Properly maintaining your carpets involves a regular cleaning schedule.  Not only should you vacuum your carpets frequently (most carpet cleaning experts recommend vacuuming at least on a weekly basis), but they should also be steam cleaned regularly.  But what exactly does “regularly” mean?  How often should you clean your carpets?

This is actually a very common question, to which there isn’t really a defined answer.  For new carpets, you should be mindful of the conditions in your warranty.  Most carpet warranties require that carpets are professionally cleaned at least every 12 to 18 months in order to keep the warranty valid.  But, once the warranty has run out, there are many factors to consider when determining how frequently you need to clean your carpets.

Some homeowners make the false mistake of thinking darker coloured carpets need to be cleaned less frequently, but this is simply not true.  On the contrary, because visible signs of soiling are not always obvious on darker-coloured carpets, you likely want to clean these carpets more frequently in order to reduce dust and allergens in your home.  So what factors do you need to consider?

Manufacturers Rrecommendations

First and foremost, consider your manufacturers recommendations with respect to frequency of cleaning.  While they’ll usually suggest relatively frequent cleaning, their recommendations are typically based at least in part on the type of fabric used in the carpets.  Ultimately, it’s important to note that regular steam cleaning will help increase the life expectancy of your carpets.  Standard recommendations suggest cleaning at least every 2 years.

Traffic

Do you have pets or young children?  Is the carpeted area in a heavy traffic room or a low-use room?  Not only are carpets that are subjected to heavy traffic more likely to become stained, they’ll also accumulate more dirt and dust that may or may not be visible.  If your carpets are located in high-traffic areas, consider cleaning them more frequently.  Obviously, you can spot clean stains between cleanings, but annual or biannual cleanings in high traffic areas are recommended for rooms that see a lot of action.

Cleanliness

The final consideration you should make when deciding how often to clean your carpets is daily maintenance.  If you vacuum your carpets regularly, have a “no shoe” policy, or if you don’t have pets, you can probably schedule carpet cleanings less frequently (i.e. every two or three years).  However, if you avoid vacuuming like the plague, you probably want to schedule yearly cleanings in order to keep your carpets in their best condition.

Remember, more frequent cleaning is not a problem and many carpet cleaning experts will recommend annual cleanings.  This not only improves the life expectancy of your carpets and keeps them looking great, but also lends to a more hygienic home environment.