There’s nothing like the look of a good quality carpet. It oozes extravagance and feels luxurious. It can bring warmth to your home, and potentially add value. Carpet is a big asset – but also a big cost – so the last thing you want to do is get it dirty, dusty and smelly.

But life happens, so chances are it will get dirty, dusty and smelly at some stage. Keeping your carpet or rug clean can help maintain that luxurious look and feel, and also prevent harmful dust and allergens from hanging around in your home.

So what can you do to keep it clean? Here are four essential carpet cleaning tips to help.

1. Get the right tools for the carpet

Carpet and rugs should be vacuumed at least once a week. For high traffic spots and areas which tend to get a bit messier than most – think kids and pets – you may need to invest in a vacuum power head to lift more dirt and grime than a standard head. You will need to go over high traffic areas with your vacuum several times. If your home is carpeted wall-to-wall, invest in some good quality vacuum hoses, rods and hose parts, which will help you get to those hard to reach places, and into all the corners and crevices, picking up more dirt and grime.

Carpet Cleaning Tips

2. Check your filter is doing its job

You can take steps towards preventing dirt and grime from entering your home in the first place by using doormats at entrances and exits. There’s only so much prevention you can do though, so your vacuum cleaner will have to do the rest. Once the suction nozzle or vacuum head picks up the dirt and dust from the carpet, the vacuum filter takes over. Its role is to contain the dust and dirt from the carpet that is picked up by the suction nozzle, preventing it from simply recirculating in the air. If the filter is clogged and dirty, it will need a good clean, otherwise it should be replaced on a regular basis. Always choose an appropriate filter for your machine.

3. Change your vacuum bag regularly

Don’t leave changing your vacuum bag until it is bulging with dust and dirt. It sounds obvious, but vacuum bags need to be changed or thrown out when they are full, or to be safer when the bag is approaching fullness. If it is packed to the rim, airflow can be restricted, and the vacuum cleaner won’t be picking up as much dust and dirt as you think. You also need to buy the correct bag for your machine, as an incorrectly fitted bag will not contain dirt and dust properly and may damage the vacuum motor. In such cases, your vacuum cleaner would not be covered under warranty.

4. Don’t forget to deodorise

Deodorising your carpets on a regular basis will keep them smelling clean and fresh. Deodorisers are especially important for houses with pets – that doggy smell can be hard to get rid of after a while. A universal vacuum cleaner deodoriser will work on any machine and there’s no need to use carpet powders. It is easy to use and will leave your carpet smelling like new.

So give your carpet the clean it deserves and bring it back to its luxurious best. Take the hard work out of choosing your next vacuum cleaner, filter, vacuum bags or tools and accessories, and talk to VacuumSpot, the experts in all things vacuums.