Your business premises give an indication of your professionalism to any visitors. Hence, it is important for every business owner to strive to keep it in top condition. The flooring is the first one to be noticed, especially the carpets. They're subjected to heavy traffic, squashed under furniture and liable to suffer from numerous spills during the working day. Keeping the work environment clean and tidy will also have a positive effect on the morale of your staff. They will work better, be happier and overall - be more productive.
How to Maintain the Carpets to Last Long
So how can you keep the looks of your carpets and maintain a professional appearance for visitors and staff alike? There are a few simple ideas on how to increase the life of your office carpets, as well as skip buying expensive new carpeting.
Put Off Vacuuming for New Carpeting
It is advisable to put off vacuuming any new carpeting for at least 6 weeks. This allows the carpets pile time to settle down. If you find bits are accumulating use a soft brush or carpet sweeper to sweep them up. If you are laying a carpet on a wooden floor use underlay. This will prevent the dust from the floorboards getting into the underneath of the carpet. This is particularly important if you have chosen a light colour for the carpets.
Vacuum Carpets Once a Week
Once the carpet fibres have settled vacuum your carpets at least once a week. This will ensure they keep their good looks. If the traffic is heavy you may want to consider a more frequent vacuum. You should give your carpets a really deep down clean by giving them a steam clean once a year. If you spill anything on your carpets mop it up straight away. Seek the advice of carpet cleaning companies to be sure any stains are dealt with professionally.
Carpet Dents from Furniture - How to Fix Them
If you decide to move some of the office furniture and are left with dents in the carpet do not despair. These dents can be removed by placing an ice cube there and allowing it to melt. When the area is dry vacuum it thoroughly and the pile will be repaired. Office carpeting undergoes a lot of bad treatment from outside footwear. Perhaps you could encourage your office staff to bring in a comfortable pair of shoes or slippers to wear while in the office. This may not be a popular idea to ensure the entrance to your office has an effective doormat, for people to wipe their feet.
Coffee Spills - How to Clean Them
One of the most common spills in any office is coffee. It happens all too easily, a knock of the elbow, a momentary lapse of concentration while filling the cup or a distraction causing the cup to be knocked on the floor. There's even a research on coffee spills! Whatever the reason, you do not have to allow these unwanted spills and stains to mar the appearance of your office flooring. Let's look at a few simple ways to clear up the stain.
The real secret is to be quick in your treatment. Using a clean towel or a paper towel, absorb any excess liquid left on the surface of the carpet. Take care not to rub or dab as this will only push the coffee further into the pile, making it more difficult to remove. Carefully try and pick up any coffee grinds using the cloth. It is best to use a white cloth or paper towel as this will not result in any further dye transferring to the carpet.
Once the excess liquid and grinds have been removed it is now time to think about cleaning the area. There are many ready-made stain removing and cleaning products available on the market, or you could choose to prepare one of your own homemade solutions. Another alternative is to call in your local cleaning company to do the delicate cleaning job for you. If you choose to treat the stain yourself be sure to test a small area of the carpet with the cleaning solution, before going to work on the visible stain. This will allow you to check the solution is not likely to further damage your carpet.
If you decide to save yourself some pennies and a trip to the shop you can use a homemade stain removal solution. You will need white vinegar, laundry detergent and tap water. It is likely you could have these items sitting around in the kitchen area of your business facilities, or you could bring them from home and keep in the cupboard for just such an occasion. It is, of course, a good idea to test this home-made solution before applying to the stain. Using a soft brush, such as a toothbrush, gently apply the mixture and allow to sit for a couple of minutes. After sitting you can gently brush it into the pile of the carpet. Next, you will need to blot the area with a damp cloth. Once this is done you can absorb the moisture with a clean dry cloth. It may not remove the stain on the first application, so if this happens repeat until the stain is removed.
Keeping the office environment doesn't take a lot of effort and you will surely reap the benefits of seeing it in a perfect condition every day.
