Archived Article-September, 2010
When is the best time to clean my carpets?
The best answer is: Before it is visibly dirty. Once a carpet is clearly dirty, it is actually past the point where fiber damaging matter dirt, debris, etc. has settled at the base of the fiber and is wearing it prematurely. A simpler elaboration would be a minimum of once every six to 12 months. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC) & major carpet manufacturer warranties both recommend that carpet under normal circumstances be cleaned this often.
Carpets play a great role in your indoor air quality and need to be properly maintained to keep dust and allergen levels to a minimum. You see, installed carpet in your home acts like a great filter that captures a vast majority of pollutants, allergens, and dust that would otherwise circulate unhindered throughout your breathing environment. With routine vacuuming (1 2 times a week) and annual cleaning by an IICRC trained & certified professional, your filter or carpet will stay newer longer and keep your home environment healthier.
So, to properly address the question above, I usually advise people to skip the traditional method of cleaning in the spring and instead consider having their carpets cleaned before heading into winter. My logic is simple: After two seasons of open windows, construction dust, pollen, numerous allergens, and pets or young ones running in and out of the house, it makes sense to me that cleaning these contaminants out of your carpets before you close the house up and circulate the same air for months.
Some additional benefits of cleaning towards the end of the year are that your family is more apt to take their shoes off, there is less construction work to re-soil, and humidity is lower resulting in quicker drying times. It is ideal to not wait too long into the cooler seasons because truck-mounted units require that the door be slightly ajar to bring hoses in your home.
Jason Selkirk, General Manager
- as printed in Ask the Expert