How do I know when it’s time to change my carpet?

They’re a part of your home, witnessing everything from the pitter patter of tiny feet to wine spills, or mud tracked in from soccer practice. However, sooner or later, you have to decide when it’s time for your residential carpet to be replaced.

As you are seeing your carpet every day, it can be hard to notice the little changes over time. So to help you evaluate the state of your flooring, we’ve put together our top things to look out for when deciding if it is time to replace your carpet.

YOU CAN NO LONGER HIDE THE STAINS

A home is not meant to be looked at, it’s meant to be lived in. While this is all well and good when it comes to making a space your own, it can also mean that your carpet takes a hit over the years with accidental spills and stains. Fortunately, if you act fast enough, many stains can be removed or minimised, but some stubborn patches can be near-impossible to get rid of, especially when you use DIY carpet cleaning methods.

Over the years, this results in finding more creative ways to disguise stains from decorative rugs to indoor plants, but if you’re getting to the point where you’re running out of rugs to cover up wear and tear, it might be time for a change.

IT SMELLS, EVEN AFTER STEAM CLEANING

There’s nothing worse than coming home to smelly carpet. Even if you get rid of the visible stain, there are some substances where it’s harder to erase the evidence. This is often the case for homeowners with pets – even if you spot clean little accidents straight away, sometimes the smell can remain, meaning that the odour may have penetrated more deeply into the carpet fibers, or into the padding.

IT HAS BALD PATCHES OR MATTING

Carpets see a lot of use over the years – especially if you have kids who like to practice their cricket bowling down the corridor, or who like to use the living room for dance rehearsals. Over time, this can result in your carpet wearing thin or matting, especially in high-traffic areas. Polyester carpets tend to be slightly more prone to matting, and often cannot be restored.

IT’S LOST ITS CUSHION / COMFORTING FEEL

One of the key benefits of choosing carpet over other flooring options is the soft cushioning beneath your feet. The layer of cushion under the surface of your carpet is what makes this possible, helping with both comfort and acoustics. Uneven carpeting, as well as carpet that feels like you’re walking on unforgiving concrete can be indicators that the condition of the padding isn’t what it should be.

DAMPNESS / MOULD / DAMAGE

Water damage is a carpet’s worst enemy, leaving stubborn stains as well as a lingering damp smell. Dampness is particularly common in Australia’s more humid regions, such as tropical Queensland. Keep an eye out for possible signs of mould and mildew, as well as a stale odour – this can be a sign that it’s time to replace your carpet.

GETTING MORE SNIFFLES AND SNEEZING MORE AROUND THE HOUSE

Older carpets can be a hotbed of dust, pollen, mites and other allergens that are less than ideal for anyone with allergies. Even with regular cleaning, you may find that your carpet is the source of more stuffy noses and sneezes at home due to aging carpet fibers.

YOUR CARPET MAKES YOUR DECOR LOOK HORRIBLE

Whether you’re looking to refresh your home or you’re looking to sell, outdated or faded carpet can drastically age a space, in spite of your other furnishings. You deserve to come home to a space that is inviting and pleasant, in line with your tastes and today’s high design standards.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD CARPET BE REPLACED?

This depends on the type of residential carpet you have installed, as well as the reason for replacing it. In an average home of 2-4 residents, you can expect to see carpet fibers beginning to show more serious signs of fraying and ageing after about 3-5 years. However, this lifespan can be impacted by whether you have young kids or pets.

It’s important to remember that good maintenance can make all the difference – some people only have to replace their carpets every 10 years!

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP TO REPLACING MY OLD CARPET?

Once you’ve decided to bid farewell to your old carpet, you can get in touch with Carpet Removal Sydney. We cover everything from in-home consultations to carpet removal and the carpet installation process. You can also Contact our carpet installation team to help with the process.