How do I know when it's time to replace my carpet?

• 03 July 2021
• 4 Min Read
• By Jaipur Rugs

Despite following a proper rug care guide, a time will come when you will have to replace it and match your interiors with a new one. There are a few signs which will tell you that it is time to wave goodbye to your carpet. You can follow the points below to know more.

It is not easy to replace your treasured carpet, for sure, which you have preserved for years as it has so many memories attached to it. Moreover, since the carpet has been there for generations it perfectly aligns with space and has become a part of what you call home.

However, despite following a proper rug care guide, a time will come when you will have to replace it and match your interiors with a new one. There are a few signs which will tell you that it is time to wave goodbye to your carpet. You can follow the points below to know more.

Carpet with spills and stains

If you are prone to spilling tea, coffee, wine, or sauces over your rug then you will have to replace it sooner or later. Initially, the carpet will be stain-resistant but over the years it will catch hold of the stains and they will start appearing on the surface diminishing the entire look. You can try various cleaning methodologies but after a certain point of time, they won't give you the expected results. Moreover, if you are a cleanliness freak then you will have to replace such a carpet really soon.

Carpet which is not smooth to walk on

In the first place, when you purchase a carpet the main motive is to provide comfort beneath your feet. If that itself is not being accomplished then there is no point in laying a carpet at all. It so happens after some years that the natural fibers of a handmade rug might either stretch or crush. Even in the case of hand-tufted carpet, the backing may come out or shrink from the sides. In both cases, the surface of the carpet either becomes bumpy or loses its smoothness. This is the time when you will have to replace the carpet.

Carpet releasing unwanted odors

A few years after you have bought the carpet and it has started producing odors independent of the number of times you spray room fresheners on it, then it is time to get a new one. There are ways to maintain it for a few more months with the help of a professional or using deep clean methods to get rid of the odors collected in the deepest fibers of the rug. However, ultimately you will have to replace it as no room fresheners would be effective.

The carpet style is not in the trend anymore

If you are one of those who loves to stay up to date with the trends then it is important that your carpet should also align with your ideas. If you have a love for a vintage look then it is a different thing otherwise it is always nice to match your decor and carpet with the current trend to cast a bold statement on whoever enters the space. Colors, styles, and patterns are endless for you to pick from. You can think of all kinds of permutations and combinations to bind all the elements of the space together.

Carpet has worn out

The carpet during the years tends to wear off due to various reasons. It can be heavy footfall, excessive washing, placing heavy furniture for a long period, and similar other reasons. Eventually, you will notice that the carpet will start losing its originality. It might tear out at some corners or its natural fibers might pluck out from various sections of the carpet. You can then understand that it is time to replace it as if you continue to place this then it will devalue the entire appeal of the space.

Carpets have become a breeding ground for allergens

Carpets have an inherent quality to absorb allergens and dust particles floating in the air. This surely does improve indoor air quality but it also becomes important to clean the carpet on a frequent basis. Sometimes it so happens that you may forget to dry your carpet completely after steam or deep clean then that also adds to the problem. If you witness that you or your family members, especially kids or older people, have a cough or cold for more than a few weeks then the carpet might be the one creating the trouble.

Carpet has lost its original pile height

If your carpet undergoes severe abuse by heavy footfall or if you have left some heavy piece of furniture as it is on the rug for years then it will tend to lose its pile height. When such a thing happens then you may not be able to make the fibers upright again despite making your rug undergo frequent deep cleaning sessions. Therefore, it is suggested to either rotate your carpet or move the furniture, every once in a while to save it from becoming matted. This is unfortunately the time when you have to say goodbye to this one and get a new rug for your home.

Choose the right material

This is essential in deciding the number of years for which your carpet is going to be a part of your home. If you have a number of people in the house and their favorite hangout place is the living room then it becomes extremely important which material you are choosing for your rug. The reason being, the more the number of people at one place more the footfall it will experience. You can choose a hand-knotted silk or wool rug which is durable and is meant for such areas. However, if you go for a viscose rug then it may wear out as it sheds a lot and does not have long strand fibers.
These are some of the reasons when you can look up a new rug to buy for your space. The good thing is that when you are aware of these reasons that may spoil your treasured carpet forever then you can be a little more cautious with the new one you bring home.