Nothing enhances a room quite like a high quality rug. That’s why a potential damaging stain can be so upsetting. Quality carpet is expensive, and you need to protect your investment. Of course, spills and stains are inevitable, but you shouldn’t ignore them.

With proper care, a good carpet or rug can last a very long time. Be extremely careful while choosing your carpet and educate yourself on the proper procedures to take if a spill or accident does happen. Do your research and know what to expect if a spill or something soils your carpet or rug.

Thanks to the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) website ( www.carpet-rug.org ), you can easily access what methods and procedures to follow if something unfortunate happens to your carpet or rug. This feature on carpet care will give you a solid foundation on what to do in the case of a potential stain and also how to do preventative maintenance to ensure a long carpet life. Do yourself a favor and bookmark the CRI’s website address so you can access it quickly in the case of a spill.

Spot Solver
When a spill happens, it’s important to act quickly. Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment. Therefore, many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the better the chance that spill could become a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or a plain, white paper towel. Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing can cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towel until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up the substance with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to make certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before working it in gently.

Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Once again I have to stress: do not scrub! Blot only, absorbing as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill. Be patient. Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.

After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh it down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed. A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time.

“Carpets and rugs are some of the most expensive investments in your home. Do yourself a favor and leave proper care of your carpets and rugs to the professionals. If you have a stain that you’re not sure about, contact myself or one of my peers for proper care.” — John Snowdon, South Side Carpet Cleaning Co.

“The single most important thing that you must be able to do is remove all of the loose dirt from your carpet. This means the surface dirt, hair, crumbs and other debris that you can see as well as the embedded dirt in your carpet pile that you can’t see. Your vacuum cleaner is key to the beauty and the life of your carpet.” — Gregory Paul, President, Vac Shop, Inc.

Facts about carpet care - Basic Vacuuming
Regular Care
Today’s carpet fibers are designed to hide soil and reflect light. Many also have the ability to resist soiling and stains. The effect of soil in carpet is not as visible as it is on hard surface flooring where soil remains on the surface and is easily seen. The ability of today’s carpet fibers to hide soiling is a positive feature for most consumers. However, the lack of apparent soiling does not eliminate the necessity of regular cleaning.

Most dry soil has razor-like edges that abrade carpet fibers, causing light to reflect differently and giving carpet a dull appearance. Soil can damage the fibers permanently if allowed to remain in the pile.

A regular maintenance program extends the life and the initial appearance of your carpet. Specific care information may be available from your carpet dealer or from whom you’ve purchased your carpet or vacuum.

Basic Vacuuming
A good practice is to vacuum often the areas that receive the most traffic, such as hallways, stairs, exterior entryways, and paths in the home where there is constant wear. Vacuum the entire carpeted area a minimum of twice per week.

Removing loose soil while it remains on the surface is important so that it is not worked into the carpet pile by foot traffic. Removing embedded soil is more difficult and time consuming than removing surface soil.

To remove surface soil, push the vacuum forward several feet with the pile direction of the carpet in a slow, deliberate motion and then reverse direction. Embedded soil is best removed by moving the vacuum cleaner in a slow, deliberate motion. Repeat strokes as necessary based on the traffic pattern and soiled level of the carpet.

Vacuum cleaner selection
For maximum effectiveness, use a vacuum cleaner that has adjustable and rotating brushes that are able to loosen ground-in soil, and have a strong enough airflow to penetrate to the backing, extracting all particles. The vacuum cleaner should have an enclosed, high filtration bag that limits particles from reentering into the air. For the best cleaning results, no matter which type of vacuum cleaner you purchase, inspect it periodically to be sure it is functioning properly:

• Keep brushes clean and replace them when worn.
• Keep vacuum hoses and attachments free of obstructions that restrict airflow.
• Inspect the vacuum head for rough edges or bent metals that may damage your carpet.
• Inspect belts frequently to make certain they are working properly.
• Always keep a spare belt for replacement as needed.
• Follow the vacuum cleaner manufacturer’s instructions, and change the vacuum bag when it becomes more than half full. As the bag becomes full, efficiency is reduced.

