Everyone wants to have a clean and tidy home. We try to be responsible and find enough time from our busy lives to maintain the hygiene levels as high as we can. We do the dusting, mopping, shampooing, scrubbing, and vacuuming to keep our household clean. This article will focus on vacuuming and, more precisely, how often you should vacuum your rug.
It probably applies to most of us if we say that we don’t vacuum every day; not just because we fear that we will damage the carpet fibers. Hygiene is important, and regular vacuuming helps to prevent carpet beetle bites. However, your time is also valuable. Here we will discuss the optimal frequency of vacuuming to keep your carpet clean and tidy with minimum effort. While vacuuming every day can quicken the carpet fibers’ wearing, dirt can cause more severe damage over time, so we have to be cautious.
Are You Vacuuming Properly?
Yes, we know; it seems simple enough but using the proper technique while vacuuming can be critical in prolonging the lifespan of your rug. If you are using the wrong settings on your vacuum cleaner, you can even overwork your carpet. For example, you should never use the bare floor setting on your rug.
Moreover, the height settings can be challenging to get right. What we suggest is you start with the highest setting and work your way down. Once the vacuum cleaner starts collecting the dirt, stop lowering it. If you are using the vacuum cleaner on too low settings, you can damage the rug or the vacuum cleaner itself.
Finally, never vacuum objects that are too large or too hard for your cleaner to handle. They can get stuck or, in the worst-case scenario, permanently damage your vacuum cleaner. It would be best if you avoided other things while vacuuming, like water, electric cords, pieces of glass, and other things you feel your cleaner can’t handle.
When Should You Vacuum Your Home?
You’ve probably seen it happen – after you finished vacuuming your carpet, you opened the dustbin, and it was full of carpet fluff. This would generally cause most people to panic and think that they have reduced their rug’s durability. Thankfully, this is not the case, and carpets can handle regular vacuuming. Letting dirt stay for a few days, however, can be more dangerous for your carpet but also your health.
Over time, the dirt breaks down and goes under the carpet fibers. This is an excellent breeding ground for germs, bacteria, and microbes. According to your schedule, you should vacuum at least two times a week. Even more, if you have the time. Suppose you don’t try to vacuum the high-traffic areas of your house more frequently.
This way, you will protect the rug better than leaving dirt spread. Dirt is attracted more to your mat when there already is some dirt. If you never allow it to stay on your carpet for more than a day, you will keep your rug spotless, and it will require less effort to be cleaned. Additionally, you will extend the longevity of your rug.
Protecting Your Carpet
Vacuuming twice a week and paying extra attention to the high-traffic areas should be enough to keep your carpet clean and tidy. In some cases, though, you may want to increase the frequency. For example, if you own pets in your house, we suggest you try to do it more than twice a week.
Cats and dogs do more than just attracting dirt on your rug. They shed hairs and dander, which can be harmful to your health, primarily through the microscopic allergens. If this is the case for you, you want to consider vacuuming every day.
To keep your rug protected from the heavy cleaning you will be doing, think about getting a carpet protecting spray. It is straightforward to use, and it will completely nullify the already minimal damage vacuuming does to your rug.
Conclusion
There is no actual formula or a perfect number of times to do the vacuuming in your house. Everyone has different circumstances and schedules. What we can tell you, though, vacuuming is key to protecting your rug and giving it a few extra years. Forget the theories about vacuum cleaners ruining carpets. It’s quite the contrary. The more you clean it, the better. We tried to give you a rough estimation, like twice a week, but we don’t know what your rug is facing every day.
Moreover, households with pets generate more dirt. We don’t know if you keep your shoes on when you are in the house and other variables. In the end, twice a week is the optimal frequency, but if you feel like you need to do it more, by all means, don’t hesitate to do it.
Leslie Rivera is an editor of home design resource Matsandrugs, that helps homeowners choose different types of floor coverings, and features carpet care tips and guides for room design.
