Carpeting is a wonderful home flooring option for a wide variety of reasons. Carpets provide warmth and comfort; they reduce noise from TVs, phones, and sound systems; and they offer an extra dash of style to your home’s interior design.
But carpeting also gets dirty. Unlike hardwood and laminate floors, which can be sprayed and wiped, carpets offer a different set of challenges when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Dirt and dust can settle deep into the fibers, stains can be stubborn, and lingering odors can become a lingering annoyance over time.
How Often You Should Clean Your Carpets
Factors That Influence the Cleanliness of Your Carpets
The Best Cleaning Methods for Carpets
How often should you vacuum your carpet?
Vacuum your carpet at least once per week. Regular vacuuming removes dirt and debris that can wear down carpet fibers. Determining how often you should vacuum your carpet is also dependent on the foot traffic in your home. So you may find yourself vacuuming once per week, or almost daily.
How Often Should You Get Your Carpets Cleaned?
Vacuum your carpet at least once per week. Regular vacuuming removes dirt and debris that can wear down carpet fibers. Determining how often you should vacuum your carpet is also dependent on the foot traffic in your home. So you may find yourself vacuuming once per week, or almost daily.
How often should you shampoo your carpet?
Deep clean your carpet every 12-18 months. Hire a professional carpet cleaning service or use a high-quality carpet cleaner to remove deep-set dirt and refresh the look of your carpet. Knowing how often you should shampoo your carpet will vary based on foot traffic in your home. Thinking about the habits of your home life, as we’ll explore in the next section, will help you create a cleaning schedule that keeps your carpets in tip-top shape, and your home environment feeling healthy and inviting.
Understanding these factors will help you create a cleaning schedule that keeps your carpets in tip-top shape, contributing to a healthier and more inviting home environment.
5 Factors That Influence How Often to Clean Carpets
To help you navigate the best methods for keeping your carpets in top condition, here are five factors to consider for clean carpets.
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1
Foot Traffic
How often do people stroll through the room and walk across the carpet? Remember: Some areas will experience more foot traffic than others and some areas, like the section underneath your sofa, will hardly ever experience foot traffic.
Most carpet manufacturers recommend cleaning—not just vacuuming—especially high-traffic carpets every 6-12 months.
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2
Pets
How many pets do you have? Dogs and outdoor cats can track in mud, dirt, and germs, and they also spread hair and dander around the house.
Experts recommend spot cleaning whenever your pet has an accident or tracks a few dirty footprints across the carpet, then running a deep clean every 6-12 months.
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3
Allergies
Does anyone in your home suffer from allergies? Dirty carpets can aggravate allergies and even asthma.
Vacuuming alone isn’t enough for relief. In fact, running a vacuum can temporarily make dirt and debris airborne, aggravating symptoms even further.
If you’re worried about allergies, deep clean every 3-6 months.
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4
Smoking
If you or a family member smokes inside the house, the smoke can settle into the carpet, leaving dark stains on exposed areas. As a result, experts recommend having your carpets cleaned every 3-6 months if you’re a smoker.
To help extend the lifespan of your carpet while smoking, open a window or door whenever you decide to puff on a cigarette or vaping tool, and be sure to replace your indoor air filter regularly.
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5
Carpet Quality
The carpet itself also influences how frequently you should clean it. For example, pay attention to:
- Fiber Type: Different fibers offer different levels of resilience, and some may require special cleaning or cleaning frequency.
- Piling (length of fibers and loops): Higher piling can trap hard-to-reach dirt.
- Color: Dark, low-pile carpets show less dirt and wear than lighter carpets with high piling. Lighter carpets may require more frequent cleaning for visual appeal.
- Manufacturer Recommendations: The manufacturer wants you to experience long carpet life, so pay close attention to their guidelines!
4 Cleaning Methods For Carpets
Whether you DIY or pay a professional to get your carpets cleaned, there are different methods you can choose from to keep things looking fresh.
1. Vacuuming
Your vacuum is your first line of defense against the relentless buildup of dirt, dust, and grime that settles into your carpet. Certified HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuums are designed to capture, trap, and retain fine dirt particles—without leakage or sending particles back into the air—and they are an excellent choice between deep cleanings.
Advantages
Vacuuming is quick and easy, and it’s the perfect way to control excess dirt.
Disadvantages
Vacuuming doesn’t provide the same deep-cleaning features as shampoo or steam.
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is one of the most popular strategies for removing dirt, dust, dander, mold, and hair from your carpet fibers. Since the machinery is available on both a professional and home-use level, you can either hire this out or try it on your own.
Advantages
Steam cleaning is safe and efficient and dries relatively quickly when compared to bonnet cleaning or shampoo cleaning.
Disadvantages
Steam cleaning requires a professional operator to complete correctly—unless you purchase a steam cleaner for home use.
Absorbent Pad Cleaning/Bonnet Cleaning
In this method, a machine that looks like a floor buffer is used to clean your carpet.
Advantages
Bonnet cleaning is a quick, inexpensive option for spot cleaning and clearing dirt better than a vacuum.
Disadvantages
Absorbent pad cleaning doesn’t provide the same deep-cleaning benefits as steam cleaning or a rotary shampooer.
Rotary Shampoo
With a rotary shampoo, detergent is applied to the carpet and then scrubbed into the fibers to strip away dirt, which is then vacuumed away after the detergent finishes drying.
Advantages
This is an economical strategy for deep cleaning.
Disadvantages
Rotary shampoo can leave a residue behind if used incorrectly, and it can also damage delicate carpets.
Keeping Things Fresh With Clean Carpets
Keeping your carpets cleaned requires a balance of regular upkeep. Consistent vacuuming, combined with periodic steam cleaning or shampooing can help extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking new. Whether you choose to tackle these tasks yourself or hire a pro, the key is consistency and attention to detail. With the right care, your carpets can remain a beautiful, comfortable part of your home for years to come.
Download the Frontdoor app to video chat with a handyman Expert to help with those dirty carpets.
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Book A Professional Carpet Cleaner with Frontdoor
If it’s time to book your next carpet cleaning, turn to the Frontdoor app. We offer professional carpet cleaning as part of our in person services when you sign up as an Unlimited Member. Available in most major cities, all it takes is a few taps to book a local Pro to get your carpets looking their best.
The Frontdoor app also offers unlimited access to home maintenance tips and tricks plus the ability to video chat a home repair and maintenance Expert.
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