Carpet - Care & Maintenance

Care & Maintenance Guide [pdf]

Carpet

1. Carpet seams will show and be apparent. This is not a defect in the carpet but a limitation of the product. Seams within industry standard are acceptable.

2. Carpet may mat down in heavy traffic areas (halls, stairs, and walkways). Frequent vacuuming can slow down this matting process somewhat.

3. Exposure to direct sunlight will cause spotting and/or fading of the carpet. The company will not be responsible for fading in any areas.

4. Samples displayed are representatives of a style of carpet. Color, texture, and shade of the carpet installed may vary from the sample.

5. Shade and color will vary within each production run of a manufactured carpet and may also vary as a result of use, care, cleaning, and age. Therefore, on any replaced or repaired carpet, the company will not be responsible for any shade or color mismatch, discontinued colors, or carpet patterns.

6. Cut pile carpet is characterized by differences in light reflections causing shadowing or shading. This shadowing or shading occurs at the side of cut ends. When seams occur between a hall and a bedroom or where on room has been quarter turned to the other room this shadowing effect may occur. Quarter turning, which causes this shadowing and shading, is not a manufacturing or installation defect, but an industry wide practice.

If you will follow the simple procedures below, you can keep your carpet at the appearance level you expect.

1. Regular vacumming:

(The basic key in removing soil from the pile.) Hallways, family rooms, and stairs obviously need more frequent vacuuming, as these areas tend to receive the most traffic. Use a vacuum cleaner that has a “beater-bar”, this loosens soil and stimulates the pile. A vacuum which employs only “suction” does not clean as thoroughly or enhance your carpet appearance. In most homes, vacuuming once or twice a week should be enough. 

2. Entrance Mats:

(Control the spread of soil where it begins.) If you place walk-off mats at the entrance areas of your home and keep them clean, you will control the soil at that point, thereby not bringing it through the house. 

3. Liquid Spills:

(Attend to these quickly before they become stains.) With some exception of course, if you know what has been spilled on your carpet, and you act quickly to remove it, it won’t have a chance to become a “stain”. (See stain Cleaning Methods Chart for carpets other than “Stainmaster”, Anso, and Wear-Dated.) Always blot a spill (working from the edge to the center). Never rub; this just spreads the liquid to other areas. Use a clean (white if possible) absorbent cloth. It is also important to remember that NO CARPET IS STAIN PROOF!

4. Cleaning:

(If you have been diligent with steps 1, 2, and 3 this step should be very infrequent.) When it is time to clean, there are basically three methods available: 1. Dry compound, 2. Shampoo, 3. Steam. If you are going to do it yourself, the safest method is 1 (a dry compound). Many local retailers can provide you with the compound and equipment. Steps 2 and 3 are best left to the professionals; consult your local phone directory.

WARNING: Household chemicals may “spot” your carpet

Many modern day household chemicals serve to improve our lives. However, they may also cause mysterious spots when they come in contact with carpet or other dyed fabrics. Depending on humidity and temperature conditions, these discolorations may not appear until several days or weeks after the carpet was exposed to the chemical. The only way to protect carpet is to take special precautions to prevent any contact with these chemicals. Here are some of the common culprits:

*Bleaches

Chlorine bleaches; mildew killers and swimming pool chemicals (which can be 

Tracked into the house by unknowing swimmers) will cause yellow spots.

*Acne Medications

Most acne medicines and some skin products for humans and pets contain benzoyl

Peroxide, which is a strong bleaching agent particularly in the presence of high

Humidity or moisture. Hand or facial residue can be unknowingly wiped onto the

Carpet. It is recommended that a strong soap be used by the acne medicine user to

Make certain that no residue is left on the hands or face.

*Household Cleaners

Tile, toilet bowl, drain and oven cleaners contain strong acids or alkalis, which can

Weaken the carpet fiber and cause color “bleeding”. Exercise caution when using 

These cleaners around carpeted areas.

*DMSO

Dimetnysulfoxide, which is commonly used for pain relief in medicines for arthritis,

Back problems, athletic injuries, and muscular aches can cause rapid loss of color on

Carpet due to its solvent action.

*Insecticides and Pesticides

Products most often involved contain Malathion, Diazinon, Dursban, Vapona, and

Include some pet shampoos and flea and tick collars. We strongly recommend only a

Qualified Pest Control Operator do any indoor use of pesticides.

*Plant Foods

Liquid plant food spills or leakage from flowerpots can cause discolored spots. These

Typically start at the carpet backing and progress to the carpet surface, sometimes

Not apparent for months.

*Tip: READ THE WARNING LABELS on all household products before use since many

Contain chemicals harmful to carpet and other fabrics. 

“ Stainmaster, Anso, and Weardated”

1. A. Water soak/ 1 minute/blot with paper towel/repeat until no stain is evident on towel. B. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stained area with fingers/blot/rinse in clear water to remove traces of detergent/blot dry. C. Add clear water/fold paper toweling and place over stained area with weight/check toweling every five minutes/repeat until blotter is stain free. (Note: this procedure may take as long as 24 hours) D. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

2. A. Blot excess/water soak, 1 minute/blot/apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to stained area + household ammonia/blot/rinse with clear water/blot. B. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stain with fingers/blot excess/rinse with clear water/blot dry. C. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

3. A. Scrape off excess/soften stain with alcohol or dry cleaning solvent/soak/blot/apply alcohol or dry cleaning solvent/blot immediately. B. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stain with fingers/blot excess/rinse with clear water/blot dry. C. Brush up pile with fingers, allow to dry.

4. A. Wet stain with alcohol or dry cleaning solvent/blot dry immediately / repeat two times. B. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stain with fingers/blot excess/rinse with clear water/blot dry. C. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

5. A. Vacuum excess. B. Water soak/ 1 minute with sponge or paper towel/repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge. C. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stained area with fingers/blot excess/rinse with clear water to remove traces of detergent/blot dry. D. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

6. A. Blot Excess. B. Apply nail polish remover/blot immediately. C. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter. D. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

7. A. Scrape off excess. B. Soften stain with vinegar/water-blot. Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge. C. Apply Spray N’ Wash and press into stained area with fingers/blot excess/ rinse with clear water to remove traces of detergent/blot dry. D. Brush up pile with fingers/allow to dry.

Successful stain removal requires the use of enough water and detergent to lift out the staining material, but do not attempt to do it all in one step. Repeated wetting and blotting works better and avoids wetting the carpet pad. For especially stubborn stains, consult a professional carpet cleaner.

We recommend cleaning by hot water extraction, preferably by a truck-mounted system. This is the only cleaning method that will keep the water a consistently hot enough temperature to dissolve the detergent and to offer enough suction to remove all excess detergent and water (i.e. Stanley Steamer, ServiceMaster, etc.)

*See next page for 1-800 #’s for your carpet’s nylon manufacturers.

“STAINMASTER, ANSO, AND WEARDATED”

These carpets offer not only superior “Stain Resistance”, but also another important advantage is a toll free number (see list below). The fiber producer can answer any questions on care and spills quickly and with certainty. Although all of these carpets have stain resistant features, it is important to understand that NO CARPET IS STAIN PROOF. Some known staining substances will stain all carpets: plant foods, iodine, toilet bowl cleaners, caustic chemicals, and medications or cleaning products that contain benzoyl peroxide.

FIBER PRODUCER TOLL FREE NUMBER

Anso 1-800-441-8185

Dupont 1-800-438-7668

Weardated 1-800-237-8289

3M 1-800-433-3296

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