Carpet Care and Cleaning

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DAY TO DAY CARE

Q: How can I maintain my carpet?
A: There are three things to do to maintain you carpet:

  1. Vacuum frequently.

  2. Clean spills promptly.

  3. Have periodic professional carpet cleanings.

Q: Why is vacuuming important?
A: The most important thing you can do to keep your carpet looking great is vacuum it thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffic areas. Vacuuming help remove dirt particles which dull the carpet's appearance. Use walk-off mats at entrances to minimize dirt particles being tracked onto the carpet and reduce soil accumulation.

CLEANING YOUR CARPET: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Q: Why is cleaning my carpet necessary?
A: Regular cleaning and maintenance are needed to keep your carpet looking great year after year. During everyday use, soil clings to carpet fibers and dulls the beauty of the carpet. These particles accumulate and tarnish the carpet's original color.

Q: How do I clean up common household food and beverage spills?
A: The following "Basic Cleaning Steps" are effective for most stains caused by spills.

STEP ONE

Use a spoon or knife to remove solid materials.
For large stains, work from outside of stain to the center to prevent spreading.
Blot up liquid spills with a white cloth or white paper towel.
Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon clear dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of warm water. Stir gently.

Apply detergent solution directly to white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.

Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet fibers.

If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.

If the stain is gone, place a clean absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned and weigh towels down with a heavy color-fast object, such as a wastebasket.

Change towels until carpet dries.

If the stain remains, proceed to Step Two (for coffee, tea or urine, skip step two & proceed to step three).

STEP TWO

Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.

Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step One.
Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step Three to neutralize the ammonia solution.

STEP THREE

Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step One.

Most household spills and stains can be removed using these easy methods. Always clean up stains and spills immediately.

It is not unusual for stains to reappear after spot cleaning. This is referred to as "wicking". Wicking can occur when liquid is spilled on the carpet in larger quantity. Cleaning can only remove the stain from the carpet fibers. Liquid still remains in the carpet backing or padding. Through capillary action the stain can "wick" back up into the carpet fibers. These stain are not permanent and typically can be removed by repeating the appropriate steps from above.

Please see the chart below to find out which steps are most appropriate for your stain or spill:

WATER BASED STAINS (start with step one and proceed with steps two & three)

  • Alcohol

  • Baby formula

  • Beer

  • Blood

  • Candy (general)

  • Catsup

  • Chocolate Milk

  • Clay

  • Cologne

  • Cranberry Juice

  • Felt tip Marker

 

  • Food Stains

  • Latex Paint

  • Fruit Juice

  • Fruit Punch

  • Furniture Polish

  • Grape Juice

  • Graphite

  • Ice Cream

  • Jelly

  • Liquor

  • Milk

 

  • Soil Spots

  • Syrup

  • Soft Drinks (cola)

  • Tomato Juice

  • Vomit

  • Water Colors

  • Watermelon

  • Whiskey

  • Wine

 

SPECIAL WATER BASED STAINS (start with step one then proceed to step three)


USE DRY CLEANING FLUID TO REMOVE THESE STAINS

  • Butter

  • Calamine Lotion

  • Cooking Oil

  • Cosmetics

  • Crayon

  • Furniture Dye

  • Glue

  • Grease (black)

  • Gum

  • Hand Cream

  • Lipstick

  • Margarine

  • Mascara

  • Mayonnaise

  • Nail Polish

  • Ointment

  • Oil

  • Oil Paint

  • Rouge

  • Salad Dressing

  • Tar

  • Varnish

  • Wax

SPROUTING
If loose ends or "sprouts" extend above the rest of the pile, trim them off evenly with the pile surface. Never try to pull them out. After clipping, smooth the area with your fingers. Sharp edges on your vacuum cleaner, a child's toy, high heels, or animal claws can cause this condition.

PILE CRUSHING
All carpet fibers will crush under heavy, stationary loads. Crushing can be reduced by shifting furniture regularly. Crushed areas can usually be restored by covering the area with a damp, clean white cloth and then very carefully applying heat to the cloth with an electric iron on a low setting. Remove the cloth and restore the pile while it is still hot by brushing it lightly. Keep traffic off the carpet until it is dry.

SHADING
After certain carpet styles have been subjected to traffic, you may notice areas that appear lighter or darker than other areas. Don't be alarmed! Shading is the result of the change in direction of the pile due to pressure from the footsteps and vacuuming. Brushing the pile all in one direction may temporarily correct shading; however, shading is part of the carpet styling and should be expected in varying degrees. Do not mistake shading for color fading.

Note: No carpet is absolutely stain-proof. Some carpets have stain resistant treatments to improve your ability to clean up stains, not prevent stains.

PROFESSIONALLY CLEANING YOUR CARPET

Q: How often should I get my carpet cleaned by a professional cleaning service?
A: You should get your carpet cleaned at least once every 12 months.