4 tips on how to choose a pet friendly carpet
If you’re one of the many thousands of cat or dog owners in the UK, you may feel that carpets aren’t the best choice for your home. While it’s true that pets can make a mess, that doesn’t mean you have to forego the benefits of a carpeted home and settle for hard flooring. It just means that you need to think more carefully about the type of carpet you have fitted, and how to look after it properly. As experts in carpet cleaning, here are our top tips for keeping your floors clean and in great condition when you have pets.
1 – Choose cut pile carpet
Loop pile carpet consists of loops of yarn to create a curved finish, and they’re widely considered to be the most hardwearing of all the carpet types. Unfortunately, loop pile carpet is not suitable for homes with cats or dogs since animal claws can easily get stuck in the loops, resulting in a torn carpet or even a torn claw – not a happy outcome. What’s more, many pets love the idea of pulling up carpet loops, meaning your carpet will be ruined in no time.
Cut pile carpet is made by cutting the yarn to produce an upright pile, giving a more luxurious, formal look than loop pile. If you have a cat or dog, choosing cut pile carpet is the sensible answer.
2 – Consider polypropylene carpet
Stains from muddy paws, pet accidents or ‘presents’ brought in from outside are some of the biggest concerns pet owners have about fitting carpets in their homes. Wool carpets are particularly sensitive and might not work if you have a pet. Luckily, manufacturing technology has come on in leaps and bounds, so there are great alternatives to natural fibres that can withstand heavy wear and tear from pets and their owners. For example, 100% polypropylene carpets have built-in resistance to dust, dirt, and liquid spills – the stain will sit on top of the carpet pile instead of penetrating, making them ideal for pet owners and for stain resistance generally.
3 – Choose patterned or dark coloured carpet
It will come as no surprise to hear that a plain, pale carpet will show up every tiny bit of hair, dust or general soiling, leaving you with a lot of worry and work to keep it looking clean. Darker coloured carpets or patterned carpets, on the other hand, are much more forgiving. The way you use colour or pattern on your flooring can have a big effect on the durability of your carpet. For a genius solution to ‘hide’ the dirt, why not try to broadly match the colour of your carpet to your pet’s fur?
4 – Regular care and maintenance
However pet-friendly your carpet may be, meticulous hygiene will still be essential if you have a pet in the house. This includes daily hoovering to make sure no pet hairs or dirt are being ground into the carpet fibres. It goes without saying that any spills or accidents should be cleaned up as quickly as possible to minimise the risk of any staining or lingering odours. In addition to your general cleaning routine, we recommend regular professional carpet cleaning to maintain maximum levels of cleanliness.
Contact Us
At Apple Clean, we offer a range of professional cleaning services to refresh your floors, from deep cleaning to stain removal services to tackle persistent stains including food, urine and vomit. For more information about your carpet cleaning requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact Apple Clean on 0800 5874571 today.