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VACUUM CLEANING
The Key To Cleaner Carpets and a Healthier Home Environment
Believe it or not, the real key to keeping your carpet looking good all the time
is to vacuum often, probably at least two to three times a week. Dry vacuuming
can remove as much as 80% of the soil in a carpet, especially the soil in the
high traffic areas. Thorough vacuuming in the high traffic areas will go a long
way toward keeping the traffic lanes from getting matted and worn. These are the
areas that can look so ugly once they are worn and it ruins the appearance of
the rest of the house. Simple vacuum cleaning can add years of life to your
carpet and keep it looking good all the time.
Use should use a quality upright vacuum with a beater-bar revolving brush that
will dislodge the soil from the carpet nap. Use of a nap brush or grooming rake
prior to vacuuming will loosen up the dry soil between the fibers, making it
easier for the vacuum to remove the soil. If you do not own a nap brush, you can
usually obtain one from your professional carpet cleaner. Your vacuum should be
equipped with the micro-lined anti-bacterial bags so as not to redistribute the
small particles and biopollutants that were just vacuumed up. Keep the vacuum
cleaner in good condition, changing the disposable bag regularly.
General vacuuming should be performed in all open areas. More detailed vacuuming
is necessary in the high traffic areas, utilizing slower strokes and turning the
vacuum cleaner at a right angle for an additional pass in an effort to remove as
much dry soil as possible. Placing doormats at entrances will help prevent
"tracked-in" dirt from accumulating in the carpet.
The soil that remains in the carpet after vacuuming is the oily soil that clings
to the fibers. This oily soil is usually removed by professional cleaning or by
do-it-yourself cleaning and with the use of certain cleaning agents.
Professional cleaners normally know the difference between carpet spills
(usually removable) and carpet stains (usually not removable) and they carry
various spotting agents that can aid in the removal of spots. Your best time to
try to remove a spot or spill by yourself is as soon as possible after it
occurs. You chances are best while the spot is still wet. Refer to our Stain
Removal Chart for information on spot removal.
Professionally clean your carpet at least once every twelve to eighteen months.
Certainly do it before the traffic patterns begin to show wear. It is always
best to vacuum your carpet prior to the carpet cleaner arriving, unless the
carpet cleaner offers this as part of his service. Many of them do. Just
remember that by removing the dry soil from your carpet at least a few times a
week, you stand the best chance of preserving the beauty of your carpet for
years to come. After cleaning, be sure to ventilate the area with fresh air
during the drying period and at least 24 hours after.
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