Seasonal Changes and Your Carpets: How to Keep Them Safe All Year
Carpets are a part of every home; they’re comfortable, warm, and luxurious underfoot. However, many homeowners don’t realize that the changing seasons can greatly impact their carpets. From the wet and muddy winter months to the dry and dusty summer days, each season brings its challenges for carpet care. At Wizard Cleaning, we know how important it is to keep your carpets all year round, no matter what the weather throws at them. In this blog, we’ll look at how the seasons affect your carpets and how to keep them safe.
Winter: Mud, Moisture, and More
Winter in Australia can be tough on carpets, especially if you live in areas that get a lot of rain or are cold. During this season, mud, moisture, and dirt are the biggest threats to your carpets.
The Challenges:
- Mud and Dirt: Wet weather brings mud, which can be tracked into your home if you have kids or pets. Once the mud dries, it hardens and becomes impossible to remove, leaving behind stains or wearing out the carpet fibres.
- Moisture: Rain and wet shoes can bring excess moisture into your carpets, leading to mould and mildew growth. Damp carpets are not only uncomfortable to walk on but can also be unhealthy if mould starts to grow.
Tips to Protect:
- Door Mats: Place heavy duty door mats at all entry points to your home to reduce the amount of mud and dirt that comes in. Encourage family and friends to wipe their feet before entering.
- Shoes Off Policy: Consider having a “no shoes indoors” policy during winter. This simple rule will reduce the amount of dirt and moisture that gets into your carpets.
- Regular Vacuuming: Increase your vacuuming frequency during winter to remove dirt and debris before it gets ground into the carpet fibres. For high traffic areas vacuum at least twice a week.
- Professional Cleaning: Book a professional carpet clean with Wizard Cleaning at the end of winter to remove all the built up dirt and moisture so your carpets are fresh and clean for spring.
Spring: Allergens and Dust
Spring is a season of renewal but it also brings a whole host of allergens into your home. As flowers bloom and trees release pollen your carpets can quickly become a repository for allergens and dust particles.
The Challenges:
- Pollen: As plants start to flower pollen levels increase and these tiny particles can get trapped in your carpets causing allergies and respiratory issues.
- Dust and Pet Dander: Spring cleaning stirs up the dust that has settled over winter and pets shed more as the weather warms up, adding to the dander in your carpets.
Tips to Protect:
- Regular Cleaning: Spring is the perfect time for a deep clean. Vacuum your carpets frequently to remove pollen, dust and pet dander. Consider using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to capture the tiniest particles.
- Air Purifiers: Use air purifiers in your home to reduce airborne allergens. This will reduce the amount of pollen and dust that settles into your carpets.
- Groom Pets Regularly: Keep your pets well groomed during spring to reduce shedding. Regular brushing and bathing will reduce the amount of pet hair and dander that ends up in your carpets.
- Deep Cleaning: A professional deep clean from Wizard Cleaning during or after spring will remove allergens and freshen your carpets, making your home a healthier place to live.
Summer: Heat and Humidity
Australian summers can be hot and humid and this can take a toll on your carpets. The combination of heat and moisture can create an environment for bacteria and mould to grow especially in areas with poor ventilation.
The Challenges:
- Humidity: High humidity levels can make your carpets retain moisture causing mould and mildew issues. This is more of a concern in rooms with poor airflow like basements or closed off areas.
- Sweat and Body Oils: Hot weather means more perspiration and body oils being transferred onto your carpets especially in areas where people sit or lie down.
Tips to Protect:
- Ventilation: Make sure your home is well ventilated during summer. Use fans or air conditioning to reduce humidity and prevent moisture from settling into your carpets.
- Rugs: Consider using rugs or mats in high traffic areas to protect your carpets from sweat and body oils. Rugs are easier to clean and can be swapped out more frequently than carpets.
- Spot Cleaning: Be proactive with spot cleaning. If you see any sweat or oil stains clean them immediately before they set into the carpet fibres.
- Humidity Control: Use dehumidifiers in humid areas of your home to keep the moisture levels in check. This will prevent mould and mildew from growing in your carpets.
Autumn: Wet Season Preparation
Autumn brings warm and cool days with increasing rain as the season goes on. It’s time to prepare your home and carpets for the wet months ahead.
The Challenges:
- Fallen Leaves and Debris: As the trees shed their leaves, it’s easy to track dry leaves, twigs and other debris into your home. These can be abrasive and wear out your carpet fibres if not cleaned up quickly.
- Increased Foot Traffic: With the cooler weather people tend to stay indoors more, resulting in more foot traffic and dirt and grime accumulation.
Tips to Protect:
- Frequent Sweeping and Vacuuming: Clear entryways of fallen leaves and debris to reduce what gets tracked in. Vacuum your carpets regularly to clean up any debris that does get in.
- Furniture Rotation: Consider rotating your furniture in autumn to change the traffic patterns and reduce wear in specific areas of your carpet. This simple step will help your carpets wear more evenly.
- Pre-Winter Clean: A pre-winter clean from Wizard Cleaning in autumn will remove summer grime and get your carpets ready for the wet winter months.
End
Looking after your carpets through the seasons requires being proactive with maintenance and care. By knowing what each season brings and following these tips you can have clean carpets all year round. Regular vacuuming, spot cleaning and professional cleaning services from Wizard Cleaning will keep your carpets fresh, clean and healthy no matter what’s happening outside.