Imagine walking into a supplier's office and seeing a dirty, poorly maintained carpet. It probably wouldn’t fill you with confidence about the cleanliness or attention to detail of their business.
This is why it’s important to make sure you regularly clean your office carpets as part of your office cleaning routine, to protect your business reputation.
But keeping on top of maintaining your carpets isn’t just about appearances. It also helps make sure the air quality of your workplace provides a healthy environment for employees.
Dust and allergens can easily become trapped in carpet fibres, which can have a negative impact on employee health - particularly for employees who suffer with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
With this in mind, keeping your carpets clean should clearly be a business priority - yet it’s an area of office cleaning that often gets overlooked.
Cleaning your office carpets might seem like a monotonous and time-consuming task, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
In this article, we’re going to share five expert tips to help you make sure your office carpets, remain spotless and contribute to a cleaner, healthier work environment.
1. Have a regular carpet cleaning routine
Probably the most important tip for keeping your carpets looking clean and spotless is to ensure a regular vacuuming schedule.
Regular cleaning helps prevent dirt and debris from getting trapped and ‘trodden into’ your office carpets.
If you don't vacuum often enough, surface dirt can be pushed deep into the carpet fibres, making it more difficult to remove in the future.
As a general rule, we recommend vacuuming daily in high-traffic areas like entrances and hallways, with other areas being vacuumed at least once a week.
It’s also important to invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner. We recommend using a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, which can capture fine dirt particles more effectively, improving air quality for your employees.
2. Use entrance mats
They say prevention is better than cure - and this is certainly true when it comes to keeping your carpets clean.
One of the most effective ways to keep your office carpets looking spotless is to prevent dirt from getting on them in the first place.
By investing in high-quality entrance mats and placing them at all entrances to your office, you can significantly reduce the amount of dirt and grime that makes its way to your carpets - reducing the need for carpet cleaning.
However, simply placing mats isn’t enough - it’s important to maintain them as well.
If entrance mats become saturated with dirt, they can actually start spreading it rather than trapping it, which defeats their purpose.
We’d also recommend investing in high-quality mats that are specifically designed to trap both dirt and moisture.
Although they might be a little more expensive, high-quality mats are usually more durable and effective than cheaper alternatives. They provide better protection for your office carpets and reduce the amount of time you need to spend on office cleaning.
3. Quickly address any spills on your carpet
In any busy office, spills are bound to happen - but how you handle them can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your office carpets looking their best.
If there is ever a spill, one of the best carpet cleaning tips is to address it as quickly as possible to prevent it from setting into the carpet fibres. The longer a spill is left untreated on a carpet, the more it seeps in - making it much harder to remove.
Although it’s crucial to act fast, remember not to panic. Avoid rubbing the spill, as this can push any liquid deeper into the fibres, making the stain even more difficult to remove.
Instead, the best approach to carpet cleaning is to blot the spill with a clean, dry cloth to absorb as much liquid as possible before treating it with the right cleaning product.
The best choice of cleaning product will largely depend on the type of spill.
For example, water-based spills like coffee can often be treated with a simple cleaning solution, while oil-based stains may require a different approach
If you’re unsure about how to treat a particular spill, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional.
Using the wrong products can do more harm than good. Professional cleaners have the expertise to remove tough stains without further damage to your office carpet.
4. Use the right carpet cleaning products, and make sure they are used properly
Choosing the right carpet cleaning products is vital for maintaining the cleanliness and longevity of your office carpets.
There are a number of different carpet cleaning solutions available, but it’s important to remember that not all products are created equal.
A lot of traditional carpet cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that, while effective at removing dirt and stains, also come with risks to both the environment and the health and wellbeing of your employees.
At Green FM, we always recommend using green cleaning products.
These eco-friendly alternatives to traditional carpet cleaning products are just as effective but without the negative side effects. Green cleaning products are designed to be gentle on the environment and are safer for use around employees, helping you maintain a healthier workplace.
However, choosing the right products is only half the battle - and it’s equally important to use them correctly.
One common mistake that businesses make when cleaning their carpets is failing to thoroughly remove the cleaning solution after use. Although it sounds counterintuitive, this can actually make your carpets look dirtier!
Many carpet cleaning products actually work by attracting dirt. So when you apply them to the surface of your carpet, they draw the dirt out of the fibres to the top, where it can easily be vacuumed away. However, if you don’t fully remove the cleaning solution, it can attract dirt from employee foot traffic, having the opposite effect of what you intended—and leaving your carpets looking dirty again very quickly.
5. Consider professional carpet cleaning services
As we mentioned in the introduction, the cleanliness of your office carpets has a significant impact on the reputation of your business and the health and wellbeing of your employees.
Yet many businesses are often too busy to implement a regular carpet cleaning routine, and keep on top of the cleanliness of their office carpets.
This is why outsourcing carpet cleaning to professionals is the most practical solution for a lot of companies.
Professional cleaning companies can achieve results that might not be possible with in-house cleaning. This allows your staff to focus on their primary responsibilities rather than spending time on carpet maintenance.
If you’re looking for a commercial carpet cleaning partner, it’s important to choose a company with relevant experience in office cleaning.
Try to look for a partner who is ISO-certified and a member of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BiCSc). If you choose a company that holds these credentials, you can have peace of mind that your cleaning will consistently be completed to the highest industry standards.
At Green FM, we offer a range of professional carpet cleaning services tailored to meet the specific needs of your business, which include:
Professional steam cleaning
Steam cleaning is one of the most effective methods for how to clean carpet.
This technique uses high-temperature steam to penetrate deep into carpet fibres, loosening dirt, and debris, and allergens.
The heat from the steam both cleans and sanitises the carpet, killing bacteria and germs that regular vacuuming might miss.
This approach is particularly effective for heavily soiled areas or carpets that haven’t been cleaned in a while.
Professional dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is a low-moisture carpet cleaning method which is ideal if your business can’t afford extended disruption or closed-off areas while you wait for carpets to dry.
This approach uses a product that is spread over the carpet and then worked into the fibres. The solution attracts dirt and pulls it to the surface, making it easy to vacuum away, leaving the carpet clean and dry almost immediately.
Shampooing and extraction
This approach involves applying a wet, foamy cleaning solution to the carpet, which is then agitated into the carpet fibres.
This shampooing process lifts dirt and debris to the surface, where it can be extracted with a wet vacuum.
The extraction process removes both the shampoo and the loosened dirt, ensuring that no residue is left behind. Similar to steam cleaning, this method is particularly effective for carpets with heavy soil or stains.
Need support with carpet cleaning, or general office cleaning? Speak to Green FM
The expert tips we’ve shared in this article should help you keep your carpets in top condition, enhancing the overall appearance of your office and improving air quality for your employees.
However, we understand that business demands can sometimes make it challenging to stay on top of carpet cleaning.
If you're dealing with deeply ingrained dirt, and stubborn stains or simply don't have the time to manage office carpet cleaning yourself, it might be time to call in a professional.
At Green FM, we have more than 20 years of experience cleaning offices across London.
Our services go beyond standard office cleaning, covering everything from window cleaning and deep cleaning to infection prevention and specialised carpet cleaning.
We’re ISO-certified and are able to work around your business schedule to minimise disruption. So whether you need regular carpet maintenance or a one-time deep clean, we’re here to help.
We can even support your existing team with expert advice to keep your entire office spotless.
If you’re ready to take the next step in maintaining a clean and professional office environment, get in touch with Green FM today.
