Why Do You Need to Clean Carpet and Upholstery?
Upholstery is the stuff that makes up your favorite sofa after a long day or that souped-up conversion van your parents had back in the 80s. Whatever it is, keeping your upholstery clean will help you enjoy it longer and ensure that any stains get tackled quickly.
Every time you sit, lie down or plop on your furniture, you’re unknowingly releasing dirt, grime, mold spores, mildew and more into the air. Regular cleanings will drastically cut down on these irritants.
Dirt and Dust
Dirt and dust can ruin the look of carpets and furniture. It also contributes to poor indoor air quality. This is because it contains bacteria, mold spores, mildew, and other particles that can make people sick. Regularly cleaning your furniture and carpets eliminates dirt and dust and keeps them looking newer for longer.
Most homes have a couch, loveseat, or chair where the family spends most evenings. They relax on it to read, play games, or watch TV. Children often use it as a place to do their homework or play with friends. Pets frequently rest on it, as well. These furniture pieces experience spills, food stains, and odors just like the floors in a home.
In addition, dirt can get tracked in from the outside on shoes or even on bare feet. This dirty dirt can then settle in the fibers of your carpet and on the fabric of your upholstery. Vacuuming removes some of this dirt, but it doesn’t eliminate it all. If left untreated, this dirt will damage your flooring and can even cause rips and tears in the upholstery.
Another issue is that unless you regularly vacuum your furniture, it can quickly accumulate pet hair, dead skin cells, and other allergens. When these build up, they can release into the air and irritate the noses and eyes of anyone in the home. Regularly vacuuming your furniture removes these items, reducing the number of allergens in the air.
In addition, if you have a fabric that is prone to water damage it needs to be cleaned more frequently than other materials. For example, a velvet couch can become crushed or matted if it gets wet. It is a good idea to have this type of upholstery cleaned every 6 months to a year. This will prevent it from becoming worn down or ripped over time. The same is true for cotton and linen furniture. These fabrics are prone to fading, shrinking, and stretching when they’re exposed to sunlight. Having them regularly cleaned will keep them looking their best. The key is to have your furniture and upholstery professionally cleaned by The Galaxy's Finest Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning to ensure you’re not releasing harmful pollutants into the air or damaging your valuable investments.
Allergens
Keeping up with your carpet cleaning schedule ensures that unpleasant allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, mildew and bacteria don’t get a home inside of your upholstery. These irritants can contribute to respiratory issues, especially in sensitive family members. By having your carpet and furniture professionally cleaned, you can help to eliminate these irritants.
You and your family spend lots of time on your furniture. You read your favorite book on it, take a nap on it, have sleepovers with friends on it and gather around it to watch that show everyone loves. While your upholstered furniture is a cozy place to hang out, it’s also a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt. This can make it hard to breathe and cause irritation, particularly for family members who have allergies or asthma.
Vacuuming often helps remove surface dirt and debris. However, these allergens can still build up over time, and without professional carpet and upholstery cleaning they can trigger health issues. Getting your furniture and carpeting regularly cleaned by professional carpet cleaners will reduce the number of allergens in your home, which can help you to enjoy your time there more comfortably.
Dirty upholstered furniture can cause health problems for your family, and regular cleaning will keep it looking good and extend its life. Regular cleaning of your upholstered furniture also helps to improve the airflow through the room. This can reduce stuffiness and makes it easier to move from room to room.
Upholstery can absorb odors from cooking, smoking, pets and general wear and tear. These odors can be difficult to remove and can create a musty, stale smell that can be hard to get rid of. With professional upholstery cleaning, you can remove these odors and leave your sofa, sectional or chairs smelling clean and fresh.
Bad Smells
Whether from spilled food and drink or pet accidents, a foul smell on your carpets is never good. Even worse, the odors can permeate your whole home and affect your indoor air quality. If you can’t seem to get rid of the smell, you may need to have a professional clean your carpets or upholstery.
Many people don’t realize that the same cleaning methods they use on carpet can be used on upholstered pieces too. However, there are differences between the materials and different cleaners may be needed for each. A professional will know how to clean the different types of fabrics that make up your upholstered furniture and will use the right tools and cleaners to leave them looking and smelling their best.
If you hire a professional to clean your carpet, it’s worth asking them if they can also do the upholstery. This will save you some time and money and make your house smell fresher for longer.
The same goes for your automobile. Your vehicle is more than your means of transportation, it’s where you and your family spend most of your time together. It’s where road trip sing-a-longs, sightseeing adventures and long drives to visit friends and family take place. It’s also home to the inevitable spills and stains that come with living life on the go.
It’s important to clean the upholstered seats and backs of your car on a regular basis. It will not only keep the interior looking nice and smelling fresh, but it will help prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
Similarly to carpet, it is important that you regularly wipe down the upholstery with a cloth or sponge and a manufacturer-recommended cleaning product to keep it clean and fresh. You should also vacuum your upholstered items regularly, using a HEPA filter to get into the cracks and crevices. Lastly, you should shampoo your carpets once or twice a year. If you have pets or children, it’s a good idea to do this more often. If you have a pet, you should also be vigilant about cleaning up their accidents immediately to avoid permanent staining and an unpleasant odor.
Damage
A dirty carpet isn’t just unsightly; it also creates unhealthy indoor air. Many pollutants cling to dust particles and then are stirred up by foot traffic, where they hang in the air you breathe. The longer they stay in your home, the more harm they do. They irritate lungs and cause other health problems, like allergies, asthma and emphysema. Regular cleaning helps prevent them.
Stains are also a problem. If you don’t clean them up as soon as they happen, they can set and become permanent. Leaving them to soak into the fabric can make it hard to get rid of and may even damage the fibers. It’s important to blot the stain and then treat it with a carpet cleaner that is approved for your fabric. Always test the cleaner in a hidden area first to be sure it doesn’t color or otherwise harm the fabric.
Over time, a dirty carpet can actually damage your floor and furniture beneath it. The dirt particles snag on the bottom fibers and cut into them. This causes the carpet to wear out much faster than it should. Regular cleaning protects the carpet and prolongs its life.
Many people don’t know that it’s not enough to just vacuum the carpet. You must also regularly vacuum upholstered furniture. This is especially important in rooms with heavy foot traffic. Also, it’s a good idea to use an upholstery attachment for your vacuum cleaner. This helps remove the majority of the dander and dirt trapped in the nooks and crannies of upholstered furniture.
If you use a do-it-yourself machine to clean your carpet, be aware that improper usage can damage the fibers and even cause them to delaminate from the base of the carpet. Also, if you choose to use water-based cleaners on a wool carpet, you could run the risk of discoloring or shrinking the fibers. Water-based cleaners should be tested on a small area of the carpet before using them in an entire room. If you hire a professional to clean your carpet and upholstery, be sure they use the best equipment and follow proper techniques.
Upholstery is the stuff that makes up your favorite sofa after a long day or that souped-up conversion van your parents had back in the 80s. Whatever it is, keeping your upholstery clean will help you enjoy it longer and ensure that any stains get tackled quickly. Every time you sit, lie down or plop…