Tips For Cleaning An Expensive, Fragile Carpet

When you have an expensive carpet that is also fragile, sometimes the worst thing you can do is clean it. Not all carpets are built to withstand the rough handling of regular cleaning. If the wrong cleaning substances are used, or if you dive into it with a hard brush, you might damage the fabric, causing your expensive rug to start falling apart. How can you clean this type of carpet without the risk of damaging it?

Know the Material

Before you attempt to use any chemical cleaners on your carpet, you should know the material that the carpet is made from. Some materials are able to withstand the harsh chemicals while others will quickly disintegrate when exposed to them. If you can't tell if a particular cleaner will be harmful to your carpet, try using it on a small area that is not easily visible.

Vacuum with Care

It's a good idea to vacuum your carpet at least once every week. However, there is still a risk of damaging the carpet when cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner. Rough vacuuming of tufted carpets, for example, can damage the latex on the underside of the carpet. A shag carpet should be cleaned using a wet and dry vacuum.

Clean Stains as Quickly as Possible

When stains are given time to set, they become harder to remove. This means the carpet will need to be subjected to harder cleaning. This isn't a good idea if you're dealing with a fragile carpet. Cleaning up your pet's urine or a wine spill quickly will ensure the stain doesn't set too deep in the carpet. This makes it easier to get rid of the stain using relatively mild methods.

Try Homemade Cleaning Agents

Store bought cleaners are likely to contain harsh chemical cleaning agents. These can quickly damage your carpet. You can save money and also keep your carpet from being damaged by trying out homemade cleaning solutions such as vinegar and warm water. This particular solution works quite well for delicate oriental rugs.

Professional Cleaning Services

Instead of trying to figure out how to go about cleaning your carpet without ruining it, you can instead enlist the services of a professional carpet cleaning company, like Campo's On The Spot Carpet Services INC. This will cost you more money than cleaning the carpet on your own. However, there is less risk of damaging the carpet, and even deep stains can be safely removed.