We have all heard that carpets can get pretty dirty. But did you know they can hold approximately 4 times their weight in the dirt that we can’t see?
Hair, dust mites, insect faeces, insect husks, dead skin cells, mould, bacteria, VOC and other allergens are commonly lurking in our carpets. This dirt clings to the fibres in the carpet and is detrimental to our health.
As contaminated as carpet can potentially be, it provides wonderful comfort to the home. It can be a relief to an aching back from standing on hard tiles, provides softening of noise vibrations, and is a soft and warm place for the kids to lay and play on. Carpet will serve your home well, but it is important that we know how to maintain hygienic carpets.
A popular home-made remedy is to sprinkle bicarb soda onto carpets in the belief that it will ‘absorb odours and freshen the carpet.’ This is simply not true. In fact, it actually increases the contamination within your carpet.
The bi-carb soda that falls past the carpet surface will cling to the carpet fibres and get stuck there, just like all of the other soiling – becoming the perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth. Any loose bicarb soda that stays on the top of your carpet will be vacuumed up, ruining your vacuum cleaner in the process.
1. Vacuum regularly. While vacuuming will generally not remove soils at the base of your carpet pile, it will pick up a lot of the surface debris, saving it from contributing further to the deep soiling. In simple terms, it will help to slow the build-up as much as possible.
2. Spot Clean. Accidents happen. Whether it is food, drink or excrement it needs to be treated as quickly as possible. The longer it is left, the deeper it will penetrate the carpet.
Tri Nature’s Pro Care Carpet Cleaner is a gentle and effective spot cleaner that will remove a wide range of stains quickly & easily. Simply spray directly onto the stain and then gently rub with a damp sponge or cloth. Once the stain has been removed, simply pat the carpet dry with a clean, absorbent towel.
3. Steam Clean. The only way to achieve a deep clean of your carpet is to steam clean. Whether you have a DIY steam cleaning machine at home, or you enlist the help of a professional, you should be aiming to have your carpets steam cleaned at least every 12 months as the Australian Standard for good hygiene (this obviously depends on how soiled your carpets get – whether you wear shoes inside, have pets, etc).
If you aren’t already one of the many Pro Care Carpet Cleaner converts – Click here to check it out! It is your one-stop wonder for carpets – designed to be used as BOTH a spot cleaner and in any carpet cleaning machine. Plus it is safe, with no toxic residues being left on our carpets, giving you one thing less to worry about.
