Every home has high-traffic areas – with hallways, entranceways, stairs, and living rooms among the top candidates. These areas experience a greater amount of foot traffic, collect more dirt, and often wear out more quickly. But if carpet is your floor covering of choice, there are ways to keep it looking its best. In this post, we’ll explore a few tips and tricks you can follow to help your carpets last longer in high-traffic areas.
Vacuums are the first line of defence when carpet cleaning. Regular vacuuming prevents dirt from getting trodden deep into your carpet. Make sure you don't neglect the edges of your carpet or areas under furniture, as dust can easily gather here.
Many people don't vacuum their carpets for long enough, which can lead to a build-up of dirt. It's recommended to spend 10-20 minutes vacuuming each room.
The areas that get the most use are the ones most likely to be stained. When possible, clean stains as soon as they happen, to prevent them soaking into the fibres of your carpet.
As this isn’t always an option, there are ways you can remove tougher stains. One method is combining baking soda, white vinegar and water. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area to help loosen the stain. Then, mix equal parts water and white vinegar and spray it over the baking soda. Once the baking soda and white vinegar have finished reacting, blot them away with a wet cloth.
Wearing shoes on your carpet can tread through soil and bacteria from outside. The hard soles of shoes can also drive this dirt in further and wear away your carpet.
However, walking barefoot on your carpet can also age it, due to the natural oils on your feet and shedding dead skin cells. The best footwear to maintain a carpet are socks or soft-soled indoor slippers.
Placing rugs or mats in high-traffic areas can protect the carpet underneath. They can also be picked up and shaken out, allowing you to clean them more easily. This is especially important in doorways, as you can prevent dirt from ever reaching your carpet. You can even buy machine washable rugs, which are convenient for regular at-home cleaning.
As well as following all of the advice above, it’s important to have carpets deep cleaned on a regular basis. For most carpets, this is recommended at least once a year. However, you may want to book it in twice a year for high-traffic areas.
A professional carpet cleaner will have the knowledge and equipment to revitalise your carpets despite such heavy use. A professional deep clean will agitate the fibres without damaging your carpet to essentially bring it back to life – not to mention removing lingering smells and stains.
High-traffic areas need more attention than others, but a professional cleaner can help you tackle this challenge. Find accredited carpet cleaners in the National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) directory. Every NCCA member is insured and has passed training, preparing them for your carpet.
Search our directory to find professional carpet cleaners.
Allergies can severely impact sufferers. From dust to pollen, allergens are found all over the home, and many are invisible to the naked eye. If not removed, these allergens can trigger symptoms of asthma and eczema, as well as causing headaches and congested airways. To reduce these symptoms, there are a few simple things that you can do…
It can be tricky to find the balance between sufficient ventilation and protection against outdoor allergens. Keeping windows and doors closed during pollen season can prevent it entering your home. However, you don't want the indoor air to stagnate, so air conditioning is recommended.
There are several devices that can help you keep your air clean.
One of the most common allergens in the home are dust mites, which love to burrow into soft furnishings. Dust and dead skin can collect in unwashed fabrics and create a feast for dust mites. There are several ways to prevent this.
Some furniture attracts allergens more than others, so you can choose items that will make your home easier to maintain.
Switching to washable curtains and rugs allows you to clean them regularly. Where possible, choose furniture without upholstery. Chairs made of wood, metal or plastic are much easier to clean, and have fewer places for dust mites to live. Similarly, low-pile carpet collects fewer allergens and is easier to clean.
Clutter can collect dust and be fiddly to clean. Keeping surfaces clear makes your life easier. In particular, potted plants can attract mould. You can cover the soil with stones or aquarium gravel to keep any mould contained.
Dust mites love carpets, and other allergens can get embedded in the fibres of your carpet. By vacuuming at least once or twice a week, you can keep them at bay.
Regularly deep cleaning your carpet can also clean out any allergens that have built up. If you do spot any mould, make sure that you treat it as soon as possible to prevent the spores from spreading. However, there are several downsides to DIY cleaning, which is why a professional clean is recommended around once a year – which brings us to…
The National Carpet Cleaning Association has a directory of accredited carpet cleaners, so you know you’re getting the best results for the money you spend on carpet cleaning. All of our carpet cleaners are trained and insured to ensure that our members are reliable and capable. That means they’re best placed to eliminate allergens on your floors.
Search our directory or take a look at our FAQs to find out more.
