Hello World! Welcome Friends! “Carpet” and “pets” are two words you don’t frequently see together because of the preconceived notion that having an animal around the house makes having a fabric-covered floor a nightmare.
But while that may be true in some instances, there are ways to make it work. After all, carpets have certain advantages over hard-surface floors for households with pets.
For one, puppies can’t slip and slide on a carpeted floor. Carpets also have a noise-reducing effect, which can be beneficial for upstairs spaces and apartments for rent in Dubai. The best part is, you can choose from a wide variety of designs while giving your pet a warm and soft napping area.
Planning to update your home with this type of floor soon? Read on to learn how to shop for pet-friendly carpets and keep them clean and pristine with tips to make them last longer.
How to Shop for Pet-Friendly Carpets
Making the carpet-pet combination depends largely on the type of carpet you select. To get you on the right track, here are five key factors you need to focus on:
1. Durability and Stain and Wear Resistance
Consider your pets’ claws and the occasional mud tracks when determining the level of durability and stain resistance you want in a carpet. While you can certainly train your furry babies to adjust and reduce the burden on your floor, it pays to have a carpet that has the highest possible durability and wear-and-tear resistance to your life with pets.
2. Fibers and Pile Height
Pile describes the height of the carpet fibers. Those with longer fibers have a higher pile. For a pet-loving family, low-pile rugs are the best choice for maximum durability.
When browsing through the available options, be sure to ask for cut-pile carpet selections as those don’t have loops that may get snagged onto your pet’s claws.
3. Face Weight
Carpet face weight measures the actual weight of the item per square yard. The denser the fibers, the higher the face weight value of a carpet.
As a rule of thumb, high-face-weight carpets are deemed more durable because of their density.
4. Color
When it comes to selecting carpet color, remember two things:
- Choose a shade close to your pet’s fur color to minimize pet hair appearance in between cleanups.
- Go with a mid or darker shade to disguise residual stain marks and signs of wear and tear that may appear over time.
5. Material
Carpets come in a wide variety of fabrics, but not all of them are pet-friendly.
Below are the carpeting fabrics most recommended for homes with pets:
- Polyester – This fabric is sourced from recycled materials (e.g., water bottles) and is quite durable (second to nylon). It can withstand stains and fading better than other materials. It also comes with a lower price range and the highest number of color options.
- Nylon – Carpets made from this material have high durability and are arguably the best choice for households with unruly pets. Nylon carpets can last between 15 and 20 years and are usually fortified using stain-blocking technology.
- Olefin (or Polypropylene) – This material has a natural resistance to stain and fading due to the dyeing process the fiber undergoes. It also comes with nicer colors since the dye is able to penetrate deeper into the fiber. The only downside to this type of material is that it draws oil, which can result in a dingy-looking carpet if you’re not careful.
Households With Pets: Carpet Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Aside from choosing the right kind of material from carpet suppliers in Dubai, you also need to learn how to care for your carpet properly, especially when you live with a furry, playful four-legged creature.
To help you out, here are four cleaning and maintenance tips for households with pets:
1. Blot up Spills Immediately
Liquids need to be blotted up immediately to reduce the chances of carpet staining. Although commonly advised for spills, this tip also applies to pet urine.
To avoid having urine spots on your carpet, make sure you attend to these quickly:
- Lay several paper towels over the wet area.
- Step on them with your shoes on, a few napkins at a time.
- Repeat as needed until the spot is nearly dry.
Doing this will prevent the urine from spreading while you get as much of the liquid as possible off of the fabric.
Next:
- Spray the area with a one-teaspoon-one-cup mixture of ammonia and water.
- Let sit for five minutes.
- Using a stiff brush, do circular outward motions that start inside the affected spot.
- Pull up the rest of the urine with a wet or dry vacuum to prevent staining.
2. Steam-Clean Carpets Once Every Month
Steam cleaning should be done once every month, especially if you have a pet in the house. This rids the carpet of pet hair, dander, and saliva that may have accumulated over time.
Stick to mild cleaners to maintain the carpet pile structure. Opt for a product made for houses with pets as it can freshen up your carpet and deal with any foul odor on it without wreaking havoc on the carpet pile.
3. Vacuum Twice Weekly
Even with pets that are short-haired and don’t shed a lot, you still need to vacuum twice every week to deal with the animal dander that may weigh down the carpet and leave unpleasant smells. On at least one of these instances, move the furniture and be thorough when vacuuming.
Always vacuum pet play areas as well, especially if they eat or play on a carpeted floor.
4. Trim your Pet’s Nails Regularly
Never let your pet’s nails grow too long as they could snag at the strands of the carpet pile. This could damage the carpet, causing an unraveling effect. It may even leave certain areas looking less fluffy and more disheveled compared to the rest of the carpet.
5. Clean your Pet’s Paws Before they Enter your Home
The most straightforward way to keep carpets clean is to prevent dirt from coming into contact with them. That means you need to clean and dry your pet’s paws before they enter the house or any carpeted area.
Carpets and Pets Can Go Together
“Carpets and pets can coexist under the same roof.”
You can make this statement your reality by choosing the right kind of carpet and knowing what to do to keep your carpets clean and in good condition.
AUTHOR BIO
James Prathap is the General Manager at NGC Nafees, one of the leading distributors of wallpapers, floorings, and fabrics in the Middle East and South Asia. Formed three decades ago, the business also offers high-quality panoramics, coordinated fabrics, and creative stickers for residential and commercial projects.
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