Living in a place with carpeted floors for the first time. What kind of cleaning routine should I have to keep the carpet clean?
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No shoes on the carpet if possible. Vacuum weekly. Have some type of stain remover handy for liquid spills.
And if you have shedding pets, vacuum every other day or so (needs adjustment based on the number of pets and their shedding habits)
Thanks! I’m thinking of buying something called “Spot Shot”. Do you have any other recommendations? In the US
Did this professionally for a while. Carpet cleaners would largely go out of business overnight if everyone took their shoes off. Filthy animals.
I’m happy to hear this. I wear house slippers, that should be fine, right?
Yeah you’ll be fine. It’s not about shoes, its about not tracking in dirt and mud and other crap from outside.
Our house is a high traffic house where we have lots of visitors as well as 3 dogs so my schedule is going to reflect that.
- Vacuum twice weekly. On Monday with a robot vacuum, then on Wednesday with a Dyson for a deeper clean.
- Spot shampoo when there are accidents.
- Shampoo all carpets once every 3 months.
- Have carpets professionally cleaned once a year in the spring.
Ultimately the problem is how dirt enters your home. Our house would be a million times cleaner if we didn’t have dogs. They track in dirt and it is just a pain to control.
Oh yeah, does the enzymatic sprays work for pet accidents?
I use Nature’s Miracle and it definitely does work IMO.
Yup my doggo tracks in so much dirt, but I wipe her paws when she comes in so it doesn’t end up in the rest of the house.
Carpet diem You only live once, rip out the carpet and never look back.
I wish I could 😆 I would if I owned the place.
Oh rental? Take photos as evidence that it is natural wear and tear in case the landlord claims damage.
Scuffed carpets are normal from dragging furniture over it (eg chairs) and flattening from foot traffic.
I wouldn’t bother with a professional carpet cleaner unless you have a big spill or upon your exit.
On top of what the other guy said, hire a professional service every once in a while to do a deep clean. The rentals at the grocery store just don’t cut it, you need a better machine than that.
Thanks, how often should I (1) rent the machine and (2) get professional cleaning? I have a low mess household, all adults, no pets, we wear house slippers.
Don’t rent the machines, they’re not really worth it. Spot clean or buy a wet vac if you’re going to do it frequently.
Spot clean immediately or asap if you get a spill. Prevent the spill from spreading while you clean by blotting / dabbing with clean towels (a roll of toilet paper helps with this), and if needed scrub as small as you can.
If you do get an inevitable stain, consider if you can get furniture to place it on top or change to dimmer lighting to hide it 😉
Thanks, I was thinking of buying something called “Spot Shot” for spot cleaning. Do you have any other recommendations? (In the US)
Hey, sorry, no - I am in Australia. Looking at Spot Shot’s site it seems they are one of the products owned by WD-40, so they seem reputable. If using chemicals test in a small area to ensure the colour doesn’t leech out like you do with clothes.
I’d use Spot Shot for more stubborn and difficult stains like coffee if you couldn’t get to it fast enough, but the basic cleaning products (water, dish soap, vinegar & bicarb, etc) will work fine as they’ll dilute before the stain can set in.
Don’t tempt your luck with red drinks though.
Thank you! That’s still helpful :)
Spot Shot can work wonders, but definitely read the instructions. It’s been awhile since I’ve had to use it, but I recall thinking its use is not intuitive (not complicated, just not what I would have assumed).
I also have a Little Green Machine from Bissell, which has been so fucking useful. I generally use that instead of Spot Shot, and on rare occasions, the two in tandem. Again, be sure to read the instructions and clean the machine out properly after every use so it doesn’t get gross.
If you don’t already: taking your shoes off at the door makes things easier.
I rent and have carpet everywhere. I have placed a disposable rug on top of the carpet around the eating/drinking area to catch all the mess.
This is a fantastic idea. I will do the same thing. thanks!!
get something like a dyson
Thanks, I might if I get a deal on a good used one
Handheld ones with the motorised brush are great for fluffing up the carpet while maintaining great manoeuvrability and without lugging a heavy weight beind you.
In this case the Dyson v7 or greater will work well if it is a small / medium house.
👀 ✍️
I disagree with cordless Dysons. We have the V8 Animal and it’s pretty pathetic. It struggles to pick up anything denser than dust and the very smallest of crumbs, and the battery life isn’t enough to do a full clean of a house in one go. Most of the time we have to get out the old corded one to finish what the cordless couldn’t. I think brands like Shark and Vax are supposed to be better but I’ve not tried them.
