Wear and tear have the power to change the look of carpeting for the worse. One symptom of wear and tear is a carpet condition known as “traffic lane gray.” Traffic lane gray happens when high-traffic areas of carpeting take on an unattractive gray hue due to being walked on so many times.

If you want to avoid this common carpet problem, you’ll enjoy our quick guide.

Tips for Avoiding This Problem

Installing a carpet runner, whether it’s clear plastic or decorative, will help you to keep your carpets looking fresh and clean for a longer period of time. This tip will definitely help you to avoid traffic lane gray! However, carpet runners will need professional installation in order to ensure that they are safe and don’t trigger slips and falls. So, it’s important to get the job done right. You can buy carpet runners at most home improvement and home furnishing stores in Ottawa, or shop online. You can buy a carpet runner that matches the existing carpet, or perhaps you prefer a contrasting colour or texture.

Change the Placement of Furniture

Changing the placement of furniture is another sure-fire way to ensure that foot-traffic is distributed evenly, rather than along one “traffic lane.” If possible, change up the arrangement of your furnishings now and then to encourage a different traffic flow. In a living room, you may want to move the couch and coffee table; in a bedroom maybe you can place the bed against a different wall. One bonus of doing so is that you’ll give a room a fresh new look whenever you do decide to change the placement of your furniture.

Schedule Professional Carpet Cleaning

Professional carpet cleaning is the best way to remove the look of traffic lane gray. If you’ve noticed discolouration, a professional carpet cleaning company like Ja-Doc Inglis should be able to reverse it by steam-cleaning your rugs and (if necessary) applying concentrated stain removers.

Only pros have the right tools for the job, such as steam-cleaning machines and solvents. So, we do advise paying for professional carpet cleaning, which is actually a lot more affordable than you might think!

Now that you know three great tips for reducing or preventing traffic lane gray, you’ll be ready to keep your carpeting looking great year-round. Carpeting is an investment that needs to be protected. Our advice is designed to help you protect your investment, without needing to spend a lot of time or money.