Carpet Floor

Indoor Outdoor Area Rugs- A Must Have For Outdoor Design

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:42:00 +0000

Indoor outdoor area rugs haven’t had it better than now. This is because of the positive attention outdoor design have been receiving. Previously outdoor rugs had been that of dull and tried looking astroturf.

It was as if outdoor area rug can be anything but attractive. But with the increasing popularity of outdoor living concept , indoor outdoor area rugs are receiving a good brush up and are coming out stylish . They are also strong and stylish enough to serve as indoor outdoor area rugs.

Our patios and poolsides can now have a nice looking , tough area rugs .These outdoor rugs are treated to be weather proof , mold and mildew resistant . They are durable. Area rugs that can defy the harsh weather outside can as well do very well inside the house with all the traffic pressure coming human users and pets.

Indoor output area rugs are used to complement outdoor furniture and atmosphere . Polypropylene rugs are very popular outdoor rugs.

Are Polyprothylene Rugs The Best Option For Outdoors?

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:55:00 +0000

Do you want to add some colors and beauty to an outdoor space and probably create atmosphere of some 'rooms' , then you should be considering using polypropylene rugs. Outdoor area rugs made of polypropylene material can be used for this "rooms" effect.

Polypropylene rugs are synthetic fibers made by the extrusion of molten polymer . Additives are added to it to improve on their quality in addition to their inherent properties.

Why is Polypropylene Rugs Unique For Outdoors?

Outdoor polypropylene rugs are the commonest and the most popular outdoor rugs because of the clear cut advantages they have over other types of rugs.

They are easy to wash. You can clean by just hosing them off. They are light , tough and very colorfast in sunlight. Polypropylene rugs do not ignite easily. Some additives are used to make them flame -resistant.

Polypropylene rugs can be used outside under varying temperatures and seasons. They are highly moisture resistant( don't hold water) . Polypropylene rug is mildew resistant and has long wearing durability. It has long wearing durability and therefore can be used in hgh traffic area.

When compared with other types of rugs in terms of price, durability, manageability polypropylene rugs remains the best option for outdoors .

Kitchen Area Rugs:Stress Free Way Of Creating a Comfortable And Multi-Purpose Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:34:00 +0000

A kitchen that is dull , looking congested, having things placed just anywhere or appearing empty can be unappealing to any homemaker and makes the kitchen uninviting.

You can handle this situation by employing the power of kitchen area rugs. Kitchen area rugs are excellent means of adding beauty,comfort,class and at same time carving out atmospheres from the kitchen open space .

Multi-Purpose Space Advantage
Kitchen area rugs are used to create different atmospheres within an open space and decongest the kitchen. You can create a dining atmosphere with kitchen area rugs instead of having table , chairs kept just anywhere. Then you keep all the dining materials at that corner.

If you have little children who may find their way into the kitchen , especially if the kitchen is big enough ,you can create such children corner with a kitchen area rug.

Comfortability advantage
Tiles, hardwood and stones are classy , beautiful and gorgeous but can be uncomfortable underfoot especially while standing for a long time . Use kitchen area rug on the floor beside the sink and working surfaces . This will give some cushioning and softness underfoot.

Color/Beauty Advantage
Kitchen area rugs can add a lot of color, charm and brightness to your kitchen . Area rugs for kitchen come in different patterns ,sizes and shapes. They can be from Indian, Scandinavia, or of oriental origin. The oriental rugs are particularly popular for their varieties of decorations and patterns. It will be better you go for kitchen area rugs with repetitive patterns .

If you are so keen on really adding some beauty to the kitchen ,you can place a kitchen area rug somewhat at the central position of the kitchen. It should be moderate in size and need not be too colorful.

Using a Kitchen Area Rug
Kitchen area rugs should be made of materials that can stand stain. They should be soft and non-absorbent . Polypropylene rug is good as a kitchen area rug. A kitchen area rug should have non-slip backing . Rag rugs and shag area rugs can be used as kitchen area rugs.

Carpet Cleaning Methods-Do You Know The Right Method To Use?

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Maintaining a clean nice looking carpet is the delight of everyone that uses carpet flooring but once the ugly stains, dull appearance and dustiness begin to show, the question becomes-Which of the carpet cleaning methods do I use to get back my bright, nice looking carpet?

