Vacuuming alone is not going to be enough to maintain your carpets – they need carpet shampooing periodically – but it does play a vital part in the carpet cleaning process. But even though nearly every household owns a vacuum cleaner, there are actually very few that use it properly. When traveling to homes in Boulder, Westminster, Broomfield and Arvada to carry out professional carpet cleaning, we frequently see evidence of poor vacuum cleaning practices.
And in this article, we're going to shine a light on them in a bid to help you avoid falling into these traps too!
Carpet shampooing is what gives your carpets a real thorough clean, and it’s necessary to do that every six to twelve months or so. Between shampoos, vacuuming is vital and is your primary weapon against dirt build-up.
Here are a few things you may be doing wrong.
Not Vacuuming Often Enough
Your vacuum cleaner shouldn’t only be pulled out of the cupboard when you can actually see dirt on your carpets; you should have some sort of routine that you follow.
This is because dirt has a habit of building up just below the surface level of carpet and you want to remove it before it has a chance to get trodden in, as after that point, professional carpet cleaning and shampooing is the only way you’re going to get rid of it.
The ideal scenario would be for you to vacuum daily, as it’s surprising how quickly dirt and dust can find its way onto your carpets. If you have a large area of carpet, however, this might not be doable. So in most cases, we advise homeowners that they should vacuum weekly - and at least twice a week in high-traffic areas.
Only Vacuuming in One Direction
“Is it really necessary to vacuum in both directions?!” you might be thinking. Well, yes it is actually. You see, when you vacuum in just one direction, you'll only get part of the dirt and dust out. This is due to the carpet fibers folding over or twisting as you pass the vacuum over the top of them, blocking the suction from removing all dirt. For the best results, your carpet fibers need to be attacked from multiple directions.
Dusting After Vacuuming
This should always be done the other way round. When you dust the doorframes, the mantelpiece, and other furnishings and features inside the room, you’re pushing dust onto your carpets. If you do this after you’ve already vacuumed, that dust will sit there and likely get trodden in before the next time you pull out your vacuum cleaner.
If you do all of your dusting before you switch the vacuum cleaner on, it’ll get sucked up with the rest of the dirt that’s already there. So once you’re finished, your room will be properly clean.
Vacuuming Around the Furniture
This is just lazy! And it’s something that will come back to bite you. You might not be able to see what’s under your furniture unless you move it, but believe me, there will be dirt under there too. And if you get into the very bad habit of never moving your furniture, this can create stains and patches of dirt that you struggle to ever remove properly, even with carpet shampooing.
So whenever you vacuum, remember that the entire surface area of the carpet needs to be vacuumed, not just the parts you can see.
Not Emptying Your Vacuum Bag When Necessary
Most vacuums make use of some sort of bag or container and the dirt and dust collected by the vacuum is directed there. But the capacity this bag or container has is not limitless. It will become full at some point, and if you continue to vacuum without emptying it, your vacuum's effectiveness will drop significantly and it'll struggle to pick up all of the dirt on your carpet. Furthermore, it'll put extra stress on the vacuum's motor, and could lead to a shorter lifespan.
No one likes emptying the dirtbag/container, but it's a necessary evil I’m afraid. We’d recommend doing this inside, as it’s often hard to ensure you don’t spill anything, and if you do, you wouldn’t want it inside your home!
Vacuuming As Fast As Humanly Possible
Nobody enjoys vacuuming. Or at least not many people. It’s a bit like mowing the lawn. Walking around and around, just dreaming of the moment you’re done and storing the vacuum away again.
But the truth is, it’s a task that shouldn’t be rushed. If you power walk your way around each room, you won’t give the vacuum a proper chance to pick up the dirt, and then the whole exercise becomes somewhat pointless.
To allow the vacuum to do its work properly and allow the suction to pull up all of the dirt, you need to go at a slow and steady pace. You’ll be truly amazed at just how much extra dirt it collects when you slow down a bit.
Struggling with Dirty Carpets? Give Us a Call
Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration has been operating for over 40 years, and you could say we've learned a thing or two about keeping carpets clean. Whether you want to arrange a date for a professional carpet cleaning visit or you want some advice, we’d be happy to oblige. To reach our team, use our online contact form or call 303-530-4900.