Short answer: vacuum new carpet two or three times a week for the first few months, keep shoes off inside until the yard is landscaped, and have the carpet deep cleaned once the building work around you settles down. Fine construction dust wears new carpet faster than almost anything else.
Why new estates are dusty
In Adelaide’s growth areas to the north, the south and around the Hills, houses go up street by street. For the first year or two a new home is usually surrounded by bare blocks, building sites and unsealed verges.
That means:
- Fine dust from earthworks, concrete cutting and plasterboard, blown in on windy days
- Clay from your own unfinished yard, tracked in on shoes and paws
- Builder’s dust left inside the house in cupboards, vents and window tracks, which keeps settling for months
Why it matters for new carpet
Plaster and concrete dust is fine and gritty. It sinks to the base of the pile and scratches the fibres from below every time someone walks over it. Carpet that is not kept clean in its first year can show traffic lanes years early.
The first few months
- Vacuum often. Two or three times a week, slowly. New carpet also sheds loose fibre at first, which is normal.
- Shoes off at the door until the driveway, paths and lawn are in.
- Put mats at every entrance, including the garage door.
- Wipe out window tracks, vents and cupboards to remove builder’s dust at the source.
- Change air conditioner filters after the first month.
- Keep windows shut on windy days while there is building nearby.
Clay from the yard
Let mud dry before cleaning it, then vacuum and blot. See mud on the carpet. Getting paths and turf down early is the best protection.
When to book the first deep clean
After the landscaping is finished and the nearest building sites are done, or at about 12 months, whichever comes first. Check your carpet warranty too: many require professional hot water extraction at set intervals.
If the carpet has rippled as the house settled, it can be restretched. See carpet repair and restretching.
See carpet cleaning, read about Adelaide’s summer dust, or check the suburbs we cover.
FAQs
Should new carpet be cleaned in the first year?
Yes, if the home is in a dusty new estate. Removing construction dust early protects the pile.
Why is my new carpet shedding?
Loose fibre from manufacturing works its way out in the first few months. Regular vacuuming clears it.
Does professional cleaning affect a carpet warranty?
Many warranties require periodic professional cleaning. Keep your receipts.