Pets are important members of a household – though they’re certainly not low maintenance. Having an animal companion can be fulfilling, but also impact your living environment, including your carpets. Here are some tips for choosing the best carpets for your pets.
No matter how well-trained your pets are, they have several traits that make carpet shopping difficult.
Cats and dogs all have claws which can catch in carpets and damage them. Cats also like to scratch surfaces.
Pets that go outside can tread muck through the house. Particularly if you have dogs, you might find that after a long walk they run muddy footprints everywhere with no regard for your carpet.
Another hazard of pet ownership is pests. Ticks, fleas and other pests can travel inside on your pet, burrowing into the carpet.
Pets constantly lose hair and skin cells, which is even more noticeable if your pet has long hair. It can get stuck absolutely everywhere, especially the carpet. This can also make people with allergies ill.
When you get a new pet, there's often an awkward phase where they have to learn that the carpet isn't a toilet. Even once they learn where the litter tray or garden is, pets are liable to have accidents or vomit on carpets.
Cut pile carpets have no loops for claws to catch in. Low-pile carpets like saxony and twist carpets are the best option for pet owners.
In terms of materials, synthetic materials like polypropylene are resistant to dirt. They are also easier to clean, as you are less limited in the cleaning materials you can use.
Choosing dark colours is best to hide stains. However, some people like to choose colours similar to their pet’s fur to conceal it. Or you can choose contrasting colours to make it easier to clean fur up. This is all down to personal preference and how regularly you get a chance to clean them.
It's important to vacuum regularly when you have pets, to keep the amount of fur under control. Make sure that you pay attention to edges and corners, in case any pests have been carried through and laid eggs.
While most stains are best tackled early, muddy pawprints are actually better left to dry. Wet mud is very difficult to clean, but dry mud can be brushed and vacuumed away.
You can hire a professional carpet cleaner to deep clean your carpet and combat any lingering odours.
It's not always easy to remove stains left by pets. The National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) makes it simpler with a directory of UK carpet cleaners who can help clean pet-related dirt. All of our carpet cleaners are insured and accredited, so you don’t have to waste valuable time searching for the right contractors.
Search our carpet cleaner directory to get started.
Carpets are more than just floor coverings. They're integral parts of our homes, providing warmth, comfort and style. However, over time, carpets accumulate dirt, dust, allergens and stains, which not only diminish their appearance but can also pose health risks. As a consumer, investing in professional carpet cleaning services is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy home. Here are five reasons we find customers want their carpets cleaned.
Many houses have light coloured carpets that are chosen to make the room appear bigger and brighter. But that also means they show the dirt just a little quicker than darker ones.
Track marks appear from the kitchen to the dining room and similarly they can come from the entrance hall to the lounge. It could be because the kitchen is tiled, and the carpet grabs the first dirty footsteps from the underside of shoes or even socks which leads to a build-up of dirt over time.
This can be due to wear and depositing dirt on the carpet and rubbing it in round the areas we sit. It's not about his and her seats but more about the wear in that area. The pile is compressed with extra “shuffle” marks. Remove the dirt and the pile then has a chance to recover.
These are usually sugar deposits from spills which dry into the carpet and attract dirt. The sugar content from drinks and food highlights the area of the spill. Remove the drink or food spill and the carpet colour is restored.
Dirt builds up in the carpet – it’s just a function of everyday living. Dirt comprises of many things from soiling through to pollens, dust mites and bacteria. They all act like sandpaper on the fibres and this in turn causes wear to the carpet pile.
The gradual build up can also create a musty smell. A professional clean can then reset the fibres and the carpet, so it’s clean and ready again for the household.
With a cost-of-living crisis affecting many households, it makes financial sense to clean your carpets rather than replace them. You will be surprised just how well they look after a professional clean, giving you peace of mind that all the stains, spills, and smells have been removed. The result is revitalised carpets ready for the next round of whatever gets thrown at them.
Carpets are a significant investment in any home, and proper maintenance is crucial to extending their lifespan. Over time, dirt and debris can accumulate within carpet fibres, causing them to deteriorate and wear out prematurely. Professional cleaning removes embedded dirt and stains, preserving the integrity of the carpet and ensuring it looks newer for longer.
Regular carpet cleaning is essential for maintaining a clean, healthy and visually appealing home. By investing in professional cleaning services, you can improve indoor air quality, prolong the lifespan of your carpets, eliminate allergens and bacteria, maintain their appearance and hygiene, and save money in the long run.
