Carpet services: How to install and maintain your carpet

From carpet installation to cleaning, here's our guide to maintaining your floor covering.

If you're looking to install new carpet, repair what you have, or give it a new lease on life with a thorough clean, there are ways to keep the process fuss-free.

While it may seem like a straightforward task, if not done correctly, carpet laying and repair can quickly escalate into costly projects. Planning ahead is key and can easily take the confusion out of the process.

Whether it's hiring a professional to ensure your new carpet is fitted correctly or finding the right tools to restore damaged carpet to its original condition, we share our best tips and tricks on how to turn a fuzzy experience into a breezy project.

Carpet installation

Ever wondered what's involved in buy and installing new carpet? Ready to install that new carpet in your home? From choosing your floor covering to having it installed (and getting rid of your old carpets), here is a breakdown of the standard carpet installation process.

1. Pick up carpet samples

Pick up some carpet samples from a hardware store and bring them home to see which one works best for the room(s).

2. Measure

Measure the room(s) to calculate how much carpet is needed and plan the pre-installation cleaning.

3. Get a quote

If working with a tradie, estimate the installation cost and time so you won't get any surprises along the way.

4. Book the installation

Be aware of what's involved on the installation day, including surface preparation and rubbish removal.

5. Clean and install

Staples may need to be removed from the hard floor first or old carpet may need to be ripped out before the new one is laid. 

6. Remove hard rubbish

After installation, take care of any hard rubbish removal and remove any tools before a good vacuum to finish your install. (Plus, check out our guide to how to choose a vacuum cleaner.)

How to keep your carpet looking like new

There comes a time when your carpet needs a little tender loving care. Whether it’s wine spills or pets ripping into their favourite spot, your carpet bears the brunt of daily wear and tear. Here are some common types of carpet damage plus how to fix them before it's too late.

Spills

Spills can be unavoidable but that doesn't make the horror of seeing red wine splattered over your carpet less daunting. Attend to the spill as soon as possible by removing all food and beverage from the area, then apply a stain remover according to the instructions. For a more natural cleaning solution, try vinegar.

Tufting

Tufting is when carpet threads come loose and rise above the rest of the threads making the carpet look unkempt. The best way to minimise damage is to avoid pulling the threats out and instead cut them loose altogether. If the damage still looks obvious, consider having similar thread sewn in place of it.

Burns

Burned or singed carpets from a fallen iron or cigarette butts can leave unwanted and lasting marks. The best remedy is to cut out the damaged piece of carpet and replace it with parts of the original carpet if available or with something similar.

Is your washing machine starting to smell? Take time to clean your dishwasher by popping in a specialised dishwasher tablet that cleans its interiors and unclogs the drain to keep it working efficiently. This can help prevent clogging that would require full dishwasher repair.

Ripples and bulging

This happens when a carpet comes loose off the edge and causes ripples across the room. This can be a trip hazard and is unpleasant to look at. This can be remedied by re-stretching and tightening the carpet to its edges.

Carpet maintenance tips

When it comes to keeping your carpet in tip-top shape, we have a few tips you may find useful.

Compare carpet repair and replacement

You’ll be surprised as to what carpet damage can be fixed so before you need to replace it altogether, so you may consider the cost of small-scale repairs and save yourself some money.

Keep excess carpet for future repairs

One of the best things to do after carpet installation is to keep any leftover material. That way you'll have it on hand if you have to repair your carpet in the future. It will also save you the headache of having to look for similar carpet colour and texture later.

Don't forget aftercare

The best way to keep your carpet in good condition is to set some ground rules such as regular cleaning or no food and drink on the carpet. A regular vacuum and spray can also be enhanced by steam cleaning for a thorough cleanse. 

Engage a professional carpet cleaner

Qualified carpet cleaning services and tradies can tackle challenging stains and efficiently complete the job done efficiently. Find a tradie today with RACV Home Trades & Services to keep your carpet worries at bay.

Take the stress out of carpet repairs

Carpet in need of some TLC? RACV Home Trades & Services has the right tradie for the job.