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Proper Carpet Care
Did you know that 79% of all soil can be removed from carpeting with routine
vacuuming. These are the abrasive soils that nick and abrade your fibers causing them overtime to appear dull and faded. The result is that light does not reflect off of the fiber like it did when it was new. When this happens, it is referred to as apparent soiling. Example: if you were to take a clear piece of plastic and scratch it with sandpaper, no matter how well you clean it the scratches will remain giving it a dull appearance . Preventative Maintenance Mats - the use of indoor and outdoor mats helps reduce the amount of soil that enters your home. Shoes - remove your shoes, walking around the house in stocking feet can help reduce the wear to carpeting. (don't go barefoot because the oils from your skin on your feet will transfer to the carpeting causing it to soil faster) Pets - Like the oils from your skin, a pets coat is very oily. Lay a bedding down for them on carpeted areas or better yet have their bedding on hard surfaced floors. Vacuum - vacuum carpeting in the high traffic areas at least twice a week and all other areas weekly. Slow down when you vacuum in the entryways and high traffic areas and be sure to vacuum in both directions. Take a little extra time periodically and vacuum around the edges of the wall with a crevice tool. Professional Cleaning - all major carpet mills recommend having your carpets cleaned every 12 to 18 months using the hot water extraction (steam cleaning) method. Spots and Stains - act quickly to remove spots and stains from carpeting. The longer they remain, the higher chance of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Blot up liquids with a dry, white towel or paper towel (not a printed one). Spotting Guide - links are listed below to help you remove spots and stains. Please follow the instructions Apply small amounts of the recommended cleaner to a white towel or paper towel. Allow it to remain for about 10 minutes, gently working it into the stain.(Do not scrub the area. This can cause distortion of the fibers). Observe Transfer to the towel. Be patient as this step may have to be repeated several times until there is no more transfer. Rinse - after the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry towel until the solution has been removed. If this step is not done thoroughly rapid re-soiling will occur. Drying - put a white absorbent towel over the area or folded paper towels (non-printed) with a weighted object like a plastic gallon water jug on top. If you need to put the carpeting back into use quickly try using a hair dryer to dry the area. Again it is important that you follow these tips listed above to extend the life and appearance of your carpeting. Links to spotting guides Spotting Guide Mohawk Guide CRI guide Wool Rugs |
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