We all know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun's harmful UV rays but did you know that those rays of light beaming through your windows can actually damage your carpet over time too? Sometimes the effects can even be irreversible.

The damage it does

The sun can do a lot more than just change the colour of your carpet. It can also damage the carpet fibres, making them more brittle and in rare cases cause them to decompose. Eventually, repeated exposure will cause your carpet to break down and ultimately need replacing. 

Of course one of the most frequent forms of damage from UV rays is fading in carpets. The damage is also gradual, so you want to be making sure you are checking up on your flooring regularly and treating it appropriately.

It’s not just carpets that feel the effects though, as vinyl and wooden flooring also succumbs to the sunlight over time. Vinyl panels can look burnt and wood can dry out, warp and change colour. 

Can it be repaired?

That depends on the length of time it has been exposed to sunlight as to how salvageable the carpet is. Sometimes faded carpets can be restored to their original look by redying damaged areas to help obscure the fading.

Unfortunately, if it is past the point of no return then the whole carpet will need to be replaced but there are ways to stop the damage from happening in the first place!

How to protect our carpet

The obvious way to avoid the sun fading is to limit the amount of light that hits the carpet on a frequent basis - especially when the UK is seeing highs of 30 degrees at the moment! Close blinds and curtains when you are not using the room and apply UV treatments to your windows where possible which can cut out up to 99% of the sun's UV rays.

Applying a saltwater solution to the carpet and allowing it to dry before vacuuming can also help slow the progression of carpet fading. There is also a wide range of carpet protectant solutions on the market, but as always we advise consulting with a professional before using these types of products on your beloved carpets.

Low maintenance carpet options

The stain-free range from Abingdon flooring is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance carpet that will stand the test of time. These UV-resistant carpets come with a free lifetime guarantee against food and drink stains. A well-known heavy-duty carpet that should be on every homeowner's radar, especially if you have large open airy rooms with lots of light flooding in.

With over 30 years of experience in flooring, we are always available to offer friendly, professional advice to keep your carpets looking in top condition. The team can also arrange a free no-obligation measuring and estimate or why not pop into our store and meet our friendly, knowledgeable team.