Carpets are often forgotten as part of our cleaning routines, but how often should we have our carpets cleaned? Carpets are a haven for dust mites and can be a breeding ground for bacteria. If you have children or pets, keeping the carpets clean is essential. If you have allergies, keeping the carpets clean will help to keep your allergies under control.

The best way to maintain the health of your carpet is to have it professionally cleaned at least once a year. A professional cleaner will use a cleaning system that uses hot water extraction and steam cleaning to thoroughly deep-clean your carpeting, rugs and upholstery. The hot water extraction method will capture dirt and grime. In contrast, the steam cleaning method will penetrate deep into the carpet fibres loosening embedded soil and other contaminants.

The last step is to extract the dirty water from your carpet with powerful vacuums, leaving it looking new again!

Red wine can be tricky to deal with, and time is of the essence when it comes to removing it from your carpet. Here is a step by step guide to removing the stain quickly and effectively.

Using a clean white cloth, blot up as much of the red wine as you can right away. Alternate parts of the cloth to always blot using a new spot.

Pour a small amount of cool water onto the red wine stain and continue blotting. The water dilutes the red wine, making it easier to blot up. Do not pour too much water, and switch out the blotting cloth for a dry one as you work.

Mix a paste with a three-to-one ratio of baking soda to water. Apply the paste directly to the carpet stain and wait for it to dry completely before vacuuming up the dried paste.

If any stain remains, apply a carpet stain remover according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, the process is to wait until the cleaning product dries and then vacuum.

Carpets made from wool are very durable and stain-resistant. The fibres have a waxed surface meaning they naturally repel dirt, meaning most stains can easily be removed using water only. Spray a mist of water onto the stain and use a white cloth starting from the edge of the stain, working inwards.

For example, if you have a mud stain, sometimes it is best to let it dry, and then it should easily vacuum out.

You could also try brushing the carpet for particularly stubborn stains. You do not want to scrub as this can damage the fibres.

If you happen to have a stain that won’t come out by using plain water, then there are specially designed wool carpet stain removers or a white vinegar and water solution.

Are you looking for a way to clean your carpet naturally instead of using chemical cleaners?  Below I highlight four natural ways to clean your carpet.

One of the most natural ways to clean your carpet is to vacuum regularly. Vacuuming removes dirt and embedded particles and vacuuming weekly keeps dust at bay.

After vacuuming, you can add baking soda to your carpet to help eliminate pet smells or spills. We recommend adding the baking soda last thing, so it sits overnight. Vacuum the baking soda the next day.

White vinegar is a great natural cleaning product for many surfaces, including carpet. It is excellent for cleaning up after pets. Not only is white vinegar tough on stains it’s also a fantastic deodoriser.

Salt is surprisingly an excellent cleaning and deodorising product.  To clean your carpet with salt, blot all the moisture from the carpet and sprinkle on salt. Leave the salt to sit for 20 minutes to absorb any moisture, then clean the area with 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup white vinegar.

Carpets can certainly show their age if they are not kept well maintained, and that can certainly be the case when it comes to brightly coloured carpets too.

You may find a lovely vibrant carpet for your home, only to find it faded, stained and well lifeless in no time at all. Carpet maintenance in key to keeping your vibrant carpet looking like new in years to come.

You should vacuum your carpet every other day to clear it of dust and debris, and prevent any dirt getting deep into the pile. Getting your carpet deep cleaned once or twice a year is best practice, as it not only clears the dirt hidden away but it disinfects it too, keeping allergens at bay. Cleaning spills as soon as possible is the best way to prevent any long term stains.

Having large windows can certainly be a blessing, however too much sunlight onto your vibrant carpet can cause the colour to fade. Simply draw your curtains during the peak sun to help prevent this being an issue.