You love the sleek look and comfortable feel of carpeting for your home, but you know it requires extra special care and attention to look its best.
In addition to learning the best way to fight stains, you’re curious about how you can preserve that lovely new carpet smell for as long as possible.
The good news is that there are tons of different ways to make that happen — and this post is here to serve as your guide.
Read on to learn the surprisingly simple ways to keep your carpet looking spotless and smelling fresh.
1. Invest in the Right Carpeting
Understanding how to preserve that new carpet smell and keep things fresh and clean starts with buying a carpet that makes sense with your lifestyle.
If you’re buying a carpet for a room that lots of people spend time in (or if you have kids and pets) go with durable nylon fiber. If you’re OK with needing to replace the carpet once every few years as long as you can save money now, go with polyester.
If your main concern is stain resistance, try a triexta carpet yarn.
If you’re looking for something that is close to wool, opt for acrylic or olefin fibers.
Making the right choice from the start ensures your carpet will stay looking new for as long as possible.
2. Set Some Ground Rules
Your whole family needs to be involved in understanding the process of how to keep a carpet clean.
Institute basic rules that everyone must follow — or they’re responsible for having to clean/vacuum the carpet.
Make it a rule that everyone needs to take their shoes off when they enter the home or that pet’s paws should be wiped in the mudroom or on the porch. Let your family know whether or not you’re OK with them eating/drinking in the room with the carpet, too.
3. Tackle Stains ASAP
It’s tough to preserve that new carpet smell once strong scents from stains have set in.
Your job is to get rid of the stain as quickly as possible and to try out different methods to see which one works well for you.
One major hack is to put shaving cream on the stain for about half an hour and then to blot with a dry cloth. Afterward, make a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water to neutralize the smell, then blot it away after 5 minutes.
Gum is another nasty, stinky thing to have stuck in your carpet.
Believe it or not, putting an ice cube to the gum for about a minute freezes it solid. Then, you can just lift it up with a spoon.
4. Switch Out Vacuum Filter Bags
Though you’ve vacuumed several times over, you still have a smelly carpet on your hands.
The problem is likely that your vacuum filter bags are too stuffed with gunk to be effective. Make sure you switch them out or empty them at least once a month to stop the vacuum from losing suction.
5. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Carpet
If you want to make carpet smell good, baking soda is the best way to do it.
All you need to do is sprinkle a tiny coat of baking soda on your rug/carpet right before you get ready to vacuum. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then vacuum normally for a fresh scent.
6. Handle Pet Accidents Correctly
Pet accidents can have your carpet smelling awful in no time — especially if they go unnoticed for a few days.
You should make your own treatment out of equal parts water and white vinegar to handle the stain. Begin by blotting the stain dry with a paper towel, never rub it. Then, apply the vinegar and water mix. This will help to get rid of the stain and neutralize the urine’s ammonia, which is what’s responsible for the smell.
Afterward, pour baking soda on the wet spot, and leave it at least overnight. Then, vacuum it up and you’re good to go.
7. Preserve the New Carpet Smell in Your Car
Of course, the carpets in your home aren’t the only ones you need to take care of.
Many people completely forget about their car carpets and mats — and things can get stinky fast.
Invest in comfortable but easy-to-clean options like these floor mats from the start. You can use most of these tips to clean your car mats, too. In some cases, you can throw your car mats directly into your washing machine and leave them to dry naturally.
You can also use carpet shampoo on floor car mats, leave it for 10 minutes, and then remove with a wet rag.
8. Schedule Professional Deep Cleanings
Perhaps the best way to learn how to freshen carpets and extend their overall lifespan is to create a standard professional cleaning schedule.
For best results, we suggest letting the pros come in at least two times a year.
Enjoy That New Carpet Smell for Longer with These Tips
If you use the tips on this list, you’ll be able to enjoy that new carpet smell for a much longer time than you normally would.
Need a few more tips on how to choose the right size and color of carpet for any room in your home? Have you decided that you’re more interested in using wood or tiling flooring as opposed to carpeting?
No matter what you choose, you want your flooring to be on-trend, affordable, and durable.
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