Most people believe that vacuuming a carpet is a relatively straight-forward task. Vacuuming your carpet is also a great way to remove dust and dirt, and keep it looking clean. What most people do not know is that there actually is a right way to vacuum your carpet. Here are a few tips to help keep your carpet looking its best.

Choose the right vacuum

Not all vacuums are created equal and they do not all treat carpets equally. With so many vacuums on the market today, how do you know that you are getting the right one for your carpet?

• Check with your manufacturer or carpet installation company. Either source should be able to recommend at least a vacuum type the best fits the need of your carpet your carpet.
• The Carpet and Rug Institute has created a rating system that rate vacuums on three factors: dust removal, carpet appearance retention, and soil removal. Look for the Carpet and Rug Institute seal of approval label when choosing your vacuum.

Use the right features

Therotating brush in your vacuum’s head --the beater bar -- is designed to agitate the carpet fibers in order to loosen up dust and dirt, but that agitation can hurt certain types of carpet like Berber or frieze styles. If you have this type of carpet in your home just use your vacuum’s suction with the beater brush turned off.

Most vacuums come with upholstery attachments. Using the crevice attachment to vacuum the edges of your carpet, along the walls and in corners, will keep your carpet fresh and help prevent filtration soiling.

Use the right technique

In order to properly vacuum a space, you cannot rush. Push the vacuum slowly in one direction, away from you, and pull it back slowly toward you. Move on to the next section of carpet, slightly overlapping the last area you just vacuumed. Here are some other quick tips:

• Start along the edges of the room. Using your crevice attachment, get the edges of the carpet and in the corners – the areas where the vacuum head simply cannot reach.
• Move light and small furniture and vacuum those areas. Vacuum under and around heavy furniture.
• Vacuum in one direction (east-west) and then in the opposite direction (north-south). This will help ensure you lift up as much dirt and dust as possible.
• Start on the side of the room furthest from the door and vacuum your way out of the room.

Vacuum Frequently

You should vacuum your carpet at least once a week. However, if you have carpet in high traffic areas, pets, or kids, you may want to vacuum more often – up to three or more times a week. This will help get rid of dust, dirt, and allergens trapped in your carpet, and help keep your carpet looking its absolute best.

To extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking its absolute best, in addition to vacuuming, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned. To find out more information about carpet cleaning services, area rug cleaning, and other related services, please call Dr. Carpet at 647.800.5199 today!