Carpet & Rug Care





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With proper
regular care, you can add years of life to your rugs and carpet and
help to retain its original appearance. The most important thing you
can do is to vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high
traffic areas.
Vacuuming helps
remove dirt particles which abrade rugs and carpet and dull their
appearance. For best results, use a vacuum cleaner with beater bars
and good suction. Keep bags, filter, and recovery tanks clean.

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Carpet
Cleaning
"Soiling" is a
build-up of soil particles and oily materials that cling to the rug
and carpet fibers and dull their beauty. In time, foot traffic
drives the soil particles deep into the carpet. When this condition
cannot be corrected with vacuuming, it's time to have your carpet
cleaned by a trained professional.
How often
you'll need professional cleaning depends on soil build-up, traffic,
type and color of carpeting. A good rule of thumb would be to
professionally clean your rug or carpet every 18 months.
A reputable
professional cleaner knows the latest in carpet construction,
chemicals, and safe, effective cleaning methods to help maintain
carpet beauty.
Most
professionals use hot water extraction cleaning (also known as steam
cleaning). Other common cleaning methods include absorbent pad or
bonnet cleaning, rotary shampoo, and dry foam or powder. |
Claire Murray
Designs
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Do-It-Yoursef
Cleaning
Professional
cleaning is recommended for any rug or carpet, including
stain-resistant carpet. However, if you decide to do it yourself,
carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. Most dry cleaning
systems are satisfactory and will not affect the warranty. If other
methods are used, avoid cationic or high pH (>10) chemicals which
can impair stain resistance. Avoid excessive abrasive action to
prevent damage to the carpet tufts.
Spotting
Basic cleaning
steps for common food and beverage stains is as follows:
 | Immediately
scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then blot, do not
rub, with clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towels to
remove excess moisture. Use a wet/dry vacuum if spill is large.
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 | Douse stain
with warm, not hot, water and blot with clean, white
cloth or paper towels. Press down firmly to remove as much
moisture as possible. Repeat until no stain is evident on cloth or
towels. |
 | If stain
remains on carpet, make a solution of warm water and mild
non-bleach liquid laundry, not dishwashing, detergent (1 teaspoon
to 1 quart water). Apply enough solution to cover stain and let
soak for about 5 minutes. |
 | Rinse with
warm water and blot thoroughly to extract water. Repeat
until all detergent is removed. |
 | Absorb
remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels, weighted
down overnight with non-staining glass or ceramic object. |
 | When
completely dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture. |
 | Ghost
Stain: After drying, if the stain reappears, it may be because
some stain remained deep in the pile and wicked up to the surface.
If so, reapply warm water detergent solution, vacuum or brush when
completely dry. |
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© 2003 Keith Reding Designs, Inc.
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