As a homeowner, it can feel very frustrating to deal with traffic patterns on your carpets. Traffic patterns are the dark spots that appear on textile floors due to regular wear and tear. These patterns usually appear in areas where there is constant foot traffic like the front door, hallways, and stairs. Even if the carpet is cleaned, the dark spots can sometimes remain visible.
We all want our carpets to look clean and spotless, but traffic patterns can make this difficult to achieve. In this article, we’ll be discussing what causes traffic patterns and what you can do to prevent them from occurring.
How traffic patterns develop
Traffic patterns develop slowly over time. This happens when the carpet’s original protective coating wears off, thus leaving the fibres vulnerable to dust, dirt, and even pet hair. If left uncleaned, the fibres start to fray and the dirt particles become embedded deep into the carpet. Over time, the friction from repeatedly walking on the carpet flattens the fibres and damages them.
Pet dander can potentially wreak havoc on your carpet as well. This is because pet dander accumulates very quickly and can become entangled in between the carpet fibres. The constant foot traffic along with the shed skin and fur can accelerate the development of traffic patterns and quickly ruin your carpet’s appearance.
Most people don’t even notice how traffic patterns develop until dark spots start to appear in the carpet. Once the damage has been done, it can be a bit difficult to restore the carpet to its previous condition. Like with most things, prevention is the best way to maintain your carpet’s overall look and feel.
How to prevent traffic patterns from developing
While you cannot completely prevent traffic patterns from developing, you can slow down the process considerably. To help keep your carpet looking good for many years, make sure to consider the following tips:
- Establish a regular carpet cleaning in Scarborough routine. Most experts recommend vacuuming your carpet once a week to prevent dust and dirt buildup. For pet owners out there, vacuuming twice a week is crucial to remove pet dander from the carpet fibres.
- Invest in a carpet rake. A carpet rake is essentially a brush that fluffs up the carpet fibres and unflattens them. Before you vacuum, run the carpet rake over the fibres to help untangle any dust, dirt, or pet hair. Do this at least once a month to prolong the lifespan of your carpet.
- Wear indoor slippers with soft soles instead of socks or going barefoot. While socks do provide some form of protection, the oils from your feet can still permeate and reach the carpet fibres. This then attracts more dirt and encourage the development of traffic patterns even further.
- Place doormats in entrances. Doormats reduce the amount of dirt, debris, and other outdoor particles that you track inside your home. Different materials like polyester, wool, nylon, and vinyl offer different looks and benefits so choose one that suits your tastes and preferences.
- Rotate your furniture once every 6 months. This is to promote even wear and tear so you don’t end up with severe traffic patterns on your carpet.
- Apply a carpet protector on heavily trafficked areas of your carpet. These products come in spray bottles that help repel liquids, block stains, and resist soiling to reduce premature carpet wear.
Can professional carpet cleaning make the traffic patterns less noticeable?
There are instances where traffic patterns may prove impossible to remove. If the carpet has been neglected and has suffered excessive wear and tear, then it’s unlikely that any cleaning will make a noticeable difference. At this point, it’s best to have your carpet replaced and follow the preventive maintenance tip we’ve mentioned to ensure that the traffic patterns do not develop again.
However, there’s a good chance that a professional carpet cleaning can reduce the appearance of traffic patterns, especially if the carpet fibres aren’t too worn out. If this is the case, then bonnet cleaning can definitely help. Also known as spin-pad cleaning or absorbent-pad cleaning, bonnet cleaning can restore your carpet’s previous condition and revitalise the carpet fibres altogether.
The process begins by applying a cleaning solution to the carpet. From there, the bonnet machine buffs the carpet to loosen deep-seated dirt and fluff up the carpet fibres. Bonnet carpet cleaning works best if included as part of your regular carpet maintenance as it can help prolong the lifespan of your textile floors.
If some areas of the traffic patterns are still visible after a first cleaning, it is recommended that you schedule a second follow-up cleaning. By doing so, you can really give the carpet a deep clean and maximise the efficiency of the cleaning products and equipment used.
Of course, this can only be done by an experienced carpet cleaner that knows how to tackle traffic patterns accordingly. If you’re looking for reliable and efficient cleaning services within the Perth area, then look no further than Boas Cleaning Services. For your carpet cleaning needs, feel free to contact us today and we’ll get back to you at your earliest convenience.