It can be stressful for small business owners to make sure that everything gets done. As an entrepreneur, you’ve got a never-ending list of things to do: hiring, billing, customer service, marketing, product and service delivery, equipment maintenance, and taxes, just to name a few! Every task must be done on time and efficiently. With all of those demands on an small business owner’s time, it’s understandable that more minor tasks always seem to get put off until later.

Professional cleaning for your carpets can often be one of those “back burner” tasks. But if your small business has carpet, it’s important to keep it looking fresh and clean—especially if you employ people or receive customers at your business location. Aesthetics are important—the way your business space looks will often help your potential customer form their first impression of your business. But the importance of carpet cleaning goes beyond the purely superficial. Your health, as well as that of your employees and customers, is also a factor.

Over time, carpets accumulate pollutants that can become a health hazard. These pollutants are transferred onto carpets from foot traffic, drafts from an open door, spills, or even sneezes. Some of these contaminants, such as mold spores, pollen, and dust, can be eliminated with regular vacuuming. But other toxins–like bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and pesticides–can only be extracted by using professional cleaning methods. In order to keep your business’s carpets clean AND healthy, it’s a good idea to commit to routine cleaning.

How often depends on what kind of business you are running.

• If you do not receive clients at your location, and you have relatively little foot traffic, you can probably get by with yearly professional cleanings.
• If your business location does receive clients, or has moderate to heavy foot traffic, two to three cleanings a year are recommended.
• Restaurants, hotels, and nursing homes should have carpets cleaned more frequently in order to maintain a healthy environment. Monthly cleaning is recommended.
• Elementary and high schools should have carpets cleaned on an every three to six months schedule.
• Carpets in kindergartens or day care centers require extra attention. Young children are built low to the ground and attract a lot more dirt and dust than adults, as well as bacteria and viruses. Their developing immune systems are also much more susceptible to illness from bacteria or viruses. Therefore it is recommended that daycare centers have carpets professionally cleaned monthly.
• In between cleanings, you can keep your carpets looking beautiful by implementing a regular vacuuming schedule. When having work done inside your location (like remodeling or plumbing), put down adhesive carpet protection strips where the heaviest foot traffic will be. It’s also a great idea to place welcome mats both inside and outside all entrances so customers and employees to wipe their feet before entering the space. When small spills or stains occur, you can blot (not rub) with a dry paper towel to remove as much of the moisture as you can. It’s a good idea not to use spot cleaners on your carpet unless you’ve previously tested them in an out-of-sight location to ensure they don’t result in fading or damage to the carpet fiber. Finally, be aware that attempting to clean your business’s carpets on your own could result in a voided manufacturer’s warranty.

We hope this blog post helped you make an informed decision about carpet care for your business! If your business is located in the Asheville, NC area, give Five Step a call at 828.237.7233 or contact us to discuss your carpet care needs.