How often should we clean our carpets and rugs?

We find out just how dirty our carpets are — and what’s lurking in them

Vacuuming reduces bacteria on carpets by 67% on average. Picture: VAX/PA

Our carpets may look pristine and may even have been cleaned recently. But beware — that doesn’t mean there’s nothing nasty lurking beneath the surface.

In a recent study, Factory Direct Flooring and microbiology lab BioLabTests analysed 100 swabs taken from floors in homes, and found bedrooms have the filthiest carpets, rife with Staphylococcus bacteria, which can cause infections in humans.