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How Often Should
I Vacuum?
We hear this question a lot. The best carpet or rug in the
world won’t perform well if you don’t vacuum regularly. To get the most out of
your soft surface flooring, it’s important to adopt a regular maintenance
routine. No matter the product, you can extend your carpet’s life by vacuuming
frequently and diligently.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is waiting to vacuum until the
carpet looks dirty. You won’t always notice the tiny soil particles that land on
your carpet, and it’s most important to remove that soil when it’s on the
surface of the carpet and not embedded in the fibers. When regular vacuuming is
neglected, soil particles become embedded in the carpet fibers through normal
use. Since most soil is gritty and abrasive, the particles will begin to damage
the carpet fibers unless vacuumed regularly. This damage is the main reason
carpets age prematurely, so don’t skip routine vacuuming just because your floor
doesn’t look like it needs it.
MAINTENANCE FREQUENCY
See our general recommendations below for keeping carpet and rugs clean and
looking like new. Also consult the maintenance and care information provided by
your flooring manufacturer for specific guidelines.
Vacuum high traffic areas daily.
Medium traffic areas should be vacuumed twice per week.
Vacuum all areas at least once per week even if carpet or rug looks clean.
Every 18 months, clean the carpets with professional hot water extraction to
remove deeply embedded particles and oily dirt. Professional deep cleaning will
also refresh the carpet’s texture and appearance.
High traffic areas may require professional cleaning more often. Clean these
areas as soon as they begin to show soil to stop dirt from spreading and to
extend time between professional cleanings.
MORE VACUUMING
TIPS
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Readjust the vacuum height for each flooring surface in your
home. Setting too high above the surface will cause soil attraction to be weak,
allowing gritty, heavier soil to stay in the flooring. Setting the vacuum too
low could damage your carpet or rug by fraying the surface pile.
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To determine the optimal height setting, test the vacuum in
an inconspicuous area, like a closet.
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Check the beater/brush bar regularly for burs or gouges that
might damage your flooring.
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For thick loop, casual frieze, long pile or premium soft
carpets and for hard surfaces, completely disengage the beater/brush bar or use
a vacuum without a beater/brush bar.
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Ensure your vacuum has efficient airflow to avoid tight or
sealed suction on the carpet's surface, which makes operating the machine
difficult and may damage fibers.
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Check your vacuum cleaner bag regularly, and change it when
it becomes half to two-thirds full. A full vacuum bag will cause the vacuum to
clean less efficiently and less thoroughly.
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Use vacuums and other equipment with
the
Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval.
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