It doesn’t matter if you follow the directions for taking care of your carpet to the letter: at some point, you’re going to have to replace it. Over time, dust and dirt become impacted in the fibers and the cost of cleaning it will outweigh the cost of replacing it.
But how can you tell when it’s time to replace carpet in your home? Keep reading to find out!
1. Your Carpet is Matting
Over time, the areas of your carpet that people frequently walk across will begin to mat down. The pile will not bounce back as well as it did when it was new.
There are things you can do to prevent matting, to an extent. For example, it’s possible to have your carpet groomed and raked to restore the pile to some of its original height.
However, for the most part, once the fibers start to lay down, there’s not much to do for it. Polyester carpets are the worst for this, because of the nature of the fiber. It typically sticks to whatever new shape it finds.
If your carpet is beginning to mat badly, it’s probably time to get a replacement.
2. You’ve Got Stains
The only homes that don’t have any stains on their carpets are brand new ones or ones that no one even lives in. If you’ve got kids or pets, the chances of having a stain-free carpet are slim to none.
Everything from grape juice to pet accidents can mark a carpet forever. Even with a stain resistant finish, your carpets will get stained because the finish wears off over time. And there are some stains that even professional cleaning won’t get out.
If you’ve got a few stains here and there, it’s likely that you can easily hide them with some furniture or a well-placed rug. But if the stain is too much to hide or it’s in a spot that you see it all the time, think about getting your carpet replaced.
3. The Padding is Worn
The padding under your carpet is designed to help with a number of things. For starters, it’s supposed to make your carpet feel more comfortable to walk and sit on. It helps to insulate against sounds, keeps heat trapped where you want it, and gives your carpet some spring.
Over time, some areas of your carpet padding will go flat, wrinkle up, or break entirely. If this happens, there’s nothing to do for it but to have your carpet replaced.
If you notice that there’s an unevenness under your feet, there’s a crinkling noise as you walk, or your carpet has some wrinkles, the padding is likely worn down.
4. It Smells
When you walk into your home you want to be met with good, fresh smells. But when your carpet stinks, there’s no number of candles or air fresheners you can load into a room to mask it. And over time, it’s only going to get worse.
Even with professional cleaning, sometimes the dirt that is stuck deep down into the fibers of your carpet won’t come up. And the longer they sit there, the more bacteria will grow and fester. That’s where the smell comes in.
If your carpet smells, that’s a sign that you have mold or mildew in the fibers, and that means you have to replace your carpet.
5. Your Household’s Allergies Are Getting Worse
Dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, and hair get trapped in the fibers of a carpet. Even with everyday vacuuming, it can be difficult to get all the problematic particles out. If you have family that is naturally sensitive to allergens, that can be a real problem.
If you notice that your family seems to have more colds, runny noses, itchy eyes, or coughs than usual, the first thing you want to do is have your carpet cleaned. If that doesn’t work, it means that the debris is too deep in the fibers to clean and you need to get it replaced.
Making a Carpet Last
While it’s true that even the best-kept carpets will need to be replaced over time, there are some things you can do to keep from running to carpet stores every couple of years.
Use Doormats
Spending a few dollars on a doormat to place at the entrance to your home can save you a lot of money in carpet replacement over time. When we step into our homes, everything that we stepped in outside comes with us. That’s why the square of carpet in front of someone’s door is often the dirtiest patch there is.
Put down a doormat and save yourself some trouble!
Vacuum Daily
It’s important to try to vacuum every day to keep the dirt from being crushed down into the deep layers of fiber where no amount of cleaning will be able to remove them. Even if you can’t find the time to vacuum your whole house every day, at least try to get the areas that are the most heavily trafficked.
Clean Spills Right Away
The longer a spill sits, the more it soaks into the carpet and causes bacteria to build and spread. It’s important to treat the area to prevent stains and then clean up as fast as you can.
Is it Time to Replace Carpet in Your Home?
The last thing you want to do in your home is to replace carpet. It can be tiresome and expensive to move all of your furniture and replace the entire carpet. But eventually, you’ll have to get it done.
If you liked this post, keep checking back to read more about how to keep your home and carpet clean!