May 16th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Carpets are a great addition to your home, not only do they look nice but they make your home feel warmer and more comfortable, however, failing to take care of your carpet and keep up with regular cleaning can quickly turn it into a breeding ground for dirt and bacteria this is why it is more important than you realise to regularly clean your carpets. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of regular carpet cleaning:

Carpets Can Quickly Become a Breeding Ground for Bacteria

When you think about it, it makes sense that your carpet would become a breeding ground for bacteria, after all, it is often walked on so dead skin cells and sweat can gather and in homes with pets and children it’s likely dirt from outside will get tracked in, these contaminants then sink to the bottom of the carpet making it difficult to remove them by vacuuming alone. In fact, the average carpet can hold as much as 200,000 bacteria per square inch – that’s a frightening amount!

Can Affect Your Health

While some of the bacteria in your carpet can be harmless, leaving it untreated can agitate respiratory problems such as asthma and can agitate or even cause allergies. Not keeping up with regular cleaning can also increase the risk of dust mites and while these little bugs do not bite, they are also known to aggravate asthma and cause allergies. It’s also not pleasant to think of an infestation of these little critters living in your carpet!

Mess Is Not Always Visible

You may think that your carpet doesn’t need cleaning if it looks clean to the naked eye. After all, bacteria aren’t always visible. In fact, your carpet can be quite deceiving as we’ve already mentioned above not only does it house bacteria but dirt can become pressed into your carpet when it is walked across meaning that it is not always visible. So, don’t be tricked by a seemingly clean carpet.  

Vacuuming Does Not Remove Odour  

Another reason why it is important to clean your carpets regularly is that air fresheners and vacuuming alone will not get rid of bad odours. In homes with pets and children spills and dirt are inevitable, particularly with pets who may have accidents on carpets whether it is urine, faeces or vomit these all contain bacteria and enzymes that linger long after you think they have been cleaned. You may have noticed that a smell will seem to come back after a while that is because special shampoos and cleaners are needed to break these bacteria to remove the odour for good.

This is the same for other odours too, vacuuming will not remove the source and air fresheners and fabric fresheners will simply cover the odour for a short time. Thick and high-pile carpets in particular also trap and absorb moisture from spills and make them prime targets for mould growth and damp odours.

Regular Cleaning Will Reduce Bacteria

Now that you know that your carpet can become a host for all kinds of bacteria, you may be wondering how you can keep this under control. The only way to do so is to regularly clean your carpet with carpet shampoo. While we understand that this can seem like a big undertaking, especially in homes with lots of carpets, it is definitely something that you should endeavour to do both for your health and to keep your carpet looking its best for longer.

How Should I Clean My Carpet?

When it comes to how best to clean your carpet and what products to use, this falls as a matter of preference. There are a lot of options available in terms of products so it’s best to find a shampoo that suits your specific needs - for example, homes with pets will benefit from shampoo with enzyme digesters as these will remove the bacteria at the source to ensure the odours is removed.

When it comes to the cleaning method, carpet cleaners are the most popular option as they make the job much quicker and since they remove moisture at the same time it does not take as long for carpets to dry once they have been cleaned. However, these can be pricey investments so for those who don’t want to buy a new machine, most carpet shampoo can be used by hand also. This can be more time-consuming, and you have to be careful not to use too much water as this will just undo all your hard work however cleaning by hand does allow you to scrub particular stubborn areas. It is also recommended to open a window to help air circulate through the room when cleaning your carpet in order to help it dry quicker and avoid the risk of damp odours.

How Often Should I Clean My Carpets?

If you are wondering how often you need to clean your carpets in order to keep bacteria at bay and keep them looking their best and smelling fresh too – well this really depends on a couple of factors homes with children or pets will find they likely need to clean their carpets more often than homes with no pets and children. However, on average it is recommended to clean your carpet at a minimum once and year – ideally twice a year.

Now that you know the nasty secrets your carpet could possibly be hiding from you, we hope you can see why it is so important to take time to give your carpet a deep clean. While vacuuming is great to keep your home looking tidy, it is not a substitute for a full clean which is why both methods need to be employed in order to make sure your carpet is clean and your family is healthy.

Homefront Pet Carpet Shampoo 5L

Price: £17.95

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