How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets

The use-life of carpet can be greatly extended with proper care. Carpet owners or maintainers must perform vacuuming, spot cleaning, and damage repair routinely. The chart on this page provide general recommendation for frequency intervals for activities commonly undertaken by carpet owners and maintainers (vacuuming, spot cleaning), as well as activities that should be performed by trained professionals (interim maintenance, restorative, cleaning). They consider traffic, soil rating, vacuuming schedules, spot-cleaning schedules, and professional interim and restorative cleaning. Variations in the manufacture and use of carpet may require deviations from the frequency recommendations provided herein. Residential carpet should be professionally cleaned at least annually. Carpet that is subject to extreme soiling or heavy use, particularly high-traffic areas, or carpet installed in homes occupied by persons with allergies or respiratory problems require increased cleaning frequency. Carpet in low-traffic areas, such as formal living and dining rooms, needs less frequent cleaning. Homeowners must not wait until carpet looks soiled before beginning a planned program. Significant soil accumulation at the base of carpet fibers occurs long before it becomes visible. In addition, the greater the soiling, the less likelihood of restoring the original color, appearance and texture of the carpet, and the greater the adverse affect on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).

Residential Carpet Cleaning Frequency Chart

Source:  IICRC Standard & Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning (IICRC S100)