Without a vacuum, we can tell you that your carpets, unless new or freshly cleaned, are the dirtiest part of your house. Want to find out for yourself exactly how dirty your carpets are? Here’s how you can test:
Some of the things contributing to the dirty state of your carpets are:
- Dead skin cells
- Mould
- Feces
- Insect husks
- Pet hair
- Pet urine
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Organic matter
- Dirt
With all these things combined, it’s no wonder your carpet can hold four times it weight in foreign matter. Determining just how much of this “stuff” is in your carpets can be done through a variety of tests.
Take a good look
An obvious sign that your carpets are past due a professional cleaning is visible dirt. If there is visible dirt on your carpet, there is a good chance that this dirt is just the tip of the iceberg. Taking the time to get up close and personal with your carpets will help you determine how dirty they are as well as solving some of the mystery in what the culprits are.
A good old sniff test
It ain’t pretty but if you can stand to get down on the same level as those carpets, a sniff test can go a long way. A professionally cleaned carpet will have a pleasant odor or a neutral one. The farther away your carpets get from a good clean, the stronger and less attractive the aroma will be.
Hang it out to dry
Not literally but taking your lose carpets outside to give them a good shake, will enlighten you as to the degree of the dirt problem. Getting your carpets outside into the sunlight will uncover a plethora of soiled messes. You’ll have the opportunity to bang some of those carpet frustrations out while seeing for yourself just how bad the problem is.
Scrub test
Choose an area of your carpet that is well traveled. Now choose a mild cleanser. Grab a light coloured cloth or rag and some warm water. Take a little time to rug at that area. Take as long as your like. What your cloth unearths can be scary and give you a good idea how far away a professional clean is.
Your carpets have played victim to dropped food and the bacteria that follows and that can remain for up to four days. Children and pets are not your carpets best friend and most of us are guilty of walking on our carpets with our shoes on, therefore tracking the outside in. Carpets in generally are the biggest air filter in your home. While vacuuming regularly will ensure that lose debris is sucked away, too much of the “stuff” that gets on and in our carpets is there to stay, unless they can be eradicated with a professional clean. How often those carpets need to be cleaned will be determined by
- The age of the carpet
- If there are pets in the home and how many
- If you share your home with children. (They are cute but can be filthy.)
- How often the carpet is vacuumed
- When the last time your carpet was cleaned.
And finally, if you find yourself moving furniture around to cover stains, this might be the best test in determining how dirty your carpets are. Don’t let soiled carpets make design decisions for you. Get the professionals in to save the day and your carpets.
