How to ensure a long life to your carpet
In order to ensure a long life to your carpet, it is essential to know how to take care of it properly.
In general, there is a golden rule that should never be forgotten and the probably goes a bit in the opposite direction of common belief: carpets should never be “manhandled” with bare hands! It may seem incredible, but this simple action can produce irreparable damage even to the most robust carpet and, therefore, will significantly shorten its durability.
To ensure that your carpet lasts over time it is important to carry out periodic, constant and above all proper maintenance interventions, both at home and with the help of professionals, if necessary.
First of all, the alternative to “beating” the carpet with your bare hands is simply represented by the use of a good-quality vacuum cleaner, or a classic carpet sweeper. To beat the carpet in the right way, you just have to place it, on its reverse side, on a raised surface, like a classic drying rack (if the weight of the carpet allows this action, obviously). You can apply this rule in maximum security, regardless of the preciousness of your carpet: it won’t get damaged.
The average lifespan of a carpet can be lengthened through the use of a good undercover net. The net has essentially three functions:
- It avoids the slipping of people and animals on the carpet
- It avoids the movement or folding of the carpet
- It protects your parquet or floor from the constant rubbing of the carpet on its surface
Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of your carpet
The operations you need to carry out to guarantee a long life to your carpet can be divided into ordinary and extraordinary.
Ordinary maintenance operations imply, basically, the regular cleaning of the carpet. This can be done with the aid of a vacuum cleaner, which will remove the particles deposited on the surface, or with the support of a carpet cleaner. If your vacuum cleaner includes accessories such as brushes, remember to adjust them in accordance to the thickness of the carpet. Pay special attention to the edges of the carpet and be gentle while cleaning them, because they are one of the most critical areas of the product.
Also, remember that vacuuming has to take place with a dry carpet and without the presence of fresh stains.
As far as the extraordinary maintenance of a carpet is concerned, it can mainly take place in three ways – just in case, we suggest you to always check the booklet of your carpet and the instructions given by the manufacturer:
- Dry cleaning: it normally works with the aid of powder detergents that are designed for any carpet. It is carried out by spreading the powder on the affected area and brushing it to allow a deep penetration in the fabric. Once sanitized this way, the carpet must be vacuumed.
- Water cleaning: usually, this operation is not carried out on carpets made of coir, natural fibers or sisal. It takes place with a specific “extraction” equipment. Water cleaning acts faster and deeper than dry cleaning, but must be carried out with suitable detergents. Another important factor to keep the carpet in good condition is related to its drying, which must take place in the shade, never in full sun.
- Washing machine: the cleaning via washing machine can obviously take place only on specific types of carpets, both in terms of materials and dimensions. So here is a perfect opportunity to check what the product maintenance instructions say! In general, our advice is to wash the carpet at a low temperature (30° degrees), using a non-aggressive detergent, and then to let it dry in the shade with the tread surface facing upwards.
