Patterned shag carpet flooring looking fresh in a Calgary, AB home

Keep your shag looking fresh and perfect with these 5 tips

Undoubtedly, shag carpeting is an ever-popular flooring choice for a great many people. Not only does it beautify a room instantly, but it also gives it a sense of warmth and comfort. For a luxurious, elegant appeal, there?s simply nothing quite like this type of wall-to-wall ? ask any interior designer! While you may be put off by all the high pile, don?t be ? these 5 easy-to-follow tips will help you keep your fibers looking fresh and perfect.

1. Vacuum

Ideally, aim to vacuum at least once a week, especially in areas that see a lot of foot traffic. However, unlike short pile carpet flooring in Calgary, never use an upright vacuum with a rotating beater bar with shag. This type of attachment can damage your high pile. Instead, you can use:

  • a suction-only that doesn?t have a beater bar
  • upholstery cleaning attachments
  • a standard upright with the beater bar removed

2. Shake it, beat it, smack it!


As was common in the olden days with rugs, and is still used by many today, you can take your shag carpets outside for a good beat down. Of course, this only works if your shag is removable, like a small rug or even a larger floor model. Doing so loosens up the dust and dirt particles, making it easier to clean ? and keep clean.

3. Try a dry bath

Sometimes shag carpet floors in Calgary still look dirty, even after beating it outside for a bit. Whether it simply didn?t work or your installation is wall-to-wall and you need a different method to clean the fibers, you can try a dry bath product ? as long as it is a product approved for your specific shag fibers. Often, color tone plays a huge role in how quickly carpets look dirty. Lighter shades are, of course, more prone to looking unkempt after a while. After checking to see if you can use dry shampoo on your carpets, use a vacuum to help break down and remove the dirt.

4. Spot clean

The moment food or liquid falls on your shag carpet, follow these steps:

  • Use a clean, white cloth to absorb the spill.
  • Avoid rubbing ? it can cause the stain to spread.
  • Use a dabbing motion to soak up the liquid until it looks like you?ve absorbed most of it.
  • Now, wet a clean, white cloth with fresh water, and start dabbing at the spot to remove the spilled substance.
  • If the stain is still noticeable, then use a safe cleaning product on the stained area.
  • Once the stain comes out, leave the fibers to air dry completely.

5. Professional steam cleaning


Professional steam cleaning is an excellent way to remove old stains and keep your fibers in their best shape. Avoid renting a machine and doing it on your own, this often ends up with disastrous results.

Need a reliable carpet store in Calgary? Come visit our Westvalley Carpet & Flooring Store in Calgary, AB, Canada to view our vast selection of prime flooring materials.