Again leaving the carpet dirty also causes damage due to the abrasive effect of the dust, sand and other soiling materials. Therefore carpet cleaning is important both for aesthetic purpose and durability. Now let us examine the common carpet cleaning methods available.

Common Carpet Cleaning Methods:
There are no 100% best carpet cleaning methods. Each method of carpet cleaning has its own pros and cons.

The popularity of a method determines the availability of its cleaning materials.

a. Steam Carpet Cleaning (Deep Extraction Method):
This is the most popular among all the carpet cleaning methods. This is because it does a near to natural cleaning. A deep down cleaning is obtained using this method. Liquid detergent is sprayed thoroughly, and then followed by a controlled injecting of hot water (of about 150 degrees). The solution is force down the carpet pile, which dissolves the dirt and soil(organic and inorganic material that stick to the carpet fiber) and then extracted with a strong vacuum machine.

This is the carpet cleaning method recommended by almost all carpet manufacturers but critics point out to the fact that there is always the problem of overwetting which can damage the carpet fibers , carpet backing and cause mildew . In as much this is a point, it can still be averted by using a professional carpet cleaning company for the exercise at least for first time/or being extra careful incase you decide do it yourself.

Another criticism of this method of carpet cleaning is that you will need to used it in conjunction with other cleaning method to get a good result in places where there is heavy traffic and the carpet is really soiled thereby requiring some form of scrubbing . (Learn more about Steam Carpet Cleaning)

b. Rotary Method:

In this carpet cleaning method, carpet cleaner is sprayed from a tank and then worked into the carpet with rotary nylon brush. This brush scrubs the carpet and then a wet vacuum is used to extract the dirty solution. You may have to use an a strong extracting machine to effect perfect vacuuming of the solution. The brush can damage the delicate carpet fiber.

c. Foam Method:

Here, very dense and thick foam is applied on the carpet surface and then worked into the carpet by a revolving brush. This loosen the soil and dirt and subsequently extracted using a vacuum. The carpet dries fast. Defoamer is added to the vacuum system to break up the thick foam .

The use of foam reduces the amount of wetting of the fiber but the brush can damage delicate carpet fibers. This method works for removing dirt at the surface and does not get deep down the carpet pile.

d. Bonnet Method:

Liquid cleaner is thoroughly sprayed on the carpet. The floor machine is used to spins the absorbent bonnet (somewhat like giant towel made of cotton or rayon pad) on the carpet . The bonnet scrubs, cleans and absorbs the dirty solution.

Overwetting is very remote but the carpet cleaning method is superficial and not effective if the carpet is really dirt and the spinning of the bonnet can damage carpet fiber.

e. Dry Carpet Cleaning:

Here absorbent dry powder is applied to the carpet then gently worked into the carpet fiber using a cleaning towel or machine and then vacuumed. It is near impossible to completely vacuum all the powder. Remnants of the chemical cleaner causes fast resoiling . This method is perceived as being unnatural for a cleaning exercise.

Learn more about Dry Carpet Cleaning

What I Suggest You Do:

The method you choose among the available carpet cleaning methods will depend on the level of soiling of your carpet and availability of the cleaning materials.

In case of heavy soiling settle for steam cleaning . This will get the work done for you but be careful not to overwet the carpet . Sometimes the steam method have to be used in conjunction with one other carpet cleaning method in cases the carpet is highly stained due to heavy traffic . In such situation the rotary method can be used to affect some scrubbing of the carpet.

If you have a relatively new carpet with light to average soiling then there is really no need using steam cleaning . In such case , use lighter cleaning methods like foam or bonnet method. I personally do not recommend dry cleaning(dry chemical cleaning) for the whole carpet. It is best used for highly localized situations where you may want to clean a highly trafficked , soiled area of the carpet . Learn more about Dry Chemical Cleaning Method.

Need a Guide on Selecting Carpet Fiber Right For You?

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

Basic idea of the expected qualities of a good carpet fiber is necessary in selecting the right carpet. A quality maybe seen across all fiber types while some maybe peculiar to a particular fiber type. There is no perfect carpet fiber.

