| |
Congratulations on your new carpet. There are three main things you can do to
maintain and keep your carpet looking its best.
1. Frequent vacuuming to remove soil and dirt
Vacuum regularly to help keep soil from becoming embedded in the carpet.
This will help maintain the appearance of your carpet and prevent it from
looking dull and faded.
Light Traffic Areas should be vacummed twice a week and Moderate
to Heavy Traffic Areas more frequently. Be sure to make several passes
over heavy traffic areas to ensure that all dirt is removed.
2. Periodic professional cleaning
No matter how careful you are with spills and vacuuming, all carpet needs
to be professionally cleaned periodically. Professional cleaning will help
maintain a fresh, bright look.
3. Prompt removal of spots and spills
Immediate attention to spots and spills will make removal easier. Depending
on what caused the spot or stain, removal of spots can be simple or require
several applications. Gently blot the spot being cleaned. Never use a
circular motion, scrub or brush because this will destroy the texture of the
carpet. Avoid saturating the carpet.
Following is a general spot removal procedure. If you know what caused the
spot, begin at the appropriate step, otherwise begin removal with Step 1.
Supplies to Have on Hand
- White paper towels or white terry towels
- Dish washing detergent or mild laundry detergent that contains no
lanolin or bleach
- Household ammonia
- White vinegar
- Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- Brick or heavy book wrapped in plastic to be used as weight
General Procedure
Step 1. Unknown and Greasy Spots
- Remove solid materials with a spoon and dull knife.
- Blot spill with clean, white towel. Press down to remove as much liquid
as possible.
- Apply detergent solution (1 teaspoon mild non-bleaching laundry detergent
with two cups water.)
- Blot stain with white cloth or paper towel.
- Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the area with towels and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat above until all traces of detergent are removed.
- Place white towels over area with weight, such as a brick, to absorb
excess moisture.
- Change towels and repeat until carpet is dry.
If stain remains, proceed to Step 2. For coffee or tea stains proceed
to Step 3.
Step 2. If Stain Persists
(Do not use on coffee or tea stains. For these stains follow Step 3 to
neutralize the ammonia.)
- Mix 1 teaspoon non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup
warm water.
- Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as instructed in Step 1.
- Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step 3 to neutralize the ammonia.
Step 3. For Coffee and Tea
-
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in spray bottle.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot.
Specialized Stain Treatments
|
To Remove Steps |
To Remove Steps |
| Asphalt 1,3 |
Hand Lotion 1,3 |
| Ballpoint 1,3 |
Ice Cream 1,3 |
| Beer B,3 |
Ink 1,3 |
| Blood A,3 |
Make-up 1,3 |
| Candle D |
Mixed Drink A,3 |
| Candy 3 |
Mud F,3 |
| Catsup A,3 |
Nail Polish H,3 |
| Cheese A,3 |
Oil 1,3 |
| Chocolate A,3 |
Paint 1,3 |
| Coffee B,3 |
Play Dough 1,3 |
| Cola A,3 |
Rust G,3 |
| Cough Syrup A,3 |
Shoe Polish 1,3 |
| Crayon 1 |
Soft Drinks A,3 |
| Dirt F,3 |
Soy Sauce A,3 |
| Drink Mix 2 |
Tea B,3 |
| Egg C,3 |
Urine C,3 |
| Excrement C,3 |
Vomit C,3 |
| Fruit Juice 2,3 |
White Glue A,3 |
| Grease 1,3 |
Wine B,3 |
| Gum E |
|
A. Blood, catsup, cheese, chocolate, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soft
drinks, soy sauce, toothpaste, water color, and white glue
Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of stain as possible. Mix
solution of 1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia and 1/2 cup water in
spray bottle. Spray stain. Blot with paper towel. Proceed to Step 3.
B. Beer, coffee, perfume, tea and wine
Blot, then neutralize with solution of 1/3 cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup
water. Spray spot and blot. Proceed to Step 3.
C. Egg, excrement, urine and vomit
Remove as much solid as possible using spoon or dull knife. Neutralize with
ammonia solution and blot. Proceed to Step 3.
D. Candle wax or other types of wax
Spread brown paper bag or a terry cloth towel over the area and iron with the
setting on "warm." The wax will be absorbed into the bag or cloth. Remove
any remaining traces with alcohol.
E. Chewing Gum
Use an ice cube to freeze the gum. Shatter the frozen gum with knife handle
and vacuum.
F. Mud
Allow to dry completely. Shatter the dried mud with the handle of a knife and
vacuum. Proceed to Step 3.
G. Rust
Use spray bottle to spray spot with lemon juice. Allow to set for five
minutes. Proceed to Step 3.
H. Nail Polish
Use a spoon or knife to remove as much of the nail posish as possible.
Apply a non-oily nail polish remover to a clean white cloth and gently rub
in one direction only until spot is removed. Proceed to Step 3 to remove
nail polish remover.
Stains That Can't Be Removed
Some spills contain chemicals that discolor or even damage carpet fibers
or dye. If you have doubts about what caused the spot or how to remove it,
contact a professional carpet cleaner.
Minor Repairs
Small Carpet Burn: Remove the burnt fiber tips, cutting a few at a
time. Cut some fiber from the corner of a closet. Adhere the new fibers
with white household glue.
Tear in Vinyl: Make sure surface is dry and coat with clear
nail polish.
|