“How often?” is one of those questions that does not have a single correct answer. A retired couple with hardwood floors and no pets has needs that differ significantly from those of a family of 5 that has carpeting, 2 dogs, and a toddler. However, had we been to consider the specific conditions of a household, different flooring coatings manufacturers, allergists and flooring specialists would probably agree on a range of similar experiences. If you’ve been searching for how often carpet needs cleaning and are expecting a definite answer from your search, here is how often carpets need to be cleaned in accordance with the type of household, not generalized rule of thumb.
The General Baseline: Every 12 to 18 Months
Standard advice suggests that carpet and hardwood need to be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months in the average family home. This time frame is not arbitrary —this is how long it takes for dirt, oils and allergens to accumulate enough to harm both your floor’s looks and the quality of indoor air.
Nevertheless, it is worth nothing that 12-18 months is a starting point, rather than a rule set in stone. Various factors can change the above-mentioned time frame. Thus, having a good understanding of these will help you create a cleaning schedule that would work for you instead of making inspirational guesses.
Families With Children: Closer to 12 Months
When there are young children in the house, homes tend to wear out and get soiled faster than average for a number of reasons that make sense when you think about it. There are a lot of dropped meals, more outdoor-play dirt getting into the house, more spills that didn’t get cleaned up right away, and simply more traffic going through the same spots at home every day. For families with kids, especially small kids learning how to eat and play in a clean way, it makes much more sense to think about every year instead of 18 months. In addition, the carpets in children’s playrooms and bedrooms get soiled faster, but being able to catch and clean them annually prevents dirty stains from becoming unremovable later on.
Pet Owners: Every 6 to 12 Months
Whether or not you have pets, you should definitely clean carpets more often than the average person does, somewhere in the 6 – 12 month range, depending on how many pets you have and the frequency of any accidents that may occur.
The dander, hair, and dirt that pets bring in with them settle deep into the fiber and padding of the carpets, far beyond the reach of any attempts at cleaning them up via vacuuming. Moreover, in cases where you have had a pet accident and there is urine trapped in the padding, it would be all the more important for the problem to be resolved much more quickly than what one would expect. There are cases where there are multiple pets and pets that spend most of their time indoors so that cleaning should occur more frequently, preferably after every 6 months rather than the regular 12.
There’s a connection here to another related issue, namely that of allergens that accumulate regardless of the presence of any pets.
Allergy Sufferers: Every 6 to 12 Months
Carpets act like a filter for airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and mainly dust mites. In households with allergy sufferers, the accumulation of these pollutants is not a mere cosmetic issue; rather, it is a real air quality problem, as the pollutants enter the air again with each footstep.
Dust mites in particular thrive in carpets and are one of the more common causes of indoor allergies. Regular vacuuming removes dust that is on the surface but is not effective against mites and allergens that are deep in the carpet. Professional hot water extraction removes the mites through the use of temperature and rinsing agents. For allergy sufferers, professional cleaning service should be done every 6-12 months.
Manufacturer Warranty Requirements
Many homeowners don’t realize that most carpet manufacturers actually require their carpets to undergo hot water extraction by a certified professional every 12 to 18 months as a requisite for the stain-resistance and fiber warranty to remain in effect. If the carpets are never cleaned professionally, or if they use DIY methods such as renting a shampooer, warranty coverage can possibly be missed out on.
The need for this professional cleaning process usually must be documented. That is why it is crucial to have proper receipts for each time carpet cleaning was done by professionals. If the carpet is still under the manufacturer warranty, finding out the correct interval between hot water extractions is important in order to avoid undesired surprises when needing to make a claim.
How Often to Deep Clean Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors operate under a different premise than carpeting since they do not trap allergens and soil in the same way. In most homes, the frequency of professional deep cleaning for hardwood flooring tends to be around once every 12–18 months. However, homes featuring heavy foot traffic, children, or pets could benefit from more frequent cleanings closer to every 12 months in order to prevent the accumulation of dirt and grit that dulls the finish.
Regular sweeping, as well as the use of manufacturer-approved cleaning products, can be helpful in maintaining the finish of hardwood flooring, but these methods do not allow the floor to receive the more in-depth low moisture professional cleaning that removes foreign residue built up during regular use of the floor.
How Regular Cleaning Helps Extend Carpet Lifespan
Maintaining a set routine is more than just a preference; it is essential to optimize the lifespan of your carpet. The dirt or debris remains inside the carpet, where, every time you walk, it rubs against the fibers and contributes to their deterioration over time. By identifying the dirt trapped inside and eliminating it on a regular basis, you can manage its wear and tear much better and prolong the texture and color of your carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is waiting for 18 months too much time to have the carpet cleaned?
In an average home without too much activity or pets, waiting for 18 months to clean your carpet is generally acceptable. However, families, pet owners and those who suffer from allergies, can benefit from cleaning the carpet more often, preferably within 12 months.
Does professional carpet cleaning decrease allergens in homes?
Yes, hot water extraction is able to heat the carpeting to a temperature that will kill dust mites and remove allergens that a vacuum cleaner cannot remove.
Can frequent cleaning harm carpets or hardwood flooring?
Not if the cleaning is performed correctly by a qualified professional. Over-cleaning is usually not a problem but cleaning too infrequently is the bigger issue.
Build a Schedule That Fits Your Home
All households experience various levels of wear of their floors and carpets, depending on a number of factors, including children, animal presence, allergies, and use of flooring. MGX Hardwood Care will be happy to help you put together a unique plan according to the conditions present at home so your flooring can stay in its best shape as long as possible.
