Is it time to replace the carpet?
Are you looking at your carpet and wondering if it is worth cleaning?
Just because the carpet is dirty or has spots does not mean it is a lost cause. Here are 4 signs that will help you to determine if the carpet is in need of replacing.
Path That Looks Dirty After Cleaning
Traffic patterns are found in the main walk areas of the home. You will see a distinguishable path, of where you walk, from one area of your home to another. These are commonly located near the front door, in hallways, or by the couch where you put your feet. Traffic areas that do not lighten after cleaning are a sign of damage. In these locations, the fibers have been worn and frayed apart. When they don’t improve with cleaning it’s time to replace the carpet.
Matted Carpet
Carpet that is matted cannot be fixed by cleaning. Fibers fray apart over time as they are walked on. Individual strands of the yarn pull apart and then mat together. It is similar to the hair on a shaggy dog, when not brushed regularly. When it gets to a certain point the only thing left to do is shave the dog. When your carpets get to this point, the only thing you can do is replace them.
Are there tears or is the carpet unraveling in different areas? Occasionally rips can be repaired. However, if the carpet has multiple tears, or is starting to unravel it is time to replace it.
A heavy odor that won’t respond to treatment?
Believe it or not, an odor doesn’t always mean the carpet is done for. If the carpet still looks pretty good then it may be salvageable. There are many products on the market now that allow cleaners to get out odors that you would think impossible. Before cleaning get a black light to check the walls and vents in your home when it is dark. Urine will show up under a black light. You may need to wash down your walls, and baseboards, or have your vents cleaned. If the carpet isn’t that old then it is worth attempting odor removal before replacing the carpet. Removing odor can take a few treatments. Make sure you check with the company you hire to see what their policy is on pet odor treatment. We will return as many times as needed within 30 days to treat for pet odor.
If replacing the carpet you may need to treat the floor with Killz to seal it before laying a new floor. Killz will prevent odors in the wood from coming up into the house.
Stains that won’t go away
If you have stains that won’t lift take a look at the carpet and decide if you can hide it. Carpet that isn’t that old, matted, and hasn’t developed traffic patterns it still has a lot of life left. You can choose to repair the carpet, as opposed to replacing it. A professional can cut out the spot and patch in a new piece of carpet. They can do this by cutting a piece of carpet from a closet and trading the two, or if you have a piece of carpeting left over from your installation. A professional installer should be able to hide the lines of the patch. If there are a bunch and they are really bothering you, you can either cover them with a rug or choose to replace the carpet. Carpets that are extremely spotted, and showing the wear and tear mentioned above should be replaced. Treating spots as soon as they happen is the best way to prevent permanent stains.
If there are multiple stains that won’t come out with cleaning, then it may be time to consider replacing them.
When I came home from work last night my wife was trying to clean our carpets because our cat peed on them. You stated that if the carpet isn’t that old than it is worth attempting odor removal before replacing the carpet. Do most carpet companies offer regular cleaning services for the carpets that they installed?
It depends on the company. Some offer a service, and some will refer you to a specific cleaning company.
I completely agree that if your carpet isn’t that old, it’s worth attempting to salvage it before replacing it. It kind of seems like most stains and odors can be removed with the right tools and assistance. However, I don’t think that should deter anyone from getting something new installed if that’s what you want.
I completely agree.
It’s great to know when to replace carpet. Our second floor carpet hasn’t ever been replaced, and it is starting to look matted, like you mentioned. If that can’t be fixed with a cleaning, I guess we will need to look at new carpet!
So glad the article was helpful to you. Once you get your new carpet you’ll want to wait 1.5-2 years before your first cleaning, and then after that about once a year is a good plan.
It’s good to know that matted carpet isn’t something that can be fixed through cleaning. Some of the higher trafficked areas of my home have matted carpet. I’d previously considered having it cleaned to see if that help, but now I’ll save my time and look at having it replaced instead.
I installed a carpet in our basement 2 years back and placed a washing machine there. I think the washing machine leaked from the bottom making the whole carpet wet. That’s almost an year back but the odor of soapy water doesn’t go away from my basement. after reading this article i think i need to replace that old carpet.
If the carpet was not appropriately cleaned after the flooding there could be a ton of soap in the carpet, along with mold or mildew growth. You could try cleaning it first before replacing it. I would highly recommend that you treat for mold and mildew. That might actually help improve the odor as well.
we used to have a lot of guests at our place all the time. The house was loaded with people and we have carpeted floor. So shoe stains were very common now because of this pendamic situation going on. Its just me and my hubby. I just went through your article and i have realized that its time to change my stained carpet. its the perfect time for a change.
I am so glad you found it helpful. Thanks for commenting.