Here's How Often You Really Need to Clean Your Carpet for a Healthier Home

To the naked eye, a recently vacuumed carpet looks pristine. But while your carpet may appear perfectly clean on the surface, the real problem lies deep within its porous fibers. In fact, without a microscope, you might not even be able to see all that is really lurking there. 

According to mold and air quality expert Michael Rubino, carpets inevitably become traps for all kinds of particles—including dust, mold spores, bacteria, dust mite feces, pesticides, pet dander, and more. Without cleaning, these particles begin to build up, resulting in a considerable health hazard for your home and its inhabitants. 

To find out how often you should clean your carpet, we went to the pros. Read on to find out the importance of regular care for your household carpets and how it can improve the overall safety of your home. 

Why Regular Carpet Cleaning Matters

“Carpets act like big filters, and if you don’t clean them, they become an allergy-spreading nuisance,” says board-certified allergist and immunologist Meagan Shepherd.

Flooring expert Kristopher Ayoub agrees. “As the air circulates, contaminants get filtered through the fibers or settle into the carpet when there is no air flow,” he explains.

Cleaning your carpet will remove trapped particles, such as pollen and dust mites, as well as improve its overall appearance, eradicate any unpleasant odors emitting from your carpet, and help extend its lifespan. “Carpet and rugs usually cover a significant portion of the square footage in a room,” notes Ayoub, “so unsightly, dirty areas or stains can draw attention.” 

How Often You Should Clean Your Carpet

“Carpets should be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months, or more often if there is significant foot traffic,” shares Ayoub, with specific frequency depending on the nature of your particular home and the amount and type of action your carpet sees.

“Whenever the carpet is disturbed, such as by walking on it or the HVAC kicking on, particles are kicked up into the air, lowering indoor air quality and causing unwanted exposures,” explains Rubino. “The more foot traffic, pets, kids, or anything that increases particulate matter on carpeting, the greater the need for cleaning more frequently,” he says. Similarly, you should increase the frequency of professional deep cleans in the event of stubborn stains or odors.

When the time comes, you can hire a local carpet cleaning company to come to your home for wall-to-wall deep cleaning. If your rugs and carpets are transportable, you can also drop your carpet or rug off at a local carpet cleaner or take advantage of a pick-up service.

How Often You Should Vacuum Your Carpet

In between deep cleanings, regular vacuuming of your carpet is essential to mitigate any potential longterm damage and to keep it looking fresh and welcoming. But there is no exact science when it comes to the regularity for vacuuming your particular home, says Ayoub. “How often you vacuum will depend on the amount of foot traffic and considerations such as having pets or allergies.” Generally he advises vacuuming high traffic areas daily and addressing lower traffic areas once or twice per week. 

And be sure to always use a closed-system HEPA vacuum cleaner, adds Rubino, “A true HEPA filter that captures 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns is key for actually eliminating contaminants from the carpeting instead of blowing them back into the air and throughout the home.” 

About Spot Cleaning

Don’t feel that you have to call in the professional cleaners every time you spill a bit of coffee or red wine on your carpet. Spot cleaning is an effective method for addressing smaller, localized stains.

“Although some people call a professional any time an accident happens, most carpets can be safely spot-cleaned by removing any food or blotting spilled liquid," says Ayoub, who instructs following up with a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water, continuing to blot any remaining residue. Finish by using a clean cloth towel to rinse the area. (Always test the solution on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first to prevent discoloration or other damage.)

Pro Tips for Keeping Your Carpet Clean and Safe

• Buy or Rent: While they don’t work as well as a professional clean with industrial-grade tools, there are some upright and portable carpet cleaners on the market that can help tackle the job until your next scheduled deep clean. You can also find commercial carpet cleaners for rent in most areas.
• Consider Machine-Washable Rugs: For ease of care, consider machine-washable rugs in lieu of higher-maintenance wall-to-wall carpeting. “These can be thrown in with a botanical laundry additive to eliminate as many particles as possible,” explains Rubino. You're sure to find plenty of attractive, inexpensive options.
• Vacuum Allergy-Sensitive Homes More Frequently: The frequency with which you vacuum is also influenced by any existing health conditions in the home. “For those with allergies or asthma, regular vacuuming is necessary to decrease both dust mite allergen exposure, as well as other allergens and irritants such as mold, house dust, pollen, and dirt particles,” says Shepherd.