Many modern carpets can last 20–25 years—seriously. You won’t always hit that number, but these habits dramatically improve your odds: Take off your shoes, vacuum regularly (at least weekly), have your carpet professionally cleaned 1-2 times per year, treat spills correctly—and right away.
How Long Can Carpet Really Last? What Newport Homeowners Should Know
Many homeowners assume carpet needs replacing every 7–10 years. That can be true. But in reality, care—not carpet quality—often plays the biggest role. In fact most modern carpets can last 15, 20 or even 25 years when properly installed and cared for.
What Actually Determines How Long Carpet Lasts?
There's nothing you can do to guarantee that your carpet will last for two decades. But there are a few habits that, in general, will help your carpet last longer.
First, take off your shoes in the house. Second, vacuum regularly—we recommend at least once per week. Finally, find a professional carpet cleaner with good referrals to come by 1-2 times per year for a deeper cleaning. And yes, some carpets need special care. Vacuum beater bars and specific cleaning requirements are more common for delicate designs and natural fibers. When you choose your carpet, we make sure you leave with a clear carpet longevity game plan.
Try to avoid spilling anything on your carpet. But obviously, spills do happen. Some carpets have built-in stain protection, but no matter what, you want to get to stains as quickly as possible. You can learn more about treating stains here—but we recommend SoilBlaster as a do no harm product that can often effectively treat stains. You can pick up a free bottle for yourself at our Middletown showroom.
We Won't Sell You a Carpet That's a Mismatch for Your Lifestyle
Aside from how you take care of your carpet, it's also true that the carpet itself can matter. In general, big-box stores sell carpet by price and treat almost every job the same. At Island Carpet, we believe that every home is different and every job is custom. That means we'll ask you a number of questions about your home and the way you live—including if you have kids and pets.
We'll walk you through all your carpet options including the most stain-resistant and durable options for the price. We also have lots of high-end luxury design carpets that can also last for many, many years. We always look at function first, color and design second.
If you have any questions about carpet durability give us a call at 401-214-0285 or visit our showroom. We serve customers throughout Rhode Island and southeastern New England, including Newport, Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Bristol and more.
About Ken: Ken Fain is the co-owner of Island Carpet in Middletown, RI and a floorcovering veteran of more than 40 years. His popular 'Ask Ken' video series answers common flooring questions on a variety of topics. It has reached thousands of viewers on both YouTube and Facebook.
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695 West Main Road Middletown
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