Really the above statement is what it is. Every carpet fiber has its strengths and weaknesses. They are being continuously improved. I think what you should be looking for is what is in the market that best suit your need at a reasonable price. That said, lets examine:

Qualities to Look Out For in Carpet Fibers:

Moisture Absorption and Desorption

Most fibers tend to absorb moisture when in contact with the atmosphere and this quality is affected by their chemical and physical properties .
This quality is defined as moisture regain. Carpet fibers that absorb water tend to be easy to dye and process. Naturally those with low moisture regain tend to dry faster.

Resistance to Chemicals and Stains

A carpet fiber should have the ability to stand the effects of materials it comes in contact with. It should be able to reasonably withstand the chemicals, organic materials and gases it will surely come in contact.

Luster

This is the level of gloss or sheen of a carpet fiber.

Resiliency

For a carpet fiber to be useful to the user it should be able to bounce back to its original form when pressure is applied to it. Carpet fibers are constantly under stress as a result of usage. Stress can come in form of human traffic, heavy objects, and changes in temperature and humidity . A fiber should be able to handle these forces without damage.

Closely related to resiliency is abrasion . Abrasion resistance of a carpet fiber is its resistance to mobile stress.

Thermal and Flammability

This quality is very important for safety. A carpet fiber should not ignite easily and should also be self-extinguishing.

Common Carpet Fibers in the Market:

There are two types of carpet fiber : Synthetic carpet fiber and natural carpet fiber.
Nylon, olefin, polyester and acrylic are synthetic while wool, silk and cotton are natural fibers.

Nylon

Nylon is by far the most popular carpet fiber for both residential and commercial applications. It is the most common fiber used in the manufacturing of wall to wall carpet. Its popularity stems from the fact that it has quite a number of advantages over other fibers. It is strong , tough and durable. It has good resiliency and relatively inexpensive too!

It is easy to clean and can really resist matting. Due to its inherent
susceptibility to stain , it is treated to be able to resist stains. A popular example of stain resistant nylon is the stainmaster from Invista (formerly DuPont). Stainmaster nylon fiber is the most popular carpet fiber brand in US especial for residential carpets.

Primarily, there are two types of nylon carpet fiber; they are the type 6 and 6,6 . Although type 6,6 is marketed as a premium brand by Invista, the two are very similar in properties. The difference that may be doesn't really count in the expected end- user values.

Polypropylene(Olefin)

It is second to nylon in popularity. It is pigmented, that is color is added to it while in molten state. This makes it colorfast and resistant to sun fading.It has low moisture absorption and desorption ,this makes it resistant to soil but unfortunately undyeable. It has good stain resistant except for oil and grease stains. It is resistant to mold and mildew, and easy to clean.

Olefin has low fiber resiliency and crushes (flattens) under stress, therefore it manufactured in BCF(loop-pile) only. Due to its low abrasion resistance and low melting point , it can fuse if a heavy object is dragged across it.

Polyester

Polyester is not as common as nylon and polypropylene in carpet production. It has an excellent resistance to mildew and abrasion. It has good stain resistance. It has poor resilient property and susceptible to crushing. Polyester is normally sold in heavy face weight creating a rich luxurious feel .

Face weight is a product of pile density and pile height. Avoid high pile height; it crushes fast. The pile density should be high.
It is made in staple fiber(cut pile) and reasonably durable. It pills and stained by oil and greased.

Wool

It is a premium carpet fiber and have prestige attached to it .Its usage in carpet manufacturing is dated centuries back. It is crush resistant and durable. It is expensive and represent a very low percentage of fibers used in carpet making.

It resistant to pilling. It has a rich , luxurious look and feel . It is commonly used in rugs . It is easy to clean but will require a little more carefulness. It soils easily.

Which Carpet Fiber is Right For Me

As I said earlier , concentrate on defining your need and use it as basis for selecting from brands and types available in the market. This makes selection easy for you. For instance, if you have kids and pets which makes stains very likely and also want to give your living room a posh look.

Then you will be thinking of a carpet that has good stain resistant , easy to clean , high densed pile fiber to give a soft , luxurious look and feel and then a nice color to match your taste.

