How to tell if your carpet is old
If your carpet has been in the yard for more than a year, the best thing you can do is inspect it thoroughly.
A quick check of the underside of the carpet can reveal whether it has been washed or cleaned, and whether there are any old stains.
“A lot of the older carpet can be very yellow and be quite dirty,” says Karen Mays, a home inspector in Ontario.
If you suspect a carpet has started to rot, she suggests using a vacuum to remove the old pieces and replacing them with fresh ones.
To get a better look at a carpet, look at the inside of the foot, and you can also see how long the old piece has been there.
If the carpet has become damp, it can also show signs of rot, Mays says.
To determine whether a carpet is dirty, you can use a small white cloth to sniff out stains, like mold or grime.
A clean carpet can smell just as good, so it’s best to let your new carpet sit for a few weeks before you move in.
Cleaning the carpet When you are ready to move in, Mains recommends taking a couple of cleaning products, like bleach and ammonia, with you.
“These will remove dirt and dirt particles, and if you have a very wet carpet, you may need to use a mild cleaner like vinegar or detergent,” she says.
You can also wash your carpet in a sink, but it is important to keep it wet so the dirt doesn’t get trapped in the carpet.
To make sure your carpet doesn’t fall apart, you should try to gently pat the carpet down, so that the carpet doesn´t stick.
“When you take the carpet out of the washing machine, there are lots of tiny pieces of the wood that are sitting on top of it, and those are very small and can easily fall off,” Mains says.
Once you are done washing the carpet, wash it with a mild detergent, such as dish soap and vinegar, before you apply the cleaning solution.
To do this, you’ll want to use your fingers, so you don’t accidentally damage the carpet by accident.
To avoid scratching your carpet, make sure to leave the area covered with the carpet for a couple weeks before moving in.
“I have seen carpet that is almost completely covered with paint and grime,” says Mains.
“So if you are going to move into a new home, you really need to protect your carpet from scratches.”
