Know the Difference Between Needing a Carpet Cleaning or a Replacement

Is your carpet looking pretty grimy and shabby these days? It could either be time to schedule a professional carpet cleaning or time to start shopping around for a replacement.

But how do you know which one you need? It can be difficult to tell right away, but below are some good indication of when you can expect to have to invest in new carpet and when a deep cleaning will usually be effective enough to freshen up your existing floors.

Outdated Style 

Unless you’re particularly fond of the 70s, if you’ve been living with orange or pink shaggy carpeting, it’s probably time to replace it with something a little more current.

This would be your only option in this case since there’s no amount of vacuuming or cleaning that will miraculously change an outdated style. Keep in mind that carpets don’t last in good condition for decades, so if yours was installed more than 10-15 years ago, it has to go.

Ugly Stains 

It’s inevitable for staining to occur at some point in your carpet’s lifetime, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the end of it. Oftentimes, the knowledge of your carpet cleaner and power of their equipment is sufficient in lifting out even some of the toughest stains. They can then apply a stain protectant to help prevent future spills and spots from setting in.

However, when you’re dealing with several areas that have permanent staining that refuses to come out no matter what you try, it may be suggested that a replacement is the best solution.

Signs of Matting

Matting can happen from normal everyday wear and tear, but you will frequently see fibers pop back up after a thorough carpet cleaning. Nylon is one such fiber that’s known to be more durable and is usually able to be salvaged.

Though in some instances, such as with polyester and olefin carpeting that tends to wear down much easier and faster, the matting becomes so bad that the fibers can’t return to their original shape.

Unpleasant Odors 

Odors from pets, cooking, etc. tend to seep into carpets and can linger if fibers aren’t routinely vacuumed and properly cleaned. If you stick to the recommended carpet cleaning schedule of every 12-18 months, unpleasant smells shouldn’t stick around and overpower your home. After one of these cleanings, if you still notice strong odors, it’s likely you’re dealing with a problem that has permeated too deep into the fibers, padding or subfloor to solve with anything but a replacement.

Allergy Symptoms

 It’s suggested that allergy sufferers get carpet cleanings more regularly to eliminate the allergens that fibers trap on a daily basis. Over the years, it gets harder and harder to rid older carpets of all these allergens, and you may begin to observe your allergy symptoms getting worse.

If you can’t seem to get relief from anything else, your old carpet may be the culprit of your misery, making it important to have it replaced.

Water Damage

 Water damage can be a very tricky situation. When carpet gets flooded, it’s critical that it be completely dried out as soon as possible, and even then, there are no guarantees that it can be saved because of health hazards associated with mold and mildew growth.

Between the expert opinions of a water damage restoration company and a carpet cleaner, you will learn whether or not a deep cleaning can restore your floor.

Carpet is a big investment, so it’s understandable if you aren’t thrilled at the thought of having to replace it. You may be able to save quite a bit by taking these factors into consideration and trying a professional carpet cleaning before jumping to the worst scenario.

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