Say you have a new idea for your living room and start moving furniture around, only to find that the carpet underneath is a couple shades lighter than the rest of the carpeting in your home. It’s frustrating because it’s just one more thing to worry about, plus it’s difficult to know how to prevent.
We’ve all been there before and the professionals at Ozburn-Hessey know just how to deal with it.
What to Know About Discolored Carpets
Residential Carpeting – Just How Long Does it Last?
The first thing you need to understand about residential carpeting is that it won’t last forever. As far as flooring options go, it’s on the lower end of the durability scale since there are many things it cannot handle or deal with, unlike hardwood flooring. Carpeting still has its place even in a hot city like Nashville, and carpet fading is just a reality everyone has to deal with.
The main reason carpet fades is due to sun exposure. The same harmful UV rays that cause sunburn on our skin also cause damage to the carpet. It is not the only cause, though, as certain chemical cleaners used to clean carpeting can cause the color to fade much in the same way that repeated washing causes clothes to fade over time.
What Can You Do to Fix Carpet Fading?
Just because the color has faded doesn’t meant that it’s time to call someone about a new floor installation. In fact, one of the easiest things you can do to make a difference in the color of your flooring is to simply vacuum it. Another factor that leads to fading and discoloration is the way that carpet fibers trap dirt, dust, and smoke particles. Giving the floor a really good cleaning, perhaps with a steam cleaner, will restore much of the carpet’s former appearance. Shampoo is the next thing to try, but be careful about which one you use since the wrong one can actually make the problem much worse. Look for an enzyme-based option and wait for it to dry. If the problem hasn’t changed, it might be time to look at a new flooring option.
What Can You Do to Prevent Carpet Fading?
One of the easiest ways to prevent carpet fading is to move the furniture around regularly. Engaging in this process will give the floor equal exposure to everything, so at least if it does fade it will do so at an even rate. Another way to prevent carpet fading is to minimize the amount of sun it sees. Whether this is through keeping the blinds closed or by installing special UV protective covers to the windows, the fewer sunbeams make it through unaltered the less damage your carpet will see. If neither of these are viable options, there is a special chemical called fluorocarbon that can be worked into the fabric of the carpet to protect it. Just be sure to clean and vacuum first, otherwise the dirt particles will be trapped in the fibers.
Faded carpet is not a good look, regardless of the situation. Take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to you by minimizing the amount of UV rays that touch your carpet and by keeping an eye on it during your regular cleaning. And when it comes time to make the switch, give Ozburn-Hessey a call.
