Those darker paths through a hallway or living room are the first thing guests notice. In most homes they are removable, but only if you catch them before the fibers physically abrade.
Soil lanes versus wear lanes
Rub a damp white cloth across the lane. If the cloth picks up gray, it is soil and cleaning will bring the carpet back. If the cloth stays clean and the fiber looks fuzzy or crushed, the pile is worn and cleaning improves appearance only slightly.
What removes soil lanes
Pre-spray with an alkaline traffic lane cleaner, let it dwell, agitate with a brush to break the bond, then hot water extract. Skipping the dwell time is the most common reason a DIY rental machine leaves the lane behind.
Preventing them
Vacuum traffic areas twice as often as the rest of the room, add runners or mats at entries, and rotate furniture occasionally so the walking path shifts.
- Vacuum lanes 2 to 3 times per week
- Walk-off mats at every door
- Professional cleaning every 6 to 12 months in traffic areas
Bottom line
If the lane is soil, one professional cleaning usually erases it. Call and we will test it before quoting.
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