Difference Between Wear and Tear and Deterioration of Your Carpet
There’s a difference between your carpet sustaining standard wear and experiencing deterioration. Knowing how to distinguish one from the other can help you determine whether you can restore your carpet, or whether you need to replace your carpet completely.
Continue reading to learn more about the differences between carpet wear and tear and carpet deterioration and how to maintain your carpet’s appearance.
1. What is Carpet Wear and Tear?
Carpet wear and tear features dirt and debris in its fibers, which might be slightly frayed due to frequent use. The wear and tear will worsen with more traffic, because the dirt and debris become further embedded into the carpet’s fibers every time someone steps on it. Additionally, the force people and objects place on the carpet is abrasive to its fibers, causing them to fray and even look dull. Even with high traffic, carpets will see wear and tear as they age.
Carpeting can also fade because of exposure to sunlight, but carpets also naturally fade the older they get. Both are considered to be normal carpet wear and tear.
2. What is Carpet Deterioration?
Carpet deterioration is more severe than normal carpet wear and tear. It goes beyond dirt buildup and fading and can feature more frayed carpet fibers, excessive dirt and soiling, tears and rips, unraveling material, and stains among other damage. The longer dirt and debris stay in your carpet’s fibers, the more they will damage the fibers. With enough time, this damage becomes permanent. Furthermore, carpet deterioration is what can occur if you neglect to take care of your carpet and ignore the standard wear and tear it undergoes.
3. How Can I Prevent Carpet Wear and Tear and Deterioration?
Deterioration can be avoided if you properly maintain and take care of your carpet. Carpet wear and tear is inevitable at some point, though. But, as with many items, you can prolong your carpet’s lifespan with proper care and maintenance.
Take the extra effort to either not wear shoes on the carpeting or to wipe your shoes off on a mat before stepping onto the carpeting. This will limit the amount of dirt that can accumulate on the carpet. Abrasion will also push debris into the carpet and ruin the fibers, so avoid dragging your feet, furniture, and other items on the carpet.
Cleaning-wise, you can avoid wear and tear by vacuuming your carpet on a regular basis. For homes, it is recommended that you vacuum twice a week, but this number increases if you have pets, a high-traffic home, or if you have a business with high traffic. A vacuum cleaner will pick up dirt, dust, and other debris on the surface of your carpet, and this will also prevent these particles from being embedded into the carpet’s fibers. However, vacuuming should not be the only cleaning done to your carpet if you want to maintain it and limit the wear and tear as much as possible. You need to have your carpeting professionally cleaned, too.
4. Why Should I Use Professional Carpet Cleaning, and What Does it Entail?
The best way to prolong your carpet’s lifespan and to prevent wear and tear is to have your carpet professionally cleaned. Homes should get their carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year. Businesses should consider professional carpet cleaning at least twice a year and sometimes even more frequently depending on your business and the volume of traffic you get. After all, you don’t want potential clients and/or customers coming into your business only to be introduced by a dirty, unappealing carpet.
With professional carpet cleaning services, you can expect your carpet to look like it’s new. What professional carpet cleaning does that vacuuming cannot is get deep into the fibers to remove dirt and debris. Additionally, with the use of a hot water extraction method, the carpet actually becomes cleaned and not simply rid of debris. A combination of warm water and a cleaning solution are applied deep into the carpet, which helps loosen the debris. Then the solution and the dirt are all extracted, leaving you with a clean carpet that just needs to dry. Additionally, any stains get pre- and post-treatment to ensure thorough removal.
Knowing all this, you should be wary of the wear and tear your carpet undergoes, and you should take the necessary measures to clean and maintain it. It not only enhances the room’s look and feel, but it also extends your carpeting’s lifespan.