Stairs are one of the most frequently walked on parts of the house and can undergo a lot of wear and tear through the years.
This is especially true if you have carpeted stairs. We’ve found the best way to protect carpet on stairs is by using rug stair treads that sit on top of the carpet to protect the carpet below.
We’ve rounded up the 7 best ways you can protect your carpet on stairs, so don’t worry if you don’t have any stair treads laying around – we’ve got you covered. Let’s jump into them right now.
1. Rug Stair Treads
Our number 1 method to protect your carpeted stairs is by placing rug stair treads on each step. This is essentially the same principle as using a rug on your carpet in hallways and high traffic areas throughout the house to protect them.
We love these stair treads by MBIGM if you’re looking to buy some stair treads today.
When placing your stair treads make sure that they cover the majority of each step and are placed as close to the middle as you can get. This way you’ll get the most protection and won’t have to worry about parts of the carpet underneath still being stepped on.
How To Keep Stair Treads In Place?
One problem that people bring up with stair treads is keeping them in place. We actually recommend very similar advice for if you wanted to keep a rug in place on a carpet in a hallway, which involves using double-sided tape to secure the rug to the floor.
You can try to use a physical gripper which can work quite well, but we’ve found that double-sided tape doesn’t leave any mark or damage on the carpet below and can usually provide more than enough grip to secure the rug to the carpet below.
Stair treads are lighter than rugs and so we’ve found you might need to increase the amount of tape you use, but this shouldn’t be too difficult to do.
2. Stair Runners
A stair runner is a single piece of vinyl that is laid all the way up your stairs in the middle. This is then held in place typically by stair rods which push the runner into the corner of each step that holds the vinyl in place.
Stair runners are very similar to stair treads in that they provide an extra surface between the carpet on your stairs and the person or animal walking on them. Just make sure you use a vinyl runner rather than carpet, as a carpet runner can actually cause damage to the carpet beneath it.
A stair runner is another great option to protect your carpet on your stairs if you want complete coverage of the steps of your stairs. We just prefer stair treads because they’re cheaper and are don’t require any fitting into place – you simply put them down where you see fit and that’s that.
3. Tackle Spills Straight Away
Any liquids that are spilt on carpet can cause serious damage if you let them sit for long periods of time.
This is especially true on stairs as these tend to be one of the most common places where drinks or other liquids are spilt. Furthermore, a spillage on a set of stairs can sometimes seep down the steps under gravity and spread further than on a regular carpet floor.
If you do happen to spill something on your carpeted stairs then you should try to blot the area as soon as you can with a dry flannel. The good thing is if you have followed the above advice and have some kind of barrier between the carpet then you should find that only a small amount of liquid – if any – will make its way through to the steps.
4. Regular Vacuuming
Keeping your carpet clean will actually have a greater impact on its longevity than you would expect. Sure, having a physical barrier will give great protection against spillages and foot traffic, but if you forget to vacuum your stairs on a regular basis they will still collect dust and debris, even under treads or runners.
This can lead to more friction in the carpet when pressure is applied and also degradation of the carpet fibres; both of which can result in your carpet becoming permanently damaged and in the long run even needing to be replaced.
We recommend vacuuming your carpet once every week even if you have treads or a runner on your stairs, up to twice a week if you have animals that go upstairs.
5. Steam Cleaning
If you’ve had a spillage on your stairs that has caused a stain then you might find it difficult to remove with household items. Luckily, you can rent a steam cleaner and use a professional carpet cleaning solution to lift almost every stain, provided it hasn’t been left too long.
A steam cleaner will usually cost around £20 to £30 per 24 hours, which should give you more than enough time to steam clean the entirety of your stairs. Make sure to rent a cleaner that has an attachment for stairs or you might find it difficult to reach the corners of the steps.
Making sure stains are treated sooner rather than later will ensure your carpet is protected and lasts for a longer time.
6. Professional Cleaning
Hiring a professional to deep clean your carpet is essential not only for carpet in your living room or kitchen but even more so on your stairs if you want your carpet to last. We recommend having a professional deep clean around once per year, for which you can expect to pay between £20 or £30 per room.
This might seem like a lot, but it will keep your carpet protected from a wide array of problems that will be more expensive further down the line. If you follow the above advice you could probably get away with having a professional clean once every two years though, it all depends on how you maintain your carpet.
7. Keep Your Carpet Out Of Sunlight
Believe it or not, sunlight can make your carpet fade over time. For this reason, if you want to protect your carpet you’ll need to make sure that your stairs stay out of sunlight.
The best way to do this is by installing blinds or carpets near any windows that are close to your stairs. This is one of the less thought about things, typically because people don’t either consider it an issue or due to the popularity of white and cream carpets which are less noticeable if they start to fade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to protecting your stairs there are a lot of other common questions that we get asked all the time, so we’ve decided to round them up below. If you want to see any other questions added then don’t hesitate to ask us here!
Is Carpet a Good Choice For Stairs?
Carpet as a material can make your home feel much cosier and more welcoming to guests or visitors, but is it suitable for stairs?
Carpet is a great choice for stairs. Not only does it make the stairs more comfortable to walk on, but it’s also great for children and animals as well. Although the carpet will get worn down pretty quickly, you can apply the methods above to make sure it lasts a long time.
Although wood is a lot more durable, it’s much colder than carpet and can be really slippery as well. It’s also a lot harder so if you miss a step then you’ll be sure to know about it.
How Can You Keep Your Dog Safe On Stairs?
Luckily the best thing to keep a dog safe on stairs is to fit carpet or treads. This works great because it will give them more grip when compared to wood which will stop them from sliding around and potentially falling.
Other things you can do include not shouting your dog if they are upstairs, as this will encourage them to run down the stairs which can be a recipe for disaster.
If you’re concerned about the damage your dog can do to your stairs once carpeted then make sure to install treads above the carpet for added protection. You could also consider installing a dog gate at the bottom of your stairs if your breed is particularly prone to hip or joint issues.
Are Carpet Runners Good For Carpeted Stairs?
You may have noticed that we recommended vinyl runners rather than carpet, and for good reason.
A lot of expert carpet fitters recommend against using carpet runners over carpet as it can lead to all sorts of problems. The main issue is that the carper runner cannot be secured properly as the base beneath it – being carpet – is already secured using tack strips. There simply isn’t enough space to also secure the carpet runner over this.
This means the carpet runner will become a trap for dirt and debris to build up in the space between it and the carpet below, which in the long run increases the likelihood of mould and mildew.
The tread of the runner can also become imprinted on the carpet below, which is another reason to use vinyl.
Summary
We hope you’ve learnt how to protect carpet on stairs by reading this article. It’s crucial that you take the time to protect your stairs and carpet to save yourself a lot of stress and money further down the line.
