Most soft furnishings give a clear heads-up when the time is ripe for a cleaning session. On the other hand, Carpets and curtains aren’t the best communicators. The bread crumbs on your carpet may be a clear sign you should put your vacuum cleaner to work. But your carpet will not be as vocal regarding pollutants and grime. Curtains are similar, perhaps even trickier. But just because it’s sometimes impossible to see with your naked eye that they need some TLC, it doesn’t mean they’re not hiding any unwanted surprises. So, don’t make the mistake of leaving your carpets and curtains far too long without their necessary, periodic cleans. With that said, how often should you clean your carpets and curtains at home? Spoiler alert: there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

How often should you clean your carpets at home?

That beautiful new carpet you got undoubtedly adds to the interior design of your home. However, all bets are off when your kid walks in from the backyard and adds to that same beautiful carpet by dragging the outdoors indoors. Carpets are high-traffic areas, and it’s tough to keep them spick-and-span at all times without maintaining a consistent deep-cleaning regimen.

But, it’s like we already mentioned: every household is different, so a single universal answer to how often you should clean your carpets will not be of help because there isn’t one. Your carpet cleaning demands will vary depending on a few things:

If you have kids

Kiddos and carpets. This probably requires no further explanation for those of you who are parents.

The two share a special bond that no “no-shoes” policy declaration can break. They are going to spill their juice, drop a permanent marker right on the tip, and drag their sticky hands all over your carpet – you can be sure of that. So, what does this mean for your carpet cleaning schedule?

In a nutshell, it means you need to step up your game – if there are any spills or messes, clean them straight away (not with water, of course), vacuum at least every few days, if not every day, and shampoo or steam clean every six months or so. Finally, consider having a professional carpet cleaning service come in at least once a year for a deeper clean.

If you have pets

There’s yet another recipe for disaster: pets and carpets. Muddy prints and accidents are something that kids and pets have in common, but at least your human children don’t shed. If you have furry companions, it can mean only one thing – a dirty carpet!

You’ll want to vacuum anywhere from two times a week to daily. Next, every three to six months, you’ll want to clean your carpets with a steam cleaner. And if any accidents occur, make sure to address them instantly to avoid lingering odours. To be sure, give professional carpet cleaners a call every six months.

Also, long-term storage is good in some situations. For example, if your pet isn’t potty trained, it’s best to roll up your expensive carpets until you’re sure that accidents are under control.

Other variants

But kids and pets aren’t the only ones who will dictate your carpet cleaning schedule. So, how often should you clean your carpeting if:

• it came with a guarantee? Check the warranty for any specific instructions.
• you allow shoes indoors? The more shoe traffic your carpet has to endure, the more regularly you need to give it some TLC. Anyway, vacuum two times a week and shampoo every 6-12 months.
• your carpet is light-coloured? White or light-coloured carpets are notorious for showing the dirt. This requires that you be diligent in your routine, vacuuming at least two times per week, and shampooing your carpets once in six months.
• someone in your household has allergies? Another thing carpets are notorious for – filtering out dust and allergens. Make sure to keep those at bay by shampooing your carpets every two months.
• there are smokers in your household? can’t keep the nicotine and tar from going straight into your carpet fibres. You can, however, keep up with this challenge by shampooing it every 3-6 months.

How often should you clean your curtains at home?

People seldom forget to wash the carpets and upholstery or wipe down the walls when starting a deep clean. They do, however, often tend to neglect the curtains. How so? Well, most aren’t sure whether their curtains should be washed, and some don’t know how or how often.

First, check the instructions

Your curtains may look spotless. But the dust, debris, and odours are there. Before everything else, make sure to check the care instructions to learn whether your curtains should be washed or dry-cleaned.

Vacuum your curtains weekly

Sinus issues and allergies don’t go well with dusty curtains. Once a week, take your curtains outside and give them a proper shake to get rid of the build-up. And, just in case, wear a mask while you do it. To get a more nitty-gritty clean, you can use the carpet attachment on the vacuum cleaner.

Spritz on some antibacterial curtain cleaner weekly

Spritzing some antibacterial cleaner once a week will not only wipe bacteria away but also leave an oh-so-lovely scent behind. These come particularly handy when you have smokers in the house – another important factor that dictates how often you should be giving your curtains a clean. Make sure to pick the right cleaner, though, if you wish to avoid staining or permanently washing the colour off.

Steam often

A good steam-cleaner is the ultimate game-changer. If you wish to save yourself the hassle of having your curtains professionally cleaned, you can count on these guys to keep them in tip-top condition. The best part? You don’t even have to go through the trouble of taking them down.

Wash or dry clean your curtains every 2-4 months

If your curtains are fully machine-washable – and most of them are – you can tackle the task yourself. Pick a nice summery day to give them a gentle whirl and let them air dry outside. Finally, while they are still a little damp, gently go over with your iron and hang them to avoid creasing. If your curtains are made of silk, linen, or other sensitive materials, look into dry cleaning options instead!

Spot clean when necessary

Sometimes, you cannot know how frequently your curtains should be washed simply because there are things you can’t plan for. Spots and stains happen without notice – it is only when you discover them that you can treat them.

In essence, no household is the same, and the same goes for the cleaning criteria, demands, and schedules. So, hopefully, going into detail about how often you should clean your carpets and curtains at home can help you draft a plan for your own situation.