For more detailed information on a specific spill: Go to www.carpet-rug.org Under consumer resources you’ll find “Spot Solver.” In the top right corner you’ll find a drop-down area for spots. Find your spot and click on it. You’ll find a detailed description on how to try to remove it. You can print the directions to use. You can also find the phone numbers of many fiber manufacturers on the CRI website who will provide cleaning assistance and advice. Consult your carpet or rug warranty then try calling CRI at (706) 278-3176 if you have additional questions. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SPOT REMOVAL GUIDE

Acid Substances
Strong acids, such as battery acids and some tile cleaning compounds, if spilled on a carpet, require prompt action to prevent serious damage. First, flush the affected area with water. Sponge up the excess and repeat the process several times until the acid has been diluted and washed away. Finally, sponge the area with a solution prepared by adding one (1) tablespoon of baking soda to one (1) quart of warm water. Rinse again. Dry the carpet as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Blood
To remove blood, use only cool cleaning solutions to prevent setting the stain. Removal of blood borne pathogens may require the assistance of a carpet-cleaning professional.

Burns
Only reweaving, retufting, or resectioning the damaged area can remedy burn damage. However, the appearance of an area of charred carpet can be improved by carefully clipping off blackened ends of tufts using small, sharp scissors.

Trim surrounding tufts to minimize indentation.

Dye Stains
Many beverages, medicines, cosmetics, foods, and other liquids contain dyes. These dyes may be absorbed into the fibers making removal very slow or impossible. Follow dye spot removal procedures on the spot chart. If removal does not appear to be possible, call your carpet cleaning professional for advice. Sometimes the stain can be hidden by spot dyeing, retufting, or by repairing the affected area.

Fingernail Polish
Use a non-acetate fingernail polish remover. Apply a small amount of the fingernail polish remover to a white cloth, and work in gently (Do not rub!), working from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent spreading. Allow remaining on the spill a few minutes. Be patient, blotting the area several times.

Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the carpet fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Whenever using a cleaning solution on your carpet, make sure you pre-test the spot removal solution (for color transfer to the cloth or damage to the carpet) in an inconspicuous area.

Ink (Ballpoint Pen)
Follow recommended procedures on the Spot Removal Chart (download from link below) to contain the spill using rubbing alcohol as the dry cleaning solvent. Rubbing alcohol (90% isopropyl) can be used as a dry cleaning solvent by applying with a cloth or towel. Do not pour rubbing alcohol directly onto the carpet.

Mustard
Some mustard contains very strong dyes that are difficult to remove. It may be necessary to remove the stained area and reinsert an undamaged section of carpet.

Rust
Rust almost always requires professional service because the chemicals required are hazardous when used improperly.

If the stain is fresh, the spot removal procedures on the stain chart may be successful. Use the link below to download the Spot Removal Chart.

Keeping Rugs Beautiful

“In order to get your carpet cleaned properly, a company needs the right combination of Time, Agitation, Chemical and Temperature (TACT). Our system balances all of these factors and adheres to the standards put out by the carpet cleaning institutes. Our cleaning process removes all of the cleaning solution residue that can actually act as a magnet for dirt, which helps to prolong the life of your carpet leaving them cleaner, softer and more beautiful.” — Greg Heibert, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care

Taking proper care of your rug will prolong its life and appearance. Vacuum your rug regularly to remove loose soil, taking special care when vacuuming fringe and edges. Some throw rugs, especially for bathrooms, can be washed in your home laundry. Always comply with manufacturer’s recommended cleaning methods to prevent warranty invalidation and damage to your rug.

Have a professional deep clean your rug often. Several cleaning methods will work, but to prevent rapid re-soiling, it is important to completely remove any cleaning agents.

Following these simple rules for clean-up and care will help you keep your carpet or rug looking beautiful for years to come.

www.carpet-rug.org