From avoiding chilly footsteps on a cool winter morning to providing your keiki with a comfortable crawling space, carpet offers several advantages to homeowners. Therefore, you’ll want to do what you can to keep your flooring in excellent condition, so it lasts for years. If you’ve recently installed carpet or laid an area rug in your home, use the following tips to treat it right.

3 Ways to Care for Carpet & Area Rugs

1. Snip Loose Threads

Over time, carpet fibers will get pulled out of place, whether it’s from the table leg or your cat’s scratching habit. As soon as you notice a snag, use scissors to remove it. If you try to pull it out, you may end up unraveling more of the flooring. If you ignore it, it’ll get pulled again, and someone may trip over it.

2. Don’t Scrub

Whether you spilled red wine or brown gravy, it’s easy to panic and start rubbing the spot with the nearest towel. However, this will make the stain larger, as the cloth spreads the substance to neighboring carpet fibers. To minimize the discoloration, blot the area first. Take a clean towel and press into the stain with your palm. Once you’ve soaked up the majority of the mess, the remaining blemish will be easier to address.

3. Choose the Right Vacuum

To remove dirt and allergens from the carpet, vacuum it at least once a week. However, in addition to frequency, the type of vacuum you use can have an effect on the flooring’s condition. For the best results, choose a machine with adjustable height. This feature lets you raise the roller brush when cleaning long, soft carpets or area rugs—the fibers won’t get tangled or shredded. Additionally, choose a vacuum with wide wheels, as thin ones will leave indentations in the fibers.

If you want more advice on carpet care or are looking for new flooring to replace worn carpet, head to Kauai Flooring & Interiors in Lihue, HI. They have over 50 years of combined experience providing tile, hardwood, carpet, and area rugs to residents throughout the island. Learn more about their products and services online, call (808) 245-8808, or visit them at 3-3222 Kuhio Highway in Lihue.