When To Clean And When To Replace Your Carpet

When deciding whether to clean or replace carpet, it’s important to remember that carpet can last as long as you want it to, depending on use and care. However, most of us have carpet because we want to walk on it and live on it, not just look at it. At some point, we may need to consider replacing it. Reasons could include buying or selling a home, water damage, discoloration or wear from long-term use, or permanent damage from stains or pets, just to name a few. Not all of these situations require replacement. Below are some situations where cleaning versus replacement should be considered:

• Pet Stains: Discoloration from pet stains is very difficult to correct. Some treatments designed to fully remove the urine and odor can also remove the color from the carpet. Milder treatments may leave the color intact, but do not always remove all odor and contamination. For homeowners who plan to keep their pets, regular cleaning is a good choice to keep the urine contamination in the carpet and pad to a minimum. For home buyers and sellers, replacement is the best option.
• Allergies: Clean away! Carpet is actually a great product for trapping allergens in the home and keeping them at floor level. Hard surfaces such as tile and wood actually increase the allergens distributed in the air we breathe. The only caveat is that carpet must be cleaned at least annually to remove the trapped allergens from the carpet fibers.
• Water Damage: Most in-home flooding is from clean water sources. Affected carpet can be easily cleaned in these situations and re-stretched to account for any minor variations. Water damage from unsanitary sources such as sewer lines and septic tanks ALWAYS requires carpet replacement.
• Crushing, Wear, and Discoloration: All carpet will wear differently, and most carpet will maintain its original look and feel if cleaned regularly. During long periods of use without cleaning, any carpet will begin to show signs of use. Traffic areas will crush and lose pile height, edges along walls will develop filter soiling caused by pressure changes in the HVAC unit, and transition areas from entrances and kitchens will show discoloration from soil. Cleaning can sometimes remedy these situations, but it’s best for us to take a look and give advice from there.
• Age: If carpet is more than 12-15 years old, and hasn’t been professionally cleaned at regular intervals, it most likely will need replacing. Conditions such as filter soiling, crushing, and traffic patterns will have taken their toll on the carpet, and a single cleaning will not undo decades of wear. Carpet should be professionally cleaned at intervals of 6 months up to 2 years to ensure longevity and cleanliness. Under this type of maintenance schedule, carpet can easily last 20 years or more.