If you love playing around with colors and likely to repaint your living room in the next one or two years then it is very likely that you will be dyeing your carpet and therefore not a client to polypropylene. Olefin carpet fiber is good for outdoor carpeting.

Personally, I will advise that you keep to the popular good performer-nylon ,for indoor carpeting but if you are a bit adventurous you can try out good carpet brands in polyester and olefin.

Before You Use Carpet Cleaning Chemicals On Your Carpet

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Carpet cleaning chemicals have become an issue of some sort for various reasons ranging from safety , effectiveness and others.

Carpet cleaning chemicals are not altogether something to be overly apprehensive about. You may just need to understand it better, the issue around it, how best to apply it and get to know the best of the products for residential and commercial places.

What are Carpet Cleaning Chemicals?
Carpet is the most common floor covering type. And can really be beautifying and comfortable to use. With usage, the inevitable happens, that is, it gets dirty and needs cleaning.. The carpet cleaning chemicals are compound mixtures used to clean carpets. They are mainly used for dry carpet cleaning (chemical carpet cleaning). Some common ingredients contained in chemical carpet cleaners include lye, formaldehyde, disinfectants, acids and artificial fragrance. Some which are claimed to be trade secret may not be listed on the labels.
Carpet cleaning chemicals come in different groups such as, green cleaning /micro –splitters, deodorizers, spot & stain removers, protectors, problem solver additives, extracting agents, Carpet pre-sprays.

How to Choose the Right Cleaning Chemicals
This brings us to issues of safety and effectiveness. As I said earlier the cleaning chemicals are grouped. Therefore your choice will depend on what you want to achieve. To achieve maximum success, purchase the type meant for a particular job. As with many chemical products, they have contents that may be toxic and not healthy for consumption especially by children and pets. Sometimes some of their contents are not listed on the label, making the users unaware of a possible harmful substance. Though the manufacturers will be expected to place health warnings.
With that said, it does not mean that all chemicals for carpet cleaning are harmful, it simply means that you should apply some caution in dealing with these cleaning products. Check the label list first for any blacklisted (prohibited) chemical such as tributyl tin, tetrachlororthylene , hydrofluoric acid etc. There are also Eco-friendly (green) carpet cleaning solution available as alternative. They are primarily plant based. Brand names like Bi-O-Kleen, Capture , NatureClean are some green cleaning solution names.

Are Carpet Cleaning Chemicals Safe for use
The safety depends on the chemical content. During the application of the chemicals, apply safety measures like use of hand gloves, protective gears and goggles. Do not smell the chemicals. Ensure sufficient flow of air in the room to reduce inhaling toxic fumes. Try limiting the usage of carpet cleaning chemicals to “quick-fix” cleaning of very dirt highly trafficked parts of the carpet as against using it for the whole carpet. Vacuum thoroughly to reduce the chances of residual remnants to barest minimum.

Enjoy Your Carpet

I think the underlying interest is having a satisfactory clean carpet using a process you are comfortable with issues around it. There is a place for carpet cleaning chemicals but the milder the better . Try as much as possible to use green carpet cleaning solutions as alternatives where possible . Then use steam cleaning to do major carpet cleaning . It is still the process that most people and most carpet manufacturers can relate to comfortably.

Important Facts about Dry Carpet Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Sometimes people wonder if, when, where to use dry carpet cleaning. They are apprehensive about the effectiveness and safety of dry cleaning. This article will discuss on issues relating to effectiveness, proper usage and safety of dry carpet cleaning. I hope it will help you make up your mind about dry cleaning.

Dry carpet cleaning Method

By its name, this stands for a method of cleaning that doesn’t require water. The main ingredient consists of a dry carpet cleaning compound containing moisture, absorbent, detergent and solvent. The cleaning powder is sprinkled on the carpet, and then the moisture dissolves the soil which then mixes with the solvent and detergent. The mixture is attracted and absorbed by the absorbent which is then vacuumed.

There are other cleaning methods sometimes referred to as dry cleaning. But in strict sense they can’t really be called dry cleaning since water is used. Dry carpet cleaning can be used on all carpet fiber depending on the chemical content of the absorbent cleaner (find out from a local carpet cleaning professional which will be okay for your carpet). It is mostly recommended for silk, wool and color-bleeding carpets.

