If you’re like most homeowners, your carpet is one of the most valuable finishing materials in the entire house. The importance of keeping it in excellent condition can’t be overstated – and one of our most commonly asked questions is “which time of year is optimal for carpet cleaning?”
The answer is a bit more complicated than you might expect. You’ll generally want to schedule cleaning for the end of the “dirty season”. And that means that the best time of year to have your carpets cleaned will vary, depending on where you live.
For those in colder climates with frequent winter snows, the warm weather of spring (and the resulting snowmelt) tends to create a lot of mud. And after a few months of having mud tracked into the house, a deep steam cleaning at the end of spring can work miracles. Besides, it’s an opportunity to get those springtime allergens out of the carpet and out of your home!
If you are in an area with especially rainy summers, the beginning of autumn is also a great candidate – for much the same reason. Autumn is also a particularly popular time for those with younger children. With the kids back in school, there are fewer people at home during the day – and that allows your carpet plenty of needed time to dry off in peace.
Ultimately, though, when you clean your carpets is less important than how often you clean your carpets.
Routine maintenance is an important part of carpet care. In fact, regular cleaning is so effective at prolonging the life of your carpet that it’s often required to keep your warranty valid!
For areas that see heavy foot traffic – like entryways, hallways, and lobbies (in commercial buildings) – a good rule of thumb is to have the carpet professionally cleaned every six months or so. Less-trafficked spots, on the other hand, may only need cleaning once every 12-18 months. For more information on carpet cleaning frequency, check our article on how often you should clean your carpets.
Remember, visible grime isn’t the only indicator that your carpet needs attention. Even if it doesn’t yet “look dirty” at the surface level, there are almost certainly bits of dirt, oil, hair, and allergens embedded in the lower fibers. A professional steam-clean will penetrate deeper than supermarket products can, and won’t cause chemical damage to the textile.
