We’ve all seen them, especially those that have white or cream colored carpet. Those awful dark lines that develop along the edges of carpet- typically in hallways, on stairs, and under doorways. What are those dark lines in carpet and how do you get rid of them?

First of all, the dark lines on the edge of the carpet are called air filtration lines. It’s the dust, pet dander, allergens, and other things that get pushed off to the side when you walk down the hall or up the stairs. Think of it like driving on the freeway- there’s rarely any debri where your tires go. It’s all brushed off to the side by the wind from the vehicles passing. These lines are full of dirt and grime, and can be tricky to clean out once they get bad. In order to keep them from appearing, we recommend using the hose attachment on your vacuum to vacuum the edges of your carpeted rooms every 1-2 weeks. It’s a pain, we know! But it will be much more work to get rid of if you let the air filtration lines to develop.

How do you clean the dark lines in carpet? Of course, the best (but also most expensive) way is to hire a professional. We have special products and tools designed specifically for these air filtration lines. If the lines are in a room anywhere near a kitchen, it’s very common that cooking oils will settle onto these lines, so we recommend a good citrus based cleaner to help pull out the oils. Outside of that, you can use our free Spot Out cleaner or Folex from the store. Put some on the filtration line, gently work in with a towel and let sit 5 minutes (don’t let it dry). Then scrub aggressively with a terry towel or microfiber towel to remove the spot. Repeat until there is no more change.

If you can’t remove them yourself, feel free to call or text Sno-King Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning at 206-801-0161!