Tips
Vacuum, Vacuum and Vacuum – We have found this to be the #1 thing you can do to inprove the life of your carpet. You should vacuum at least one time per week for every person who regularly uses the room. Basically, you can never vacuum too much.
Have Fabric Protection Applied When You Have Your Carpet Cleaned. – Fabric protection is designed to keep fibers from trapping dirt, oil, grease, food, and other pollutants. It will make spills and ‘accidents’ easier for you to clean up. Your vacuuming will be more effective and fabric protection will pay very noticeable dividends the next time your carpet is cleaned.
Have your carpets cleaned professionally at least every year.
No Shoes in the House – Shoes bring in all kinds of things from outside that you do not want in your home. Ask yourself, “where have my shoes been?” Shoes also grind dirt further into the carpet. Removing your shoes when you come into the house is a simple thing that will save you money in the long run and make your carpet look better, last longer and help maintain a healthier environment in your home.
Change (or clean) the filter in your furnace on a regular basis. The air filter in your home’s air system is designed to remove pollens, dust, dirt, allergens & other things you don’t want to breathe from the interior air in your home. Using a finer, higher quality filter will increase the amount of air pollutants removed by your air system. At very least you should be checking and/or replacing the filter every month.
Steps to Remove Spills:
1.) Scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Blot with a clean white cloth or clean white paper towel. DO NOT SCRUB
2.) Apply Atlas Spotter solution sparingly. Do not get the carpet backing wet. You may use a clean white cloth to apply or apply it directly to the spot.
3.) Blot from outer edge inward, toward center, to keep spill from spreading.
4.) Blot up cleaning solution.Finish blotting by placing ½” thick pad of clean white towel or white cloth over the spot. Press with heavy weight two hours or overnight. Get up all the moisture to prevent re-soiling and bacteria growth.
What to Do About….
Pile crushing – Pile becomes crushed or compacted with use. Vacuum with “beater bar” or “groom”
with carpet rake to restore and lift crushed pile. Change direction of vacuuming often.
Dents – (from furniture) Shift location of furniture from time to time. Brush the dented area or use a grooming tool to lift the mashed fibers. Using a steam iron, steam the dented area lightly and brush up the tufts with your fingers. DO NOT LET THE IRON TOUCH THE CARPET!
Sprouts – To remove yarn tufts that stick up higher than the carpet, clip off excess length with scissors or a fingernail clipper. Do not use a knife.
Snags – If tufts are pulled out of the carpet, clip off with
scissors. Never pull them. If a log “run” occurs clip at base of run. Snags occur most often in “berber” type looped carpet.
Fuzzing – Most noticeable in older loop pile carpets, fuzzing is the pile of loose fibers still bound at one end. It’s caused by fiber breakage, surface wear and the cutting of filaments by embedded grit. Vacuum frequently to get rid of grit. Carefully clip off protruding fibers.
Pilling – “Pills”, small balls of entangled fibers and lint, can be safely clipped off with scissors.
Shading – A characteristic of dense, cut pile carpets such as Saxonies and Plushes. It’s caused by the fact that light reflects differently from the tips and sides of the tufts. This adds a luxurious shading to the beauty of the carpet. For a more uniform effect make the final vacuum strokes in the same direction.
Burns – Remove the charred tips of the carpet with a curved fingernail clipper. If the burn spot is deep it may require replacement.
Roll Crush – Roll Crush is a wrinkle which affects the face pile. As in the case with other fabrics such as clothing, the condition occurs during packaging and storage. In carpet, the crush marks are more pronounced because of it’s heavy face pile. The cause is usually traced to storage where the weight of the roll forces the pile in different directions. Roll crush will normally disappear within ninety day when properly maintained. The condition can be corrected by steaming and pile brushing, but the should be used a secondary method of correction.