Does Vacuuming Damage Carpet – Yes And No

Carpet is one of the most common types of floor covering and is used in homes and commercial properties all over the world. It comes in different forms including various piles and if you don’t want a fitted carpet, you might opt for a rug. 

But in any case, you are going to want to keep your carpet as clean and fresh as possible. This makes it look better, last longer and gives your home a more welcoming appeal. But what is the best way to clean the carpet? Most people use a vacuum but does vacuuming damage carpet?

For the most part, it is OK to vacuum your carpet without having to worry about the appliance causing any damage. In fact, most people would agree that a vacuum is by far the best option when it comes to cleaning carpet as it will suck out any debris without harming the carpet fibres. 

If you have been avoiding vacuuming your carpet for fear of causing damage, there’s some news that might interest you. Leaving dirt and debris in the carpet fibres will probably do more harm than using a vacuum to remove it. 

That said, there is too much of a good thing and if you insist on vacuuming your carpets too often, this could have the opposite effect. As with anything, it’s all about getting the balance just right. 

Is It Ok To Hoover A New Carpet?

When a new carpet is installed, it will naturally shed quite a lot of fibres. These then appear on the surface of the carpet and this can look quite alarming. Over the course of time, a myth has evolved that the cause of this shedding is vacuuming the carpet too soon. 

In reality, this is not the case and getting Henry the Hoover out within the first few hours of having a carpet laid isn’t going to do the flooring any harm. In fact, the shedded fibres should be removed as soon as possible to stop them being trodden in and embedded deep within the carpet. 

Over the course of the next few weeks, you will notice that the carpet continues to shed quite a lot of fibres. But don’t worry, this won’t affect the overall quality or appearance of your carpet and is something that cannot be avoided. 

By regularly vacuuming your new carpet, you will remove any excess fibres and keep it clean. Good cleanliness and maintenance is often the key to a carpet standing the test of time and looking its best for many years to come. 

The only time that you should avoid using a vacuum on your carpet is if you have a loop pile carpet and your vacuum has a beater. In this case, you will find that the vacuum causes the carpet to become matted and fluffed which will ruin its appearance. To get these carpets clean, you will need to use a cylinder vacuum cleaner and only use the suction head. 

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How Often Should I Vacuum Carpet?

There is something of a debate surrounding how often you should vacuum your carpet. On the one hand, people are worried that doing it too frequently could cause damage and that the carpet will wear more quickly. On the other hand, not vacuuming your carpet regularly is seen as unhygienic and frowned upon by many. 

So what is the best way to approach keeping your carpet clean and free from debris? Well, the key is to find balance. There’s no need to take out the hoover twice a day, at the same time, you’ll want to give it the once over at least a couple of times a week. 

It may come as a surprise to learn that your carpet will actually sustain far more damage if you avoid vacuuming it compared to if you were to vacuum it several times each week. Generally speaking, you will find that vacuuming three to four times a week is the best option. 

Don’t become worried if you notice that there are a lot of carpet fibres in the dust collection cup of your vacuum cleaner. As we have already mentioned, this is quite normal and is the result of the carpet shedding, which to a degree, is absolutely fine. 

That said, it is possible to go over the top and vacuum your carpet too much so don’t be tempted to do this. Furthermore, you should be mindful that most modern vacuum cleaners have various settings that are designed to be used on different types of flooring. 

For example, many have a hard floor setting and a carpet setting. These are designed to give the best and safest clean for each type of floor. So, don’t be tempted to use the wrong setting on your brand new carpet as this could do more harm than good. 

While vacuuming a few times a week is OK, it is generally accepted that hoovering high traffic areas should be done around twice a week. For rooms that are not frequently used, you can reduce your vacuuming to once a week.

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What Happens If You Don’t Vacuum Carpet?

Have you ever seen those cleaning TV shows where people have neglected their home for many years and the professionals have to go in and clear up the mess? If you have then you’ll be familiar with the dirt, dust, debris, hair and other items that build up in the carpet. It’s not a pretty sight and not something that most of us would want in our homes. 

Of course, this is at the extreme end of the scale but even neglecting to vacuum your carpets for a shorter period of time could have devastating results. For starters, the lifespan of your carpet will be drastically reduced. As with anything, if your carpet is not properly cared for, it will deteriorate much more quickly. A build up of dirt, oils and other nasties will cause your carpet to last much less time. 

Moreover, if you don’t vacuum your carpets, you will notice that they begin to look discoloured. This is a result of particles building up within the fibres and when left for too long, they really will start to show. Nobody wants the aesthetic of their home ruined by something that could be so easily dealt with. 

If you have pets in your home, avoiding getting the vac out could result in hair and dander building up within the carpet fibres. Not only will this affect the quality of the carpet but it could also affect your health. If you suffer from allergies then this is never a good thing. You see, it is actually pet dander that contains the most allergens and when it sits in your carpet, the results won’t be good. 

You will also find that leaving carpets uncleaned will result in a nasty build up of bacteria. It might look clean but deep within the fibres, there are breeding grounds for all kinds of unwanted visitors to your home. Regularly vacuuming will drastically reduce the number of bacteria within the carpet. 

Dust mites are a common problem in homes where carpets are not regularly vacuumed. Dust mites are very small creatures that thrive in dusty environments and feed on human skin! As dust and waste build up within your carpet, this creates a very welcoming environment for these critters. If you’re anything like us, you definitely won’t want this type of lodger. 

Finally, and maybe most unpleasant is the fact that your carpets will start to smell if they are not vacuumed frequently. As dirt and bacteria begin to build up, they will give off a stagnant or musty odour that will quickly fill your home. 

Conclusion

Having a clean home is something that is important to all of us but there’s some confusion around how often you should vacuum and whether it damages your carpet. There’s a myth that vacuuming new carpet will damage it but the opposite is true. You’ll need to remove any loose fibres to make sure your carpet stays in tip top condition. 

Most carpets will stand being vacuumed three or four times a week but you might not need to do it this often. Once or twice a week, depending on foot traffic should be more than enough to keep your carpets fresh, clean and free from bacteria.