With all of the smog and allergens present in the air today, unclean carpets pose a significant health concern. Carpet care and regular cleaning are particularly important for those who are sensitive or those who have allergies. And if there are pets at home it becomes imperative to know how to clean a carpet and how often to clean your carpets.

Shedding, playtime, scratching, paw prints and stains left due to soiling can increase the number of times you need to clean your carpets. In addition to vacuuming, it is advised that you clean high-traffic areas every 3 to 6 months and professionally clean it twice per year. Let’s get into the specifics of how often you should clean your carpet.

Carpet Steam Cleaning

Monthly steam cleaning of carpets helps to wash the fabric and clean any dander, hair, or saliva that has seeped into the fibers. If you are wondering, “what can I use to clean my carpet?” it is best to pick a cleaner designed for just freshening up the carpet or intended for homes with pets. These are often made in a more diluted concentration and are easier on the carpet pile.

Vacuuming

Regular vacuuming is essential to avoid hair and dirt buildup. And even if your pet does not shed a lot, dander is still created. The same can cause a carpet to get weighed down and have a pet odor to it. To prevent the latter from being a problem, you should vacuum twice per week. Or make vacuum-cleaning a weekly occurrence at the very least.

Pet-Friendly Carpet Cleaners

If your cat or dog has barfed or relieved themselves on the carpet, you must opt for an enzymatic product to clean up the spot. The reason that makes enzyme-based options the best carpet cleaner for pets is that they get rid of odors that may repeatedly inspire them to soil the same spot.

You can also opt for chemical cleaners on your carpet. But you should choose those that are pet-safe.

Home-Made Solutions

If you are wondering “how to clean my carpet?” in case of stains, club soda and blotting with a towel works great. But for more prominent stains, you can try the following steps:

Step 1: Mix one part borax with two parts baking soda.
Step 2: Blot the mess up as much as you can with a towel and then sprinkle the stain with your mixture.
Step 3: Leave it alone for an hour and then vacuum the powder up – the stain should vacuum up with it!

Another homemade solution for cleaning carpets is to cover the stain with equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then sponge it up with cold water.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

If you have pets, there is a lot more to take care of than knowing “how often should I clean my carpet?” Ideally, you need to call professional carpet cleaners in Gainesville FL 2-4 times annually to take care of your home’s high-traffic areas.

Improper carpet upkeep can lower the quality of your indoor air. Also, it can cause lasting and irreversible damage to your precious carpets. Persisting pet odors, moisture, stains and debris are a primary cause of fiber-damage for most kinds of carpets. So, while you figure out how many times you should clean carpets and how to clean carpets, it is also important to seek professional advice in this area. Remember that it is always better to go the extra mile than fall short of efforts in maintaining indoor hygiene. Well-kept and cleaned carpets are great for an aesthetic appeal, for your health as well as for the well-being of your little fur-babies.

Got Pets? This is How Often You Should Clean Your Carpets