Not many homeowners think of carpet and air duct cleaning as part of home maintenance. Well, other than hosting dust and allergens, dirty carpets and ventilation systems can be a real hazard in your home.
In this article, we will be sharing practical carpet and air duct cleaning and maintenance tips for your home. Let’s get into it;
Cleaning air ducts: when and why?
The air ducts in your home perform a vital function. They ensure the air circulation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (or HVAC system) in each room, then its expulsion to the outside. This helps to improve the comfort in the interior spaces of your home, regardless of the season.
In fact, all the air in your home circulates through these ducts several times a day. Since this is the air you and your family breathe, it becomes essential to keep it as clean as possible. The only way to do this is by having your home’s air ducts cleaned regularly.
What is ventilation duct cleaning?
Air duct cleaning consists of removing contaminants and dust lodged in the duct system which includes return and supply air ducts, diffusers and registers ventilating each room. The company doing this for you will use commercial grade vacuums and cleaning equipment to remove all debris and dust, preventing them from re-circulating in your home.
Why Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?
Regularly cleaning the air ducts in your home has a number of benefits, for example:
- The indoor environment is cleaner; when you hire professionals to clean air ducts, it reduces the amount of dust that circulates around your home.
- Reduction of irritants and allergens: In addition to dust, air ducts also contain a number of harmful microorganisms and contaminants. Regular duct cleaning eliminates these allergens.
When Should The Air Ducts Be Cleaned?
While it is recommended that you have your ductwork cleaned every few years, if you have noticed any of the following signs, it is important that you call in an air duct cleaning company right away:
7 Signs It’s Time to Clean Your Air Ducts
- You have noticed the presence of mold in your air ducts
- Your house is new or has been recently renovated
- You notice that your house is always dusty, at all times.
- Your air flow is low
- An increase in allergies and irritations.
- Your carpets are always dusty
How often should you clean your carpets?
Carpets and decorative rugs in a home should be professionally cleaned at least once a year. However, you should consider having them cleaned every 6 months. The frequency of washing increases depending on the location of the carpet.
Those placed in the dining room must be maintained very regularly as they are more likely to get dirty. The same applies for the carpets placed in the entrance and hallways. Doormats can be washed once a month.
Carpet Maintenance
Washing carpets is essential, as is their maintenance. The ideal is to vacuum every day so as not to let dust and other dirt get into the fibers.
When a carpet is stained, it is essential to clean the stains as quickly as possible. Depending on the nature of the stain, the choice of product will vary. For instance, you can get rid of most food stains using white vinegar, baking soda or sparkling water.
There are various stain-removing powders and foams to choose from in the shops. These products are effective provided that the instructions for use are fully followed. Before using them, you can test them on a small part of the carpet to make sure that the carpet will not be damaged.
Quick Tips for Removing Common Carpet Stains
- Alcohols and alcoholic beverages: Lightly apply a 90 ° water + alcohol solution to the stain. Sprinkle with talcum powder. Leave to dry. Vacuum.
- Coffee or tea: Cloth soaked in lukewarm water then use carpet cleaning shampoo.
- Chewing gum: Remove the excess with a knife. Then use ice cubes to harden the remaining gum residue. Peel the hardened gum gradually, but be careful not to damage the fibers.
- Chocolate: Rub in a circle with a solvent (white-spirit, benzene). If traces remain, use 50% alcohol at 90 ° + 50% water, and rub gently.
- Blood: Apply pure vinegar, after testing on an inconspicuous corner (risk of discoloration).
- White wine: Sponge, dab with lukewarm water + detergent for delicate laundry. Methylated (or denatured) alcohol, or vinegar also work well.
- Red wine: Sponge, dab with white wine, then with pure water. Methylated spirit, or denatured alcohol, also gives good results. Old stains will first be softened with glycerin or soft soap.
Consult a Professional for Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning
As mold, dust and other air contaminants accumulate in your air quality easily gets compromised. Hiring a professional to clean air ducts will be a good idea, as it will allow purified air to circulate inside your home. Clean air will improve the health of your family members.
While renting a carpet cleaning machine may be cheaper than hiring a professional, there are many advantages to calling in the pros that will make the extra cost worthwhile. Professionals with truck-mounted equipment have an edge in several ways. Because they clean carpets day after day, they aren’t as likely to make mistakes such as using too much detergent or neglecting to rinse away all residues.
Not only do professional carpet cleaners save you time, they also ensure that your carpets and air ducts are being cleaned safely and effectively.