Important tips on how to properly vacuum a carpet

Soft, fluffy carpets help create an amazing atmosphere of home comfort and warmth.

But even the highest quality carpet, if not maintained, very quickly loses its attractive appearance.

Secrets of how to vacuum a carpet will help not only keep your home clean and comfortable, but also keep the colors fresh and the floor covering soft.

Preparing the vacuum cleaner and choosing a brush

Before you start cleaning, you need to prepare the vacuum cleaner.

First of all, you need to set the correct power. You cannot vacuum all surfaces in the house at maximum power (constant work to the point of wear and tear quickly damages household appliances). Only high-pile carpets can be vacuumed at maximum power.

Secondly, it would be a good idea to check the level of filling of the garbage bag. Before each use, the bag (or plastic container) must be cleaned of accumulated dirt. The maximum permissible filling level of a garbage bag is no more than 2/3. Otherwise, the quality of cleaning sharply decreases and the risk of vacuum cleaner breakdowns increases.

A separate point is the choice of brush. Regardless of the price, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a universal nozzle equipped with a special retractable bristle system. Based on the length of the pile on the carpet, the length of the bristles on the nozzle is adjusted.

For smooth carpets, the bristles are extended to their maximum length.For coatings with medium or long pile, the bristles on the nozzle are pulled into the body.

Adjustment occurs by pressing just one key on the nozzle body. Separately, it is worth noting a special type of vacuum cleaner attachment - turbo brushes.

This is a nozzle with rows of bristles located around the perimeter and a special rotating roller in the middle. Due to the high rotation speed, the roller helps to clean the most difficult stains from the carpet quickly and efficiently.

How to clean?

So, a vacuum cleaner with a properly selected brush is ready for use, you can start cleaning. The work proceeds according to the following algorithm:

1. Remove all large debris from the carpet by hand or with a broom that could clog the vacuum cleaner tube.
2. The carpet is visually divided into squares. As practice has shown, it is better to start cleaning from the upper right square, smoothly moving towards the lower left square.
3. With measured, back-and-forth movements, square by square is cleared. It is important not to rush, brushing particularly dirty areas several times if necessary.
4. Upon completion of cleaning, wipe off dust from open areas of the floor and furniture with a rag.

This video will show you how to properly vacuum a carpet:

Features of the process for carpets made of various materials

Knowing some of the intricacies of carpet care, depending on the material it is made of, will help preserve the original appearance of the product for the longest possible period of time.

Silk

Soft, thin and very beautiful carpets made of silk thread require special, careful treatment. You can vacuum them no more than once a month (brushes damage thin silk threads, which is why the carpet very quickly loses its original appearance).

The best option for keeping silk carpets clean is professional dry cleaning.

Woolen

Fluffy wool carpets that create a special coziness and feeling of warmth in the house.

To maintain the appearance of natural wool carpets, they must be cleaned regularly (at least once a week) with a vacuum cleaner at medium power (aggressive, active cleaning is detrimental to delicate bristles).

At least once a year, wool carpets should be dry cleaned (this will help prevent moth attacks).

Viscose

Viscose carpets are characterized by increased moisture absorption, because It is highly undesirable for them to use a washing vacuum cleaner.

Clean viscose carpets with a regular vacuum cleaner, at the lowest power, at least three times a week. Pre-treatment with an antistatic agent will simplify the dust collection process.

Made from cotton

Natural cotton carpets are cleaned only using the dry method. The use of cleaning vacuum cleaners is strictly prohibited for such products.

Once a week cotton carpets clean with a vacuum cleaner with a smooth brush at medium power with a smooth brush (the bristles damage the smooth cotton threads).

Made from synthetic thread

The easiest way to care for carpets made from synthetic threads. It is enough to vacuum such products regularly (at least two to three times a week) to prevent accumulation of debris and dust.

Additional treatment with a vinegar solution will help refresh the paint. carpet made of polyester or nylon.

The coating is first cleaned of large debris and then treated with a vinegar solution (1 tablespoon of vinegar dissolved in a liter of warm water). Half an hour after treatment, the carpet is vacuumed in the usual way.

How often to clean?

The recommended frequency of vacuuming the carpet is at least twice a week. But there is Several factors increase the number of cleanings:

1. Presence of animals. If four-legged pets live in the house, then you will have to vacuum the carpet at least three times a week. Otherwise, the carpet will very quickly lose its presentable appearance.
2. Location of the carpet. In rooms with a high level of traffic, such as the hallway and kitchen, carpets will have to be vacuumed at least once every two days.

   In a children's room, in addition to dust, carpets very quickly become stained with paints, fruits, and plasticine, which requires not just frequent, but deeper cleaning.

Even if there are no visible stains on the carpet, it should be vacuumed regularly. Removing dust and small debris will help keep your carpet looking its original appearance longer. How to clean carpet from cat hair, read Here.

When is deep cleaning required?

Even the most powerful vacuum cleaner is not able to completely remove all dirt from the thickness of the fleecy coating. Over time, dust begins to accumulate in the carpet fibers and fungal and mold spores develop. The carpet loses its brightness of colors and takes on a worn, worn-out appearance.

More often deep cleaning is required:

• if the carpet begins to “smell” unpleasantly (kitchen carpets require more frequent professional cleaning);
• in the case when the carpet is “marked” by a four-legged pet (it is important to immediately take the covering to the dry cleaner, without waiting for the waste products of the animal to saturate the pile);
• if the carpet has been stored for a long time in a closed, unventilated, unheated room (the ingrained smell of dampness, mold and mildew can only be removed by dry cleaning).

You can deep clean your carpet at home using special carpet cleaners. On the shelves of hardware stores there is a wide range of different sprays, shampoos, and carpet cleaning powders.

Following the manufacturer's instructions, a cleaning composition is applied to the carpet, after which, after waiting for the treated surface to dry, dry cleaning is carried out with a vacuum cleaner.

What not to do and why?

TOP 5 that should not be forgotten:

1. You can’t vacuum everything at full power. Otherwise, increased energy consumption and rapid wear of household appliances are guaranteed.

   Low-pile carpets are vacuumed at low power, while long-pile carpets are vacuumed at maximum power.

2. You can't help but switch the brush head between the carpet and the floor. The retractable row of bristles provides a small gap when in contact with smooth surfaces (air circulation prevents the vacuum cleaner motor from overheating).
3. Do not vacuum wet carpets (wet debris is less easily drawn into the vacuum cleaner, and contact of a household appliance with water can lead to a short circuit).
4. Do not vacuum construction waste or broken glass (there is a high risk of hose rupture and rapid wear of filters and garbage bags).
5. During the cleaning process, you should not drag the vacuum cleaner along the carpet by the hose (sudden jerks can break the hose, which entails repairs of household appliances).

It is strictly forbidden to use a vacuum cleaner to clean vintage or antique carpets. Exclusive products are trusted only by dry cleaning professionals. Otherwise, the risks of final damage to an expensive item are very high.

Adviсe

During cleaning, it is necessary to ensure that the exhaust air flow from the vacuum cleaner is not directed towards an already cleaned area of ​​the carpet (even the best filter allows the smallest particles of dust to pass through).

Clean the carpet in places where you cannot reach with a vacuum cleaner brush, a sticky roller for clothes will help. It is enough to roll the roller over the carpet once and there will be no trace left of small debris, wool, or hair.

Conclusion

Regular cleaning of the carpet with a vacuum cleaner (in compliance with all rules and recommendations) will help maintain the appearance and softness of this floor covering for as long as possible.