Can I clean my carpet, or does it need to be replaced?

If you have noticed that your carpets have begun to deteriorate, you may be thinking about having them replaced.

Before you take the plunge, however, and spend a substantial amount of money on new carpets, it is worth considering whether a significantly cheaper professional carpet clean could restore your existing carpet to its former glory.

In general, the majority of stains and odours can be eliminated using professional cleaning services and carpets will only need to be replaced once they pose a genuine threat to health or the carpet fibres have been damaged beyond repair.

When is cleaning enough?

Professional carpet cleaning companies like https://www.acorncarpetcleaning.co.uk/ use a range of proven techniques and commercial cleaning equipment that will remove even the toughest of stains including red wine, coffee, and permanent markers.

Before rushing to have your carpets replaced, give your local cleaners a call and ask them if they can help.

Here are a few of the signs that your carpet can probably be restored using carpet cleaning alone:

1. Stains are superficial or have recently occurred

The sooner a stain is tackled the better as overtime the liquid will slowly seep down into the very deepest carpet fibres and padding, at which point fully eradicating it will be much more challenging.

2, Carpets are slightly discoloured

 Discolouration and fading are common reasons for people to have their carpets replaced.

However, professional cleaning will remove much of the embedded dirt that has caused this from occurring and can usually fully restore your carpet to the vibrant addition it was to your home when you first chose it.

This will usually be done through the use of commercial grade carpet steam cleaners, which are much more powerful and effective than home cleaning products so just because DIY cleaning didn’t work, doesn’t mean it’s time to head to the carpet showroom just yet.

3. It hasn’t been cleaned in over a year

It is recommended that you have your carpet cleaned professionally at least once a year and if you haven’t had yours cleaned for any longer than that, make sure to do so before making any rash decisions as it could save you a large chunk of money.

Regular cleaning will dramatically increase the lifespan of your carpet and help maintain a fresh and vibrant appearance within your home.

When should you buy new carpets?

If a professional clean has been unable to remove a significant stain, or your carpet is damaged beyond repair, your best bet is to head to the showroom and have a new carpet installed.

Here are some of the occasions where purchasing a new carpet will probably be required:

1. Flood damage

If your home has recently flooded as a result of a burst pipe, inclement weather, or for any other reason, there is a good chance you will need to replace your carpet.

If a carpet has been wet for over 72 hours it can be extremely difficult to salvage, as mould takes no longer than this to form and spread widely.

Although superficially a carpet may recover from flood damage, the health risks associated with having mouldy padding and carpet fibres are simply not worth the risk.

In some circumstances, however, a professional water damage restoration company may be able to salvage your carpets after minor flooding, so make sure to get in touch with the professionals before purchasing a new one.

2. Biohazard Stains

If a biohazardous stain is present on your carpet, it is much more likely that you will need to replace it than with any other type of spillage.

The reason for this is that bodily fluids pass directly through the permeable backing of your carpet into the foam pad beneath.

As even the most powerful of carpet cleaning equipment will struggle to reach through all three layers of a carpet, a heavy volume of such fluids can be fatal when it comes to your carpet.

For this reason, you should always call a professional carpet cleaning firm the moment a biohazardous spillage occurs as early action may be able to prevent particles from seeping down deep within the carpet to the backing.

3. Permanent Stains

Sometimes, even if a stain is not biohazardous, it simply cannot be removed fully, even by the industrial grade cleaning equipment available to professional carpet cleaners.

If you are finding that your carpet has several permanent stains which cannot be fully eradicated through professional cleaning, and you are having to cover them up using rugs and furniture, it is probably time to invest in an upgrade.

In the same vein, a minor tear may be unnoticeable but a large tear in your carpet is a sign that a new carpet is needed in your home.