Carpets have proven to be an essential part of any school classroom. With providing a soft surface for children and dampening sounds from the classroom, carpets are a worthy investment for any school. How do we extend their lifespan so you can keep the carpets looking clean and pristine for years to come? This article will give you ideas to get the most use out of your school carpets:
Invest in Dry Cleaner Powder
We’re going to assume you’re vacuuming regularly, but the deep cleaning won’t happen besides once or twice a year during the winter or summer break. What do you do in the meantime? The best option would be to opt for a dry cleaner product. Dry cleaner powder works in that it’s easy for you to vacuum after spreading on the carpet, but it also sticks to the dirt you normally wouldn’t be able to clean up with traditional methods. In comparison with dangerous liquid chemicals that might leave a residue or danger if consumed, cleaner powder can be easily vacuumed and picked up, making it a safer option for kids. Whatever cleaner you go with, make sure to test on your carpet first and ensure it is approved for cleaning purposes.
Blot Out Stains and Spills Rather Than Scrub
To “blot” out a stain refers to dabbing a stain or spill with a cloth or sponge to absorb the liquid or stain. Start with a clean dry or wet cloth or sponge (depending on the type of mess you’re dealing with) and press down to absorb or clean the mess, starting from the outside and working inwards. The main benefit of blotting is to avoid fraying out the strands of your carpet. Your carpet may be resilient enough to take a scrub once or twice, but even then, you’re pushing out the mess across the carpet rather than removing it. If you do use a chemical cleaner in conjunction with your blot, make sure to use very little to avoid excess product drying out on your carpet.
Consider Carpet Placement & Type
As is natural with people walking over the same area thousands of times over multiple school years, carpets will get worn down. It’s unavoidable. But, can we strategize around it? A few considerations think about:
Try to have a thicker carpet in the entryways. Not only will it take the first brunt of the mud and snow people will bring in, but it’ll also protect the carpet beneath it and be easier to remove and clean/replace.
Consider investing in carpet squares. With individual square sections making up your carpet, it’s much easier to replace a few tiles rather than needing to slice up or remove the entire carpet. If any section gets damaged, just remove it and place a new tile.
Slightly shift furniture and desks around every year. If you change the paths people walk, even by a slight adjustment, you can even out the traffic flow and avoid having visible pathing take place.
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It’s easy enough to set it and forget it, but keeping a good carpet around can make or break your overall budget and the impressions the students and community have about your school. That’s why it’s good to take care of it, not just for aesthetics, but for health and safety as well. Take the time to invest in regular cleaning and deep cleaning, and you can rest assured that your carpet will support you and your students for years to come.
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