Q: How often should I vacuum my carpet?
We hear this question a lot. The best carpet or rug in the world won’t perform well if you don’t vacuum regularly. To get the most out of your soft surface flooring, it’s important to adopt a regular maintenance routine.
- Vacuum high traffic areas daily
- Medium traffic areas should be vacuumed twice per week
- Vacuum all areas at least once per week even if carpet or rug looks clean
- Use vacuums and other equipment with the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is waiting to vacuum until the carpet looks dirty. You won’t always notice the tiny soil particles or dust that lands on your carpet, and it’s most important to remove that soil when it’s on the surface of the carpet and not embedded in the fibers. Since most soil is gritty and abrasive, the particles will begin to damage the carpet fibers unless vacuumed regularly, causing carpet to age or wear prematurely.
Q: Is there a right and wrong way to vacuum?
Yes! Believe it or not, there is. Start by selecting a vacuum with the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval, preferably one with settings for hard flooring and carpet.
It’s important to adjust the vacuum height for each flooring surface in your home. Setting too high above the surface will cause soil attraction to be weak, allowing gritty, heavier soil to stay in the flooring. Setting the vacuum too low could damage your carpet or rug by fraying the surface pile.
To determine the optimal height setting, test the vacuum in an inconspicuous area, like a closet.
Check the beater/brush bar regularly for burs or gouges that might damage your flooring, and hair or fibers that could clog the bristles.
Make sure you clean your vacuum filter regularly, once every three months. Also make sure you empty your vacuum bags regularly, once the bag is nearly full; a bag that’s too full will make the suction less effective and leave more dirt behind.
Vaccum in rows. Move your vacuum slowly, allowing it to suction your flooring and lift dirt or crumbs. Moving in one direction also allows you to go over each row twice. For carpet, vacuum against the nap in one direction and smooth it down going the other.
Q: What can I use to clean my hardwood floors safely?
We recommend an Impressions Cleaning Kit for hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl. The kit contains a washable, microfiber cleaning pad and mop as well as the cleaning spray. Always vacuum your floors before mopping to avoid scratching the finish. The spray lifts dirt and dries quickly, leaving floors shiny. Loudound Valley Floors sells the kit and the cleaning spray.
Q: Do I need to get my flooring professionally cleaned?
To enjoy your flooring for a long time, always spot clean spills and stains immediately. Regular vacuuming and cleaning can keep floors looking good but they need deeper cleaning too.
Major carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction cleaning every 18 months for high traffic and every 24 months for other areas. Hot water extraction removes deeply embedded particles and oily dirt. Professional deep cleaning will also refresh the carpet’s texture and appearance.
Following these recommendations is often required to keep a warranty valid.
Q: How does Loudoun Valley Floors compare to other retailers?
We offer competitive pricing with big box stores and other flooring retailers. The real difference is in our service. When you shop at either one of our two Loudoun showrooms, you’ll receive personal attention from a sales professional who is both knowledgeable and experienced. You can even work with our on-staff interior designer. Our sales team remains your “person” throughout the sale and installation. You never have to find a contractor for installation or service after installation – it’s all here.