Dirt and grime plays an important role in the deterioration and breakdown of our carpets. As people come in and out of their homes they bring in dirt, particles of sediment, grime, oils, and all kinds of plant and animal materials. Pets give off dander and the combination of materials accumulate.

As time wears on, all of this debris can act as a “sandpaper effect” as people walk on the carpeting. The more this occurs, the more wearing these materials will be on the fibers of carpet and they will weaken and break under the constant pressure.

This is why it is important to vacuum the carpeting on a regular basis in order to remove the abrasive materials as much as possible. The placement of mats and runners in heavily traveled areas can cut down on the abrasion that would normally be inflicted on heavily traveled areas. Mats are normally less expensive that the carpeting and are more easily replaced.

Carpeting should be deep cleaned with hot water extraction, or steam cleaning, every 12 to 24 months, depending on the traffic that occurs on the carpet. The hot water extraction method involves the spraying of a high pressure mixture of detergent and water into the carpet, and then vacuuming the mixture which is dirty back up. This gives the carpet a clean start down to its surface and causes less damage when traffic resumes over it.

The damage that occurs to a carpet from debris that builds up is very gradual, so people will not actually see it happening until the damage is done. This is when tufts of the carpeting material begin to come loose and the carpet is pretty well worn out by then.

Proper vacuuming and cleaning techniques will go a long way in protecting and preserving carpets to that they will be serviceable and last for a long time.