Do It Yourself

The carpet should be vacuumed first. The cleaning mixture is poured on the carpet. Then worked into the carpet with a brush or vibrating machine (which you can rent). It is left to stay for sometime depending on how dirty the carpet is. The moisturized cleaner mixes with the dirt and soil and then vacuumed with a vacuum cleaner.

In case of stains, you should use stain treatment first. Be sure to verify that the cleaning mixture will be right for your carpet before using it. You can test it on a scrap carpet or a small area of the carpet that won’t be noticed.

Should I Use This Method On My Carpet?

The main case against dry carpet cleaning is on its inability to do a satisfactory cleaning. No matter how much you vacuum the carpet, there is always residual reminants in the carpet. This process can be likened to pouring cleaning powder on your hair then using hair brush or towel to rub it into the hair then vacuum off. How really clean is your hair?

There is also the problem of re-soiling due to soap and detergent residue. It can really be cumbersome getting loads of cleaning powder for a whole carpet cleaning.

I don’t know about you, but I am uncomfortable with the possibility of children and pets getting to this residue no matter how safe the manufacturers claim the compound is.

I still think there are places and situations dry carpet cleaning method can be used. As I said earlier, it can be recommended for silk and wool carpets where constant use of steam cleaning can damage and over stretch the carpet.Then use other cleaning options when it is real dirty.

It is also recommended for carpets that run color. Dry carpet cleaning can serve as a "quick fix" for highly trafficked areas of the carpet before any major cleaning can be done.

Steam Carpet Cleaner:Best Option for Carpet Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Using steam carpet cleaner can get you a better cleaning job than other types of carpet cleaners. Steam cleaning is a very effective way to ensure that you obtain a real clean carpet.

There are basically four(4) methods used for carpet cleaning:

Dry Shampooing.

Carpet powder method(Dry Cleaning).

Bonnet cleaning.

External extraction(also called warm water extraction , 'hot water extraction" or steam
cleaning")

For this article we are concentrating on steam cleaning which is the method approved by almost all carpet manufactures. Steam carpet cleaners can penetrate deep into the carpet fiber and ensure that there is a deep cleaning and then immediately vacuum off the dirty water to prevent leaving any residual liquid. The spraying of warm water ensures that there no over wetting.

I will advise you use the service of professional carpet cleaners if this is your first time but if can't spare the cash then go on and do it yourself. Most steam carpet cleaners come with instructions which you can follow .

In cleaning the carpet, first of all, remove everything in the room that will be an obstruction. Vacuum the carpet to remove cobwebs, dust . In case of stubborn stains , you can spray spot removals first and then wait some minutes . Move the steam carpet cleaner slowly using overlapping strokes when depositing the detergent. Then go over the wet area slowly in cycles with overlapping strokes . Some carpet steam cleaners have see-through covering , so that you can see the water as it is vacuumed into the machine .

You can repeat the process of depositing detergent and moving in cycles if you think you need to clean the carpet more. Continue vacuuming untill no more dirty water is entering the machine. This is particularily important to so that the carpet will dry fast. Don't walk over wet carpet because any collected dirt will set on the carpet.

In purchasing a steam carpet cleaners, you have to consider:

Tank type/size/design: The tank type could be upright or canister. Uprights are heavier and used for large areas. Canisters hold more water than uprights but gets
cold faster. Find out if the steam cleaner has different reservoirs for the cleaning solution and the vacuumed dirty water.

Rotating brushes: The number of brushes . The more the better.

Tool/attachments: Find out if the steam carpet cleaner have attachment for other cleaning
such as upholstery and stairs cleaning.

Water heater: Find out if you have to be adding hot water or if it offers water heater
option .

Some popular steam carpet cleaners are hoover steam carpet cleaner and bissell steam carpet
cleaners.

About Carpet Stair Treads

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Have you walked into a home and look up the staircase and beheld a pretty sight? Chances are that the stairs have carpet stair trends. Have you tried "flying down" the stairs at home and the next thing you know is that you are rolling down the stairs? Do you notice discoloration, and multiple spots on your stairs due to traffic? The answer to all these is carpet stair tread.

