Carpet Cleaning Problems Explained
Traffic lanes are those areas or parts of your carpet which receive the most footfall and gradually, over time, build up a dirty, unsightly grey film which, due to the very fine nature of the soil, can be extremely difficult to remove.
Traffic lane dirt is typically found at or near the entrance to your home or office, in halls and corridors, at doorways and at or near seats or sofas where people have been sitting for a long time.
In addition to causing unsightly, grubby carpets, the other problem associated with traffic lanes is that the carpet pile becomes flattened and abraded over time, due to the amount of people walking on or through these areas.
To revive your carpet pile, vacuuming with a good quality vacuum cleaner is recommended, preferably a vacuum cleaner which has twin motors and a beater bar.
The beater bars will help lift and separate the carpet fibres, leaving your carpet revived and with a fuller, fresher appearance.
Removing the dirt from traffic lanes can be very difficult, if not impossible, because the soiling which causes it is not only very fine, but it has built up over time and penetrated to the very base of your carpets.
Think of sand if you will.
Originally rocks and stones, over time these become ground down into the fine particles we recognise on the beach.
And so it is with traffic lane dirt - it gradually breaks down over time as people continue to walk over it until it is extremely fine and can in fact penetrate the carpet fibres meaning it is troublesome to eradicate.
Accordingly, avoidance is the key.
Use mats at the entrance to your home or office and to different rooms within your home.
Above all, vacuum your carpets regularly, especially the areas which receive the highest footfall.
Another simple, but effective, tip to reduce the build up of traffic lane dirt is to move your furniture around, so that people are sitting in different locations.
You should also check high traffic areas for spills or stains, especially oily stains which can be very difficult to remove if not dealt with promptly.
Another practical tip is to purchase darker coloured carpets.
These days cream or light coloured carpets are very fashionable but unfortunately they tend to show up even the smallest mark or stain.
Darker coloured or patterned carpets do a better job of concealing marks.
Lastly, if all else fails you should engage the services of a professional carpet cleaner.
Even then, you should be realistic in your expectations.
Not even the most competent carpet cleaner can be expected to remove dirt and soiling which has built up over years if you only call him/her out every 2-3 years.
To keep your carpets looking their best, It is worth having a professional carpet cleaner clean your carpets every 6-18 months depending on the volume of traffic your carpets receive.
Observe the above tips and you should be able to keep your carpet - traffic lanes included - in good shape for many years, extending their useful life and saving money on costly replacements.
Traffic lane dirt is typically found at or near the entrance to your home or office, in halls and corridors, at doorways and at or near seats or sofas where people have been sitting for a long time.
In addition to causing unsightly, grubby carpets, the other problem associated with traffic lanes is that the carpet pile becomes flattened and abraded over time, due to the amount of people walking on or through these areas.
To revive your carpet pile, vacuuming with a good quality vacuum cleaner is recommended, preferably a vacuum cleaner which has twin motors and a beater bar.
The beater bars will help lift and separate the carpet fibres, leaving your carpet revived and with a fuller, fresher appearance.
Removing the dirt from traffic lanes can be very difficult, if not impossible, because the soiling which causes it is not only very fine, but it has built up over time and penetrated to the very base of your carpets.
Think of sand if you will.
Originally rocks and stones, over time these become ground down into the fine particles we recognise on the beach.
And so it is with traffic lane dirt - it gradually breaks down over time as people continue to walk over it until it is extremely fine and can in fact penetrate the carpet fibres meaning it is troublesome to eradicate.
Accordingly, avoidance is the key.
Use mats at the entrance to your home or office and to different rooms within your home.
Above all, vacuum your carpets regularly, especially the areas which receive the highest footfall.
Another simple, but effective, tip to reduce the build up of traffic lane dirt is to move your furniture around, so that people are sitting in different locations.
You should also check high traffic areas for spills or stains, especially oily stains which can be very difficult to remove if not dealt with promptly.
Another practical tip is to purchase darker coloured carpets.
These days cream or light coloured carpets are very fashionable but unfortunately they tend to show up even the smallest mark or stain.
Darker coloured or patterned carpets do a better job of concealing marks.
Lastly, if all else fails you should engage the services of a professional carpet cleaner.
Even then, you should be realistic in your expectations.
Not even the most competent carpet cleaner can be expected to remove dirt and soiling which has built up over years if you only call him/her out every 2-3 years.
To keep your carpets looking their best, It is worth having a professional carpet cleaner clean your carpets every 6-18 months depending on the volume of traffic your carpets receive.
Observe the above tips and you should be able to keep your carpet - traffic lanes included - in good shape for many years, extending their useful life and saving money on costly replacements.
