Carpet manufacturers typically recommend deep carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months, Mock says. Hot water extraction is the most common method used. You can hire a professional, or you can buy or rent a cleaner at your local home improvement store to do it yourself. Furry children are even worse than their human counterparts.
In addition to muddy feet and accidents, pet dander is also removed all the time. Therefore, you should vacuum at least twice a week to keep up with your four-legged friends. It may help to use a vacuum designed for pets, such as a Miele. Clean carpets yourself with carpet cleaner or steam cleaner at least every 3 to 6 months.
However, call the professionals every 6 months if you want to make sure everything is gone. This is especially true for high-traffic areas and for animals prone to accidents. Clean dirt as soon as it appears to prevent persistent odors. You can get more out of your carpet by vacuuming more, paying special attention to high-traffic areas.
Clean your carpets with shampoo or steam at least every 6 months and consider having a professional cleaning service come every 12 to 18 months to ensure that the carpets stay fresh. That said, if your child spills something on the carpet or if your pet has an accident, there's no need to clean the entire carpet. Daily cleaning can reduce dirt and allergens, especially if you have pets or children running around or if you allow them to wear shoes around the house. Therefore, to clean up dirty dirt or spilled Kool-Aid, you should vacuum at least every few days, if not diary.
When there are smokers at home, all the nicotine and tar they need goes directly to the carpet fibers. Therefore, if your home is a high-traffic space with a lot of people coming and going, you should bring in a professional cleaner every 12 to 6 months. In addition, it will help extend the life of the carpet and, at the same time, it will prevent odors and bacteria from multiplying throughout the house. If you spend time vacuuming properly twice a week (or every day in high-traffic areas), you'll remove most of the dirt and other contaminants that would otherwise break down carpet fibers.
Other factors, such as pets, allergies, and even the color of the carpet, can affect how often you should clean it. Most carpet manufacturers recommend that a professional steam clean carpets every 12 to 18 months to maintain the warranty. If you have a lot of people and a lot of foot traffic on the carpet, you should vacuum and shampoo more often. While there are many professional carpet cleaning services that will take the hassle out of your way, it may also be worth investing in your own carpet cleaner to save money and eliminate problems as soon as they arise.
Because it accumulates dust, dander, pollen, and other allergens, it's best to vacuum frequently and get it cleaned by a professional quarterly to reduce symptoms. When the carpet shows dirt (and the vacuum doesn't keep it clean), it means you've left it too long.
