Quality carpeting represents a significant investment as far as most homeowners are concerned so it’s no surprise that so many people are searching for ideas on how to prevent their carpets from fading. As carpet cleaning and restoration specialists, we have a few tips and suggestions we would like to share with you: some simple and cost-effective ideas that you can use to protect your carpets.
Six Practical Fade-Protection Ideas from Our Boulder Carpet Cleaning Team
If you would like to ensure that your carpets retain their original tone and color for as long as possible, follow some or all of the suggestions below:
- Window Treatments – If your sole aim is to protect your carpets from UV rays and you’re not concerned about anything else, the simplest solution is some kind of window treatment. Whether you choose blinds, plantation shutters, curtains, or a combination of window treatments doesn’t really matter: the end result will be broadly similar. Assuming that you focus on quality window treatments, any one of them should provide adequate protection against the fading action of the sun’s rays. However, if you’re aiming for a complete blackout, plantation shutters are probably the easiest solution as far as window treatments are concerned.
- Rugs – To protect specific areas of carpeting that may be exposed to direct sunlight at a certain time of the day, rugs can be a very effective and relatively inexpensive option. There’s no need to spend a fortune on genuine Persian rugs: you can find plenty of attractive choices at a fraction of the cost. Simply place the rugs in the areas where direct sunlight is an issue and you should be able to avoid the worst effects of UV light on your carpets. You may, of course, have to replace the rugs periodically, as they too will eventually fade.
- Regular Cleaning – While UV rays from the sun may be the biggest culprit as far as fading carpets are concerned, there are other factors you need to consider. For example: there are a number of body lotions and skin treatment products that, if left on carpet fibers for any length of time, can cause significant fading. For this reason, we recommend following a regular carpet cleaning schedule. Many experts recommend deep cleaning with a proper truck-mounted steam cleaning machine (such as we use here at Steve's Carpet Care in Arvada) every 12-24 months. However, for families with young children that like to make a mess and in high-traffic areas where carpets are subjected to more wear and tear than is normal, you may wish to increase the frequency of cleaning sessions to once every 6 months.
- Frequent Vacuuming – Particles of soil and other contaminants can abrade your carpet fibers over time if not removed on a regular basis. This abrasion may accelerate the fading process as it strips away the outer layer of color from individual fibers. To avoid this particular issue, we recommend frequent vacuuming in between your deep carpet cleaning sessions. How often you need to vacuum your carpets will depend to a large extent on the number of people in your household and how careful each of you is when entering your home. You can minimize the amount of dirt and debris you bring into your home by removing your outdoor shoes in the hallway and replacing them with house shoes.
- UV Protection Window Film – If you like the idea of dealing with the problem at source, i.e. by preventing sunlight from reaching your carpets in the first place, but you’re not keen on fitting blinds or curtains in your home, UV protection film is an effective alternative that you may like to consider. The film can be applied to all windows in your home and, assuming you choose a quality brand, will provide you with effective protection against UV rays from the sun. You can purchase this type of film from local hardware stores but if you’re not confident in your ability to apply it evenly, we recommend ordering from a company that offers a professional installation service too.
- Fluorocarbon Protector – Fluorocarbon carpet protectors are chemical solutions that are designed to protect carpets from oil-based stains and particles of dirt that may make their way into the fibers. With this extra layer of protection, your carpets should retain their original color for longer. Fluorocarbon protectors are designed to be applied to carpet fibers when they are damp, which means it’s a good idea to coordinate their application with your cleaning schedule. You may even find that one of the carpet cleaning companies in your area offers to apply fluorocarbon protectors as an optional extra when performing deep cleaning services on carpets.
For maximum protection, you may find that a combination of window treatments, UV film and regular cleaning offers the best results. Strategically located rugs also provide a high degree of protection but not all homeowners are keen on covering their beautiful carpets with cheap rugs, which is understandable.
More Information on Carpet Care and Carpet Repair in Arvada
If you happen to live in Arvada, CO or somewhere in the surrounding area, you are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to find out more about carpet care in general or fade protection in particular. We offer a full range of carpet repair and steam cleaning services to local residents and businesses.