Three Secrets to a Cleaner Dark-Colored Carpet
Homeowners who purchase dark-colored carpet for their homes often do so under the assumption that it will be easier to keep clean. But you only need to have dark carpeting for a few weeks before you realize how untrue this is. Dark-colored carpets can become discolored, bleached, and dusty looking, but with the tips below, you can keep them looking their best.
Vacuum more often.
Dark-colored carpets may be less prone to wine stains, but they show dust and dirt more easily than light-colored carpeting. To keep the dust at bay, get into the habit of vacuuming two or three times per week. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, which will comb through the carpet fibers and extract the dirt from in between them.
Use gentle shampoos and stain removers.
A common problem with dark-colored carpets is bleaching due to use of stain fighters and shampoos. There are specific shampoos designed for use on dark carpets, and these are what you should use. Also, make sure you test any cleaner on a hidden area, like under the furniture, before you use it on an obvious part of the carpet.
Another safe option for stain and spill removal is a mixture of water and vinegar. Soak a stain in the mixture, soak up the moisture with a thick towel, and you'll be surprised how clean your carpet looks.
Invest in good window treatments.
The sun can bleach out a dark carpet, and before you know it, part of the carpet is a different color. To protect your carpet, invest in a good set of window treatments. UV-blocking blinds or shades are a good choice. Close them whenever it's too sunny.
Be very thorough when extracting shampoo.
If you shampoo your carpet yourself, be very thorough when extracting water from the wet carpet. Otherwise, you'll end up with too much shampoo being left behind, leading to the appearance of a white residue on top of the carpet. Going over the carpet an extra time with the shampooer on "suction" mode should do the trick. You may also want to use less shampoo than the instructions call for -- and be careful not to spray any more shampoo solution than is needed onto the carpet.
To learn more about caring for a dark-colored carpet, contact a carpet cleaning company like Staub Cleaning Services in your area. Having your carpet professionally cleaned once a year will keep it looking great, too!