When to Clean and When to Replace Your Carpet (2024)

FAQs

When to Clean and When to Replace Your Carpet? ›

A good rule of thumb is if your carpet is continually visibly dirty and overly stained, it should be replaced soon. Most heavily trafficked carpets and rugs don't last more than 5 years. If it is not visibly dirty or stained, it can most likely be cleaned.

Age: If carpet is more than 12-15 years old, and hasn't been professionally cleaned at regular intervals, it most likely will need replacing. Conditions such as filter soiling, crushing, and traffic patterns will have taken their toll on the carpet, and a single cleaning will not undo decades of wear.

Carpet manufacturers typically recommend deep cleaning carpets every 12 to 18 months, says Mock. "Hot water extraction is the most common method used.

When fibres become clumped together, they tend to attract more dirt compared to carpets that don't get clumped, so it's a good idea to reduce this from happening by getting your carpets professionally cleaned right after installation.

The average lifespan of carpeting, depending on its quality, amount of traffic, pets, and number of children, among other factors, is about 5 to 15 years. Wear, increased allergy symptoms, dormant stains, discoloration, and odors are signs that you need to replace your carpet.

If it is not visibly dirty or stained, it can most likely be cleaned. However, if your carpet is more than 10-15 years old, it may need to be replaced. Carpets and rugs are often the first places that show wear and tear. You may notice fraying, discoloration, or just general deterioration over time.

Most carpeting, if properly cleaned and maintained, should last around 10 years before it will need replacing. If it hasn't been well maintained, then the reasonable life expectancy of your carpet may be closer to five years.

Should a 20-year-old carpet be replaced? The short answer is generally yes, but there are several factors to consider. Age and Wear-and-Tear: First and foremost, the age of the carpet is a crucial factor. A 20-year-old carpet has likely seen significant wear-and-tear.

How often should carpet be vacuumed? ›

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.

DIY Carpet Cleaning Machines are Weak

Unlike professional carpet cleaning systems. This means that you will not rinse the carpet fibers thoroughly. Also, the low pressure water you do put down will not be adequately vacuumed up. This may leave you with a soggy, musty smelling carpet.

The answer depends on several factors, such as the amount of foot traffic in the room, whether someone in your family has allergies, and if you have a pet that sheds. Carpet manufacturers typically recommend a weekly surface clean and a deep clean at least once every 12 to 18 months.

They're Older Than 15 Years

Carpets usually have a lifespan of five to fifteen years, depending on the quality and how much foot traffic they undergo. So if you know your carpets are older than that, you're probably better off replacing them rather than cleaning them.

Many people take advantage of the nice temperatures by opening the doors and windows, which this lets pollen and dirt into the house. Carpet absorbs just about everything, so any contaminants can make your carpet look and feel dirty. This makes spring a good time for a thorough cleaning.

The “new carpet” odor is the 4-PC off-gassing, which can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and may also affect the central nervous system. The adhesive used to affix the carpet to the floor typically contains benzene and toluene, some of the most harmful VOCs.

Last but not least, signs of old carpet include but are not limited to: color loss, fading, matting, ripples, wrinkles and lack of padding support.