What You Do Everyday that Damages Your Carpet

We all have those friends who insist that all guests remove their shoes upon entering their home. This is often associated with various Asian cultures, but it’s a good practice for anyone with carpet—and honestly, anyone else that cares about their floors. What you do everyday that damages your carpet may include wearing shoes indoors, allowing dirt and debris to accumulate, and neglecting regular cleaning routines.

Many people think that using the outdoor mat to wipe shoes before entering the home is enough. Some people take their shoes off when they first come in, while others tend to leave their shoes on until time for bed. Wiping shoes on a mat outside poses a few problems. One of the things you do everyday that damages your carpet is tracking in dirt and debris even after wiping your shoes, as mats don’t remove all the grime from the soles.

1. The mat is outside

This is one of the things you do everyday that damages your carpet. Mats right in the doorway have similar problems, as they are in high-traffic areas and are close to the outdoors. Dirt will collect on them and, eventually, they won’t be effective at removing dirt from your work boots and running shoes, causing more debris to enter your home and damage your carpet.

2. Mats aren’t perfect

There isn’t really a way for floor mats to completely remove the dirt from the bottom of your shoes, especially if it’s just a quick wipe or it’s been raining out. In fact, there’s something you do every day that damages your carpet—wiping your shoes on the mat and not properly cleaning them can leave dirt behind. If you rinse them under running water, you’ll find more dirt than you ever anticipated. This excess dirt can easily make its way to your carpet, causing more wear and tear over time.

3. Wiping shoes only removed dirt from the bottom of the shoes

If you decide to continue to assume mats clean shoes, you’re ignoring the rest of the foot. Depending on the environments traveling, shoes can be filthy all over. That dirt can fall off and into carpets where foot traffic will basically grind it into the fibers. This is one of the things you do everyday that damages your carpet without even realizing it.

If carpets are dingy and everyone in the home walks around barefoot (with clean feet or socks), there are other ways walking and feet can damage the carpet. Some slippers or house shoes can rub material into the carpet (colored soles, for example, can begin to wear and the evidence is in the carpets). As with shoes, slippers can grind existing dirt into your floors from walking out to get the paper in your slippers or just from the dirt around the home.

Furniture Can Cause Damage to Carpets as Well

Places where furniture is regularly moved can cause physical damage from long times of rest, rapid movement, or basic use (like dining chairs). Carpet fibers, when new, are round and have a certain level of shine or glossiness. Anything you do every day that damages your carpet can cause friction and slowly alter that texture quality, making carpets look duller and darker (and therefore much dirtier).

Carpet cleaning can help prevent this but the damage can be hard to reverse, if not impossible depending on severity. Some treatments can be applied to carpets to reduce the risk of this damage, but being aware of movements can do just as much. Avoid moving furniture haphazardly; do not just push your sofa across the floor and try to avoid small movements regularly. The less something moves around and is abrasive to a carpet, the better the flooring will look.

Some of you may be thinking, “how can I live in my house comfortably and keep my carpets looking nice?” It’s tricky, but you will have to accept some levels of dirt, grime, and wear. However, there are certain things you do everyday that damage your carpet, like tracking in dirt or spilling drinks. Regular professional cleaning can help restore the luster and cleanliness of your home, but simple measures like shoe removal at the door (preferably placed on hard floors or mats) and careful furniture moving can help keep your home looking as clean as possible.

How Can We Help You?

Call Accents In Cleaning today to schedule a visit to renew your carpets and push you to be a cleaner, smarter person. The next time you visit a friend or family member who requests everyone remove their shoes, remember that they may just be trying to prevent the things you do everyday that damages your carpet. It’s probably nothing against your shoes specifically, but rather a way to keep their carpets in the best condition possible.