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Planning Ahead
Before you begin shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared. Consider everything that will affect your carpet choice.
What type of room will you be carpeting? Will it be used often or not? Will people be eating or drinking there? Nylon and Acrylic are good choices for rooms subject to food and beverage spills.
Do you have a color scheme in mind? Do you want to coordinate the carpet with any other furnishings? Bring upholstery and drapery samples along while you shop to insure your carpet choice achieves your desired look.
As you choose your new carpet, you may be tempted to buy on the basis of color alone. But remember, quality determines the overall look and life of your carpet.
While you’re shopping, don’t overlook the value of carpet padding. A good pad will increase the lifespan of any carpet.
And Always Remember to:
- Vacuum frequently.
- Clean spills promptly.
- Have periodic professional carpet cleanings.
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Cleaning
Your Carpet
While
vacuuming removes most dry soil, the oily soil of
cooking vapors, air pollution and grime tracked in
from the street present a decidedly different type
of problem. These particles of oily soil deposited
on carpet fibers can cause gradual - but significant
- dulling of delicate pastel colors. The color isn't
actually lost. It's hidden under a dirty film.
If this type of soil is allowed to accumulate, it
literally glues the pile fiber together, resulting
in matting, packing or ridges. Equally worrisome,
it begins to attract and hold dry soil. That's why
cleaning is so important when dulling of the fiber
is first noticed. If allowed to remain too long, it
becomes gummy and difficult to remove.
Practice extreme care in vacuuming your area rugs
- particularly the fringe. It's best not to use a
vacuum cleaner with a beater bar in this area of the
rug to avoid the possibility of catching the fringe
in the cleaner. This can cause separation of the weaving
behind the fringe or even damage the rug.
Stain
Removal
No
carpet is stain proof. However many are treated to
be stain resistant which gives you time to act. Remember,
with spot and stain removal, speed is of essence.
Immediately after a stain or spill occurs, solids
should be scooped up and liquids blotted as quickly
as possible. Absorb as much liquid as possible with
a paper towel, etc., replacing as they become saturated.
Never use a scrubbing motion. Blot instead to prevent
the carpet surface from fuzzing.
Stain
Treatment
For
effective spot cleaning, you'll need the following
items. The item numbers are keyed to the stain - and
all should be used in the recommended sequence. Some
stains may require professional cleaning, depending
on the age of the stain.
- Cold
Water
- Detergent
Solution. Mix one teaspoon of clear dishwashing
liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
- Ammonia
Solution. Mix one tablespoon of clear household
ammonia (3% solution) with 1/2 cup of water.
- Solvent.
A dry cleaning solvent (available at grocery, drug
and hardware stores).
- Ice.
Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Shatter residue,
pick or scrape off and vacuum.
- Vinegar
Solution. Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3
cup of water.
- Warm
Water (not hot)
- Clear
nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
- Alcohol
or Methylated Spirits Mineral Turpentine
- Rust
Remover
- Absorbent
Powder (e.g., salt, talc or proprietary absorbent
powders)
- Absorbent
Cleaners (e.g., Host)
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Step
1 |
Step
2 |
Step
3 |
| Alcoholic
Beverages |
1
|
2
|
-
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| Bleach |
1
|
3
|
-
|
| Blood |
1
|
2
|
-
|
| Butter |
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Candle
Wax |
5
|
4
|
-
|
| Chewing
Gum |
5
|
4
|
-
|
| Chocolate |
2
|
3
|
6
|
| Coffee |
1
|
2
|
4
|
| Colas
and soft drinks |
7
|
2
|
-
|
| Cooking
Oils |
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Cream |
2
|
4
|
-
|
| Egg |
2
|
-
|
-
|
| Felt
tip pen |
7
|
2
|
8
|
| Floor
wax |
4
|
-
|
-
|
| Fruit
Juice |
1
|
2
|
-
|
| Furniture
polish |
4
|
2
|
3
|
| Gravy
and sauces |
7
|
2
|
-
|
| Ink
(fountain pen) |
1
|
2
|
-
|
| Ink
(ball point) |
4
|
9
|
2
|
| Ketchup |
7
|
2
|
-
|
| Lipstick |
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Mercurochrome |
2
|
3
|
6
|
| Milk |
7
|
4
|
2
|
| Mustard |
2
|
-
|
-
|
| Nail
Polish |
8
|
4
|
-
|
| Oil
and Grease |
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Paint
(latex) |
2
|
3
|
4
|
| Paint
(oil) |
9
|
4
|
2
|
| Rust |
4
|
2
|
10
|
| Salad
Dressing |
2
|
4
|
-
|
| Shoe
Polish& |
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Soot |
4
|
2
|
3
|
| Tar |
4
|
-
|
-
|
| Tea |
1
|
2
|
4
|
| Urine
(fresh) |
1
|
2
|
-
|
| Urine
(old) |
2
|
3
|
6
|
| Vomit |
2
|
-
|
-
|
| Wine |
11
|
1
|
2
|
| Unknown
material |
4
|
12
|
2
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After a Spill
Immediately scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then blot, do not rub, area with clean white cloths to remove excess moisture. Use a wet/dry vac if spill is large.
Apply warm, not hot, water to stained area and blot with white cloths. Repeat until no stain is evident on towels. If stain remains on carpet, then make a solution of ¼ teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent to 1 cup warm water. Using a clean white cloth, apply the solution to the stained area, and let soak about 5 minutes. Rinse with clear warm water and blot to remove excess moisture. Repeat until all detergent is removed to avoid re-soiling.
Absorb any remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels weighted with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. When carpet is dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture.
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Why Professional Cleaning is so Important
When vacuuming no longer removes all of the soil, or you have not been able to remove stains following the recommended carpet care and cleaning procedures above, it is time to have your carpet cleaned by a trained and qualified professional cleaner. A reputable professional cleaner knows the latest information on carpet construction, carpet care products, and safe, effective cleaning methods to help maintain carpet beauty. For this reason, we recommend, and some warranties require, periodic professional cleaning.
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