Caring For Your Carpet

Vacuuming

This is the most important step for prolonging the life and appearance of your carpet.  Vacuum frequently in light traffic areas and even more often in high traffic areas.  This is because when a soiled carpet is walked on it drives the soil particles deep into the carpets fibers where it will damage it and make it harder to clean.

Tips on vacuuming

Light traffic lanes- twice weekly
Heavy traffic lanes- daily

Vacuum the entire rooms with lighter traffic once a week and the areas and rooms with heavier traffic twice a week.  To vacuum effectively you must you must give a lightly soiled area at least three passes and a heavier soiled area at least seven.  It is also good to change the direction occasionally in which your vacuum is passing.  This will help the carpet from matting. 

Vacuum Cleaners

There are many different types of vacuums today.  A cheap vacuum is not the best way to go.  Yes it may remove the particles on the surface, but not those imbedded further down.  This is where the damage is done.  Remember a good vacuum is the single most important tool to making your carpet look nice as well as prolonging it's life.  A carpet is a big investment and the easiest way to protect your investment is by having the right vacuum and using it properly.

Some of the large carpet manufacturers recommend a vacuum with rotating brushes or  any kind of beater that can agitate the carpets pile.  This loosens the soil and particles to be sucked up by the vacuum.  However you should not use this type of device on all types of carpet, such as berbers with thick loop pile.  This will ruin the carpets material by pulling it apart and will make it look very bad.  You should use either a suction only vacuum or one that is adjustable enough to keep the brushes or beater bars away from the carpet.

Make sure to periodically check your vacuum closely. Check the belt for wear and make sure there is no strain or entangled threads around the beater bar or brushes.  Also make sure your vacuum is at the correct height setting for your type of carpet.

Common Stain Removal  

• First pick up anything solid that was involved.  If the spill is very large use a wet/dry vacuum before attempting to clean it up by blotting.

• Now blot the spill area until the liquid is soaked up as much as possible.  Your best bet is to use something such as paper towels.  Never rub the area as this will only work the liquid deeper into the fibers and distort the texture of your carpet.

• On a white towel or a paper towel use warm water to to blot.  Repeat for as long as needed.  Press firmly to get up as much moisture as possible.

• If this is not working it will be necessary to use a mild mix of dishwashing detergent.  Mix one teaspoon of mild detergent with approximately one quart of warm water.  Apply the solution over the are and let it soak for five minutes.

• Blot up all the water and detergent now.  Make sure to get all the detergent up.  Rinse area with warm water and put towels over the area overnight for maximum effectiveness.  Put some weight over the towels to help get maximum absorption. It may be necessary to change the towels a couple of time over the first few hours. 

• Once the area is completely dry give it a good vacuuming.