New carpets aren’t as new as you think. As much as we’d like to entertain the idea that we’re getting our carpets fresh and straight out of the factory, this is often not the case.
Your carpet is most likely coming from a storage unit somewhere and probably has a lot of loose fibers as a result of the manufacturing processes it was subjected to.
So, you won’t be doing this floor covering any harm if you decide to hoover it on the day you get it or once it’s laid.
For those unfamiliar with the term ‘hoover,’ it means to vacuum. Hoover is also the name of a prominent company in the United States that produces home appliances.
Their vacuum cleaners are one of the best on the market and are available in many retail outlets in not just the United States but several other countries.
In this article, we’ll be tabling whether it is safe to hoover or vacuum a new carpet and breaking down how to care for these products properly.
Should You Hoover a Newly Laid Carpet?
For some reason, it feels wrong to many homeowners to hoover a newly acquired carpet straight away.
Letting the new carpet settle in for some days before hoovering always tends to sound like a more excellent approach, but the truth is, hoovering straight away is more sanitary.
As I mentioned earlier, new carpets have loose fibers as a result of the manufacturing processes they were subjected to.
So, it’s important to hoover or vacuum them right away, or else the loose fibers will find their way back into the carpet and bunch up some of the fibers that are intact.
In the absence of immediate vacuuming or hoovering, some loose particles can end up being circulated in the air, therefore, contributing to poor air quality.
Hoovering or vacuuming a new carpet isn’t harmful; if anything, it preserves your carpet by making it look newer and very homey.
How Long After New Carpet Can You Hoover?
Newly laid carpets can be hoovered once they are laid/installed or several days following their installation.
We recommend that you hoover your new carpets right away because it’d speed up the rate at which the volatile organic compounds in them off-gasses.
Also, all loose fibers, dust particles, and other waste products in your carpet that can decrease the air quality of your living area will be sucked up by your vacuum cleaner.
Keep the following pointers in mind when vacuuming your carpet,
- Ensure your vacuum’s setting isn’t on ‘bare floor’ before using it on a wool carpet.
- Vacuum your wool carpet at high suction for the best results.
- Carpets made out of polypropylene can be vacuumed with any type of hoover.
- Avoid using beater attachments on loop pile carpets.
- Get an entrance mat to reduce the amount of outside dirt that gets inside your home.
How Often Should You Hoover a New Carpet?
After your first vacuum session, the frequency at which you hoover your carpet depends on the amount of traffic that comes through its flooring area on a weekly basis.
It stands to reason that areas within a home that experience regular inflow and outflow of people would accumulate a lot more dirt than areas that barely experience foot activity.
With that said, carpeted high-traffic areas like an entryway, living room, and the list goes on should be hoovered at least twice a week. Low traffic areas with carpets should be hoovered once a week.
Carpets must be deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months to properly preserve them and make your living area cleaner and more conducive.
Deep cleaning a carpet is a strenuous task best done by a professional. It’s super easy to find and make arrangements with a carpet cleaner to deep clean your carpet.
If you rather deep clean your carpet yourself, make sure you hoover and spot clean before getting started.
Vacuuming Your Carpet the Right Way
Vacuuming a carpet is a pretty straightforward task, but it’s important that you do it thoroughly to get the best results.
To vacuum a carpet till it’s dust and dirt free, you will need to be patient, meticulous, and know a thing or two about the power controls of your vacuum cleaner.
You pretty much know the basics of vacuuming a carpet, the vacuum cleaner must be moved forward and backward rhythmically, and the suction level must be appropriately set.
Many carpet owners often carry out the chore of vacuuming in a brisk and haphazard fashion.
Carpets should be vacuumed slowly and deliberately to remove not only surface-level dirt and dust but particles that have sunk to the bottom of the carpet fibers.
Also, it is vital that you go through the manual of your vacuum cleaner to know the right height or suction level for your carpet type.
Do not make the mistake of vacuuming your new carpet the same way you vacuumed your previous carpet unless they are the same carpet type and/or from the same brand.
The max setting on your vacuum cleaner shouldn’t be used to speed along your vacuuming session.
Remember, vacuuming is a slow and deliberate task, so keep the power setting in the mid-range if that is the appropriate setting specified by the carpet manufacturers.
Lastly, don’t forget to change your hoover’s bag regularly. Doing this enables the appliance to maintain its high-efficiency rating.
What to Do After Carpet is Installed
Once your carpet is installed, you’ll need to do a lot more than just hoover it. You’ll need to replace your air filters, check if you can still easily open and close your doors, and move and arrange the furniture.
When putting furniture back in place, ensure you fix protectors to their feet or bottom to keep them from damaging the carpet.
If you discover that your new carpet is inhibiting your doors from opening and closing, you’ll need to call a professional to trim them or make arrangements for them to be replaced with a slimmer option.
Thick carpets make great additions to any living area, but you mustn’t forget that they can make it hard for your doors to open and close if their height is the same as or more than the height between your doors’ bottom and the floor.
Another thing you must know is new carpets off-gas or emit volatile organic compounds, so you’ll need to air the area they are laid for 24 to 48 hours.
Do not stay or sleep in the same space or area as an off-gassing carpet.
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