| Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.............
Dry soils are abrasive and damaging. Over time, they abrade the fibers causing them to look dull and lifeless. Soils accelerate the damaging wear we all know as "traffic lanes." Regular daily vacuuming help arrest this damage BEFORE it happens, extending the life of your carpet and making the most of your investment. Clean spills when they happen.
Get spills when they happen! Many carpets are stain-resistant so acting quickly often avoids permanent damage. Don't use hard surface cleaners. Try tap water first. Wet-dry vacs are indispensable. Use professional spotters, over-the-counter spotters may cause damage, cause a stain to become permanent or lead to stubborn resoiling problems. On tough spots, give the cleaner time to work. It a spot doesn't come out immediately, take a ten minute break and give the cleaner time to work. Then, come back and work on the spot again. Not sure what to do? Call our office first. Keep food and drinks in the kitchen.
Seems too easy doesn't it? One way to cut accidental spills in half is to simply keep food and drinks out of reach of your carpet. It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, and rearrange her furniture. The repeated foot traffic getting to and from your favorite place to sit causes those ugly, matted traffic lanes. So, three or four times a year, why not just move things around? It's a great way to break up your use pattern and spread the wear around more evenly. You'll see a difference in the long run.
| | Blot, DON'T scrub!
Always remember, if you have a spill, BLOT it up with a clean white towel. Don't panic. Be gentle. Don't scrub it, don't rub it, don't be too aggressive or you'll end up with a permanent and obnoxiously visible fuzzy spot. Gently scrape away solids with a spoon, vacuuming the residue when you're done. REMEMBER, be gentle. Wielding an over-zealous spoon can be as destructive as scrubbing.Mom used a door mat....
and you should too. Outside, doormats help knock dirt off your shoes before you enter your home. Inside, door mats and runners help catch soils; preventing them from entering your carpet. Just be sure to keep these mats and runners clean!
Bare feet aren't as clean as you think.
Believe it or not, body oils from your feet can actually leave your carpet dirty. Rather than walking around with bare feet or in socks you may want to use a pair of house slippers.
They all look the same to me.
A great carpet starts with great fiber. For longevity, cleaning, and comfort, nylon can't be beat. It's
virtually unanimous among carpet cleaners, nylon will outperform olefin and polyester every time. Choose the best nylon carpet your budget will allow. And last but not least...
don't forget to maintain your carpet. Read your warranty. Manufacturers recommend professional cleaning once or twice a year. Depending on your busy lifestyle, even that may not be enough. Vacuum, spot clean as necessary, and monitor the overall condition of your carpet. The time to clean is BEFORE you're too embarrassed to have company for dinner. Embarrassing levels of soiling actually contribute to permanent damage. Stay ahead of the dirt and enjoy your carpet longer! | |
