CARPET CARE & CLEANING

How to Keep Your Carpet in Great Shape
Your new carpet will bring you much satisfaction in the years to come, but only if you keep it in great shape. Here are a few tips to make your relationship with your carpet a long and happy one.

Routine Maintenance
Regular carpet care and routine maintenance are essential to maintaining your warranty coverage. Over time, normal foot traffic and soiling will cause a change in any carpet's appearance. Hot water extraction, either alone or in combination with cleaning, is required to maintain your warranty. The service must be performed by a trained carpet care professional every one and a half to two years to refresh the texture and rejuvenate the fibers in your carpet. You must retain your receipts for proof of maintenance service should a warranty claim arise.

Each fiber manufacturer has its own definitions and limitations regarding stain, soil, and static resistance. Abnormal matting, crushing, or loss of texture retention from normal foot traffic is defined by the standard rating scales and definitions set forth by each fiber manufacturer.

Vacuuming is Key
Vacuuming is key to keeping your new carpet young, fresh, and beautiful. Dirt and grit will become embedded in the pile and affect your carpet's color and cause matting of the pile. So you'll want to vacuum heavy-traffic areas every day if possible. Less heavily used areas can be maintained with once-a-week vacuuming. Vacuum about three passes for light cleaning, and up to seven passes where there is more soil.

For best results, use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or rotating brush — with plenty of suction — used according to the manufacturer's directions. Make sure you adjust the attachment to the proper height for your carpet. For loop pile carpet, avoid attachments with teeth or ridges.

Treating Spills & Stains
The best cure for a spill is a fast response. If a spill is allowed to become a stain, it will be much more difficult to remove. Here are some tips for eliminating stains and spills.

Stop Stains Before They Start. There are three important steps that you must use to treat a stain, hopefully before it has a chance to set in your carpet:

Apply: Wet a clean, white (not printed) paper towel with cleaning solution. Then dampen the carpet with it. Avoid wetting the carpet through to its backing.

Blot: Absorb the excess liquid from the carpet by pressing straight down with a clean, dry, white paper towel. Do not rub. Place a half-inch thick pad of clean, dry, white paper towels with a weight on top and leave overnight if necessary.

Scrape: Gently scratch the soiled area with the blunt edge of a spoon. Scrape from the outside edge of the spot toward the center.