Don't wait until your carpets show visible signs of wear and tear. Book in a professional carpet clean and reap the rewards it offers for your home, family, and your bank balance. If you’re wondering where to start, search the NCCA directory to find professional carpet cleaners in your area. The National Carpet Cleaning Association ensures all members are insured and trained to our high standards, so you know you’re getting the best for your carpets.
However, if you're determined to keep up your new year’s cleaning, there are some techniques that can help you out.
It's tempting to put off cleaning tasks for as long as possible and handle them in one big clean. However, it's much more efficient to clean things as you use them. When you wash your hands, give the sink a clean. Or give the hob a wipe each time you use it.
While it might seem cheaper to tackle grime with your bare hands, it can take forever. What's more, there are some effective cleaning products that you might already have around the house. For example, bicarbonate of soda can loosen almost any carpet stain. Researching the best cleaning hacks can make maintaining your resolution much easier.
New year’s cleaning isn't the job of any one person in the household. If you're finding it hard to keep up, it might be time to delegate. Whether you live with a partner, kids or friends, everyone benefits from a clean environment. Asking them to help out will lighten the load.
Clutter can be one of the biggest barriers to effective cleaning. If there are things physically in your way, moving them can turn a five-minute cleaning task into a full-on excavation. Finding a home for everything you own not only makes it much easier to find it, but makes cleaning chores simpler.
Not everything needs cleaning every day, but some things can't be left too long. If you group tasks by how often they need doing, you can create checklists that make sure nothing gets forgotten. Guest rooms won't need as much attention as bathrooms and kitchens, for example.
Work out when it's easier for you to clean – and make an effort to use this time. Whether that's creating a bedtime routine, cleaning up during TV ad breaks, or getting up an hour earlier at the weekend, resolutions stick better when they're tailored to your routine.
There's nothing worse than repeatedly cleaning things you have no use for anymore. Save your energy by donating, selling or disposing of unwanted items. This will make room for the things you do want, and also make it easier to clean every nook and cranny of your home.
Start with a clean slate by treating yourself to an expert cleaner. New year’s cleaning and tidying can feel futile if your carpets don’t match the fresh appearance of your home. The National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) has a directory of accredited carpet cleaners who can revitalise your carpets for the year ahead.
Every one of our cleaners is insured and highly trained, so you don’t have to spend your precious time on background checks. Search our directory to find carpet cleaners in your area.
You won't need to try all of these methods for nail varnish on carpet. Some suit specific carpets more than others, so you may want to skip straight to those.
Remember to carry out a patch test of any method you choose, to make sure you don't damage or discolour your carpet.
If you're able to catch nail varnish on carpet when it's fresh, it can sometimes be blotted away. A spoon may be able to scoop up excess liquid, before it can even soak into the carpet.
Use a knife to scrape away at a stain and loosen it. Cold water can also help with this, but make sure that your water is as cold as possible, because hot water will set the stain.
If you haven't already, wet the area with cold water. Then, spray 10-20 pumps of hairspray onto the area – you want to be quite generous. Adding a small amount of rubbing alcohol should then really loosen up the stain, and you should be able to remove nail varnish from carpet with a toothbrush. You can repeat this if it doesn't completely solve the problem the first time.
This will work better on fresh stains and lighter carpet, as you risk bleaching a darker carpet. Ensure that the polish remover you choose is non-acetone, and only use a small amount directly on the stain.
Apply a generous amount of white vinegar to the affected area. Soak a cloth in white vinegar, and leave that over the stain. After 10 minutes, blot away as much vinegar as possible and then lightly agitate the stain itself. This should help remove the nail polish stain from your carpet, but be warned that the smell may linger. If the smell bothers you, you can use a carpet deodoriser to cover it.
Pour enough baking soda to cover the stain, and then pour ginger ale over the top. Leave it to soften the stain for 10 minutes. You can then blot away the stain. A vacuum can be used to get rid of any excess baking soda after you remove nail polish from your carpet.
If any of these methods leave residue behind, you can remove it with dish soap and warm water. Simply pour on a mixture of the two, then blot the residue as much as possible.
If nail varnish on carpet is proving particularly stubborn or you're worried about damaging your carpet, a professional carpet cleaner can help. National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) have a directory of accredited carpet cleaners who are based all over the UK. Our strict guidelines for training, insurance and professionalism mean that every member business is top notch.
Search our directory to find a carpet cleaner near you and get nail polish out of your carpet.