In most homes the stairs is used to get to the upper level from down level and that means tons of traffic. In some homes and public places where the stairs may be carpeted , heavy traffic can also lead to fast wearing of the carpet. Carpet stair treads are also used in such cases to protect the carpets.

Carpet stair tread provides traction which will prevent you from slipping from the stairs. It is a form of safety measure.

Carpet stair tread is designed to be used on specific surface and condition. In highly trafficked surface such as theatres , the carpet stair treads are sturdy so as to stand high heels , splashes of drinks and oil . There are multi-purpose carpet stair treads that can be used on any type of surface. Carpet stair tread are made different materials such as; rubber, metal, polypropylene, braided fabrics, plastics. They come in various colors. Some have different line contours to hide step details such as edges. There is also a special variant called glow-in-dark treads to lit dark stair area.

For the installation, first,clean the stairs. Start from the bottom of the stair case. First secure the carpet pad to the vertical board at the bottom of the step with a staple gun. It should be held firmly to the stairs. Lift the carpet stair padding up to the stepping surface and use a wedging tool to secure the tack strip in place . Do this for all the stairs. Go back to the bottom of the stairs and place the runner on top of the fastened pad. Use the wedging tool to tack it into the joints. Do this for each stair.

Traditional carpet stair treads are not necessarily runner carpets , they come as uniform single carpets placed on each stepping surface of the stairs. Most carpet stair tread do not cover the entire stair surface ,they usually cover the center of the stairs surface where the traffic is heavy.

Carpet stair tread is an excellent way to give your stairs an affordable face lift and protection. You can call any local carpet shop for profession support.

Carpet Stretcher:What You need to Know

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:19:00 +0000

You may have noticed rucking(sometimes referred as buckling or rippling) of your carpet that can easily get you tripped down when you hit your feet against them while walking across the carpet. Then it is time to use carpet stretcher. It could be wrinkles and loosening of the carpet that you notice. These are signs of the need to use carpet stretcher on the carpet.

Carpets ruck due to heavy wear as they age but can also develop prematurely as a result of poor carpet installation. Carpet stretcher is also used during carpet installation to remove any sag giving your carpet a full stretch.

Carpet stretcher can be used on all types of carpet. Common carpet stretchers are knee kicker and power carpet stretcher.

The manual carpet stretcher known as knee kicker carpet stretcher has spikes to grip the carpet , then you ram your knee with force on the padded end of the tool so as to pull the carpet forward towards the opposite wall .

The manual tool is not quite user -friendly . It can cause knee disorder and pain. It is also time consuming . There is another version of the manual stretcher that tries to tackle the problems associated with the knee kicker . It uses a hand lever instead to exert force needed to drag the carpet forward .

The second type is the power carpet stretcher which is more user -friendly and makes the work much easier and faster. You don't need to exert any force to drag the carpet ,it is done automatically by the machine . The power carpet stretcher also has tiny teeth that grab the carpet and pull it towards the wall .

Carpet stretching has to be done when due without delay. Leaving the carpet wrinkles for a long time can cause a ripping and tearing of the carpet thereby causing a permanent damage to the carpet.

Start the carpet stretching from the center of the carpet and then work to the edges of the carpet against the wall. The stretched out carpet material is then hooked unto a tackless strip. Leave about 1/2 inch of extra carpet all around the wall and tuck it is down between the tackless strip and baseboard.

In case you want to carry out the exercise yourself, you can hire the tool/machine from a local hire shop where you will also be put through on how to use the machine . Getting a professional support will be an added advantage. You can call a local carpet dealer involved in carpet installation for professional support.

Carpet stretcher can give your carpet a face lift. It can straighten out wrinkles and rucks thereby preventing your carpet from tearing.

Carpet Dye: Give Your Carpet a New Look

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Most carpets are replaced prematurely. Some have to "tolerate" and "manage" the ugly sight because they think that the only option available (buying a new carpet) is not possible at the moment. But this don't have to be so . Why? Carpet dye provides a good cost effective option.

Carpets can last long , as ling as 15 years or more without wearng out. They start looking, "ugly", discolored , and stained long before they start to wear out. Carpet dyeing is a very good option to renew your carpet . It is also used to hide carpet stains, carpet bleaching stain, pet stains and other stains that prove stubborn to other cleaning methods.

