Top five tips for a long-lasting carpet

Carpets are hugely versatile flooring materials. They bring warmth to our homes, are a fundamental part of the decoration of our space – be it a home or business – and add a stylistic touch. They also protect our floors and for those carpets that are not fitted, they provide a way for us to alternate the look of our rooms with the changing seasons. Carpets can also become dirty very easily though as we track mud and dust in from outdoors, grinding them into the carpet fibres every time we walk in. To help you keep your carpet clean and hygienic, and looking better for longer, we have set out our top five tips for looking after them.

Tip 1: Protect first

To avoid your carpet becoming dirty, dull, and lifeless soon after it has been laid, consider protecting it as your first course of action. You can do this by:

• Having a ‘no shoes’ policy at home
• Laying out an entrance mat to catch the heaviest dirt and any moisture so that it is not tracked into your home or office
• Using runners for heavily-used areas such as hallways or stairs. These can be cleaned more easily and replaced more cost effectively than fully carpeted areas

Tip 2: Vacuum regularly

By regularly we mean at least once a week, more if you have pets or young children or for those heavily trafficked areas. Carpets will suck in dust entering from open windows and doors, shedding skin, and any pets around the home, not just from our shoes. To avoid your carpet looking dull and grimy, vacuum regularly. Doing so will also keep your carpet and overall room more hygienic as well.

Tip 3: Deal with spills

If something is spilled or dropped onto your carpet, deal with it swiftly. Mop up any spills straightaway, before they get a chance to soak into the fibres too deeply, and use club soda for those tricky spills such as from coffee, tea, wine, or pet or baby accidents. For things such as food, crumbs, or mud get the vacuum cleaner out to pick it up. You may need to use a damp cloth and mild detergent as well if there is any staining.

Tip 4: Deep clean

Deep cleaning typically involves steaming the carpet to lift any caked-on or soaked-in stains. No matter how frequently you vacuum, a deep clean is still recommended every six to twelve months – depending on how heavily used the carpet is. You can either rent a suitable carpet cleaner (if you don’t already own one) or hire a professional company to do it for you.

Tip 5: Deal with snags

At some point in their lifetime, carpet fibres will snag. If you have pets or young children, this is likely to happen sooner rather than later. Deal with them as soon as you find them by trimming them to prevent them from getting worse. Never pull a snag as that can detach the carpet causing even worse damage.

For professional carpet cleaning or for advice on how to deal with anything related to your carpet, our Cherry Carpets specialists are ready to help. You can find us on 020 8249 9726 or you can drop us a line at and we also offer free quotes for our jobs.