforts are effective. Automatic pet hair cleaners can even be set to clean up your home whilst you are away at the office or grocery store.
So investing in one can do wonders for your time constraint schedule. And if a pet hair cleaner is also expensive for you, a simple window squeegee will do the trick. However, a squeegee needs you to do the manual work, unlike an automatic pet hair cleaner.
Run the squeegee through the carpet to pick up shed pet hair and then, begin vacuuming.
Use a Lint Roller
A lint roller is perhaps one of the cheapest tools to complement your vacuum when cleaning your carpet. You can get a good quality lint roller for as low as a dollar.
Whether you use it to pick up hair, fibers, crumbs, or other material that a vacuum suction cannot pick up, it adds utility to your cleaning.
Invest in a small caddy or utility belt you can stuff in smaller tools such as your lint roller to make your carpet cleaning process easier and efficient.
Customize Your Own Homemade Cleaning Tools
You can also develop your own homemade tool kit with items that can complement your vacuum. The best part about his approach is that many of the items or ingredients are readily available in your household or kitchen pantry.
For example, you can use baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to ensure it is spotless and smells pleasant. Sprinkling some baking soda on your carpet before you vacuum leaves it smelling fresh for longer.
Simply sprinkle the baking soda, let it sit for a few minutes, and then begin vacuuming as normal.
Other items you can use include;
- Club soda to remove liquor spills
- Commercial carpet stain remover to tackle tough stains
- Ironing a 3:1 ratio of vinegar and water on the stained area of the carpet and then using a towel to peel of the stain
- Using ice cubes to freeze chewing gum to make it easier to remove
- Hydrogen peroxide to fight blood stains
- Dishwasher detergent and water to tackle some spills
- Shaving cream to tackle some carpet stains
When using most of the homemade remedies, remember to dab or blot rather than to scrub them on the stained areas. This is because scrubbing gets the stain deeper into the carpet fibers rather than removing it.
