Can Vacuuming Ruin Carpet?

Barbara Bellesi Zito
·5 min read

If you’ve got carpets at home and want to keep them clean, chances are your vacuum is being put to good use. But if you’ve ever emptied the dustbin and found carpet fibers mixed in with dust, hair, and other household debris, you might have wondered whether you’re doing more harm than good to your flooring.

As it turns out, diligent housekeeping doesn’t always pay off. “Excessive or aggressive vacuuming could potentially cause wear and damage over time,” says Jack White, Director of Operations at Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company with service areas throughout the U.S., including dozens in the South. He does note, however, that if your carpet is new, seeing fluff in your dustbin is normal at first and will decrease over time.

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None of this is a good enough excuse to get you out of vacuuming completely, unfortunately. White also says you can avoid too much wear and tear if you use the proper type of vacuum for your carpet and get on a cleaning schedule appropriate for your household.

What Type of Vacuum Is Best for Carpets?

There are many vacuum brands to choose from, but in general, these features will keep your carpets clean and damage free:

  • Adjustable height settings: Many vacuums have a switch or a button that allows you to raise the height of the vacuum head to clean anything from bare floors to deep-pile carpet. “Being able to raise the vacuum's height when cleaning deeper carpets prevents excessive friction and strain on the fibers,” says White.

  • Brush roll control: A rotating brush roll—often called a beater bar—agitates carpet fibers to remove dirt, but it can tug too hard at some carpets, especially looped piles. Choose a vacuum that allows you to turn on/off the brush roll as needed. “It is recommended that the brush is at a level so that the vacuum can easily move back and forth on the carpet,” says White. As such, you might find it better to turn it off completely.

  • HEPA filter: White recommends vacuums that are compatible with HEPA filters—that stands for high efficiency particulate air. Per the US Department of Energy, HEPA filters can, in theory, remove a minimum of 99.97% of dust, pollen, bacteria, mold, and other airborne particles 0.3 microns in size. (A micron equals one-millionth of a meter.) Aside from removing pet dander and other allergens, a HEPA filter keeps the stuff you’ve vacuumed up from becoming airborne and settling back into your carpet, White says, which is why HEPA filters are often recommended for those with allergies.

  • The green label: If the green label is there, the vacuum is Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) certified, which means “the machine meets the highest standards for operation and performance [which] can help reduce your overall cleaning costs,” explains White.

How Often Should You Vacuum Your Carpet?

Now that you know you’re not off the hook for vacuuming your carpets, how much is too much?

White says, “The frequency of vacuuming your carpets depends on factors such as the amount of foot traffic, the presence of pets, and individual preferences.” Here are his expert recommendations:

  • Light traffic: Once a week

  • Moderate: Two to three times weekly

  • High Traffic or Homes with Pets: Daily or every other day

  • Allergies in the household: Daily

“Regular vacuuming helps remove dirt, dust, allergens, and pet hair from the carpet fibers, maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment,” says White.

Special Care for Shag Carpets

Shag rugs and other deep-pile carpets require even more TLC, says Aaron Christensen, Vice President of Growth at Homeaglow, an online platform that connects people in all 50 states with professional cleaners in their area. “When vacuuming, you need enough suction to lift dirt, but you have to be careful you don’t tear out or damage fibers,” he says.

Your best bet? Use the upholstery attachment that came with your vacuum. It will reduce the suction, but still allow the vacuum to get into the rug’s fibers, says Christensen.”

If you’ve got a stick vacuum, Christensen recommends setting the vacuum head to the max height and turning off the beater bar. Then, vacuum thoroughly. “It’s easy to miss spots on a shag rug, so vacuum in all directions and push the pile about,” he says.

For a shag area rug, Christensen says take it outside and beat the dust out of it with a wooden spoon or similar instrument. Once it’s back indoors, flip it over and vacuum the bottom of it to get whatever debris remains. If your shag carpet is looking a little limp after cleaning, you can fluff it out again with your hands or a rake. “Plastic garden rakes work as well as branded carpet rakes,” he says.

Other Ways to Keep Carpet Clean

Will Cotter, owner of HappyCleans in Oklahoma, Super Cleaning Service Louisville, and Fresh Space Cleaning Jacksonville, offers the following options to augment your regular vacuuming routine:

  • Use a carpet brush. This will gently agitate the carpet fibers, making it easier to get the dirt out with a vacuum, Cotter says.

  • Clean with steam. Rent a carpet steamer or call in the pros if you want your carpet extra clean. “If there's a tough stain, you can use special cleaners just for that spot,” Cotter says.

  • Shake out area rugs: If you’ve got area rugs and other smaller floor coverings, Cotter recommends taking them outside and giving them a good shake to loosen up the dirt.

  • Freshen up with baking soda. For a fresh-smelling carpet, Cotter says to sprinkle baking soda over it before a thorough vacuuming.

Of course, if maintaining a wall-to-wall carpet is driving you up a wall, Cotter always recommends calling in the pros with their industrial equipment for a truly deep clean.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.