All through the year we track various soils into our homes. Not only that,
pollutants from car exhaust, pollens, pet and human dander, and just plain old dirt can
damage surfaces in your home including carpet, tile, wood, upholstery and fabrics. Soil
control is an important part of keeping your home clean and healthy.
You can control soil by limiting the entrance and buildup of contaminants inside your
home. The best way to control soil inside your home is to prevent its entry.
They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; it takes 12 times more
effort, time and money to remove soil as it does to prevent it from ever entering inside
a structure. Remember that whatever is outside tends to come in, so consider the
following:
Keep walkways, steps and porches clean and free of dirt, mold, moss and algae.
Maintain garage floors in order to prevent oil, road grime and other contaminants
from being tracked indoors.
Place doormats both outside and inside all of the entrances to your home.
Outdoor mats should be a water resistant, synthetic, non-absorbent fiber such as
olefin or polypropylene and be textured to scrape heavy soils off your shoes. Avoid
natural fibers which tend to mold and rot creating a new soil source for your home.
Inside doormats should be absorbent like nylon, cotton or wool. Vacuum and wash it
periodically to remove built-up soils.
Remove shoes when you come indoors, but don’t make the mistake of going barefoot
all the time. The skin of our feet contains oils that attach to
carpet and attract soil. Instead of going barefoot, wear clean house shoes, socks or slippers indoors.
Normal daily activities generate a variety of dust and residues that settle on just about
every surface inside your home.
Vacuuming is the most effective way to maintain your carpets. 74-79% of soil in
carpet is dry, particulate soil that can be removed by vacuuming. You should also
vacuum your upholstered furniture, drapery and blinds for the same reasons.
When you dust your furniture, do so gently, preferably with a duster attachment on
your vacuum cleaner. If you use a duster, go slow and allow dust to settle for an hour
or so and vacuum the floor last. Your carpet can last a long time if properly cared for.
Annual professional cleaning is recommended in most homes. Busy homes with
children and pets require cleaning twice a year or more.
Don’t wait until your carpets, rugs and upholstery look dirty to have them cleaned by
a professional; by the time fibers have reached a visibly soiled state they are
already damaged.
Call A Cleaner Carpet Cleaner to learn more or schedule your next cleaning.