Generally there are two common methods used to dye carpets . The first is spray dyeing and the second is dip dyeing .

Spray dyeing , just as the name signifies, is done by spraying carpet dye on the carpet using a pressure wand. As you might suspect, there an issue with this method ; its inability to give a deep penetration of the carpet dye into the carpet yarn.

Dip dyeing is done by applying carpet dye to the carpet with a rotary scrubber . The machine is evenly moved across the carpet. It is like mowing a lawn . You have to make several even passes over each area to get the required shade or color. There will be an uneven color application ifthe machine stays long in one place.

Before you do the carpet dyeing you must clean the carpet thoroughly , move the furniture , and protect the baseboards. Carpet dye is then applied and lightly brushed into the carpet nap. Make sure your carpet and carpet pad don't soak up too much water. If possible use very low-moisture content carpet dye system that sets instantly .Also use carpet dyes that are colorfast, so that the color don't wash off or fade. Wipe any spatter off the wall.

In case you want to do the carpet dyeing job yourself, you can buy a do-it-yourself kit.There are quite a number of them available . I must advise that you should first use a scrap carpet to practise and test your skill before going for the main carpet. That will be a wise path to take so as not to ruin your entire carpet. Carpet dyes are safe for the children and pets. Don't wear white socks on a newly dyed carpet until you have vacuumed it a number of times.

Getting a professional help can be a good investment and save you alot of headache specially when dealing with multicolored or patterned carpets. A professional will help you check out if your carpet can be dyed or not, help you decided the best carpet dye color to choose to get the desired shade or color and also give you an idea of what the whole process of carpet dyeing will cost you(which is much cheaper than a new carpet). You can contact a local carpet dealer on how to get a professional help.

You can dye wool carpets, nylon carpets but polyester , polypropylene and acrylic carpets are very difficult to dye and can yield a real bad result. The present color of your carpet determines what color you can dye your carpet to and also the dye color to use to get a particular shade or color. For example if your carpet is red and you use a yellow dye, then you would get an orange carpet. There is vast array of colors available. These colors are grouped into color families. Some professional carpet dyers can cross color families.

Use a professional carpet dye so as to ensure that your carpet dye job turns out fine. Below is a list of some professional grade carpet dyes available:
Americolor Corp- Americolor also offers training class for carpet dyeing.
Color/Match
DyeCo
Dye Master
Dyeing Colors
Professional Dye

Carpet Manufacturers Directory Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:34:00 +0000

The world four largest manufacturers of carpet are US, Belgium , Holland and Middle East with US taking the lead. The common fibers used in manufacturing carpets are nylon, olefin(polypropylene), polyester, and wool. There are some carpets now made with silk.

Below is a list of carpet manufacturers around the world.

CARPET MANUFACTURERS USA

Shaw Industries - The biggest carpet manufacturer in the world. A subsidiary of Berkshire
Hathaway. The company is based in Dalton, USA.

Mohawk Carpet- Producer of residential and commercial carpets. The second largest carpet
manufacturer in the world. It sells commercial carpets under brands like karastan carpets, lees carpets, bigelow carpets, and durkan carpets. Its residential carpet brand names are Mohawk Floorscapes, Mohawk ColorCenter,Mohawk Floorz. Brand names of smaller carpet mills that were purchased by Mohawk are Aladdin, Horizon and WundaWeve . Mohawk industries is based in Dalton.

Beaulieu of America-Third largest manufacturer of carpet in the world. It sells carpets
under brands like creajet carpets, noventis carpets and orotex carpets.

Templeton carpet-This company spealizes in manufacturing carpets for hospitality industry.

Interface Flor - Manufactures modular carpets and designs broadloom carpets.

CARPET MANUFACTURER INDIA

Carpet crafts- An indian based carpet manufacturer . It is well known for its custom hand made carpets .

CARPET MANUFACTURERS UK

Axminster carpets- This is a 250 years old carpet manufacturer based in UK. It provides carpet for British airways. The company manufactures Axminster, Wilton and tufted carpets.

Caldew carpets- A UK carpet manufacturer.

CARPET MANUFACTURERS NETHERLAND

Pvh decor - Pvh decor have been in the business of carpet since 1879 .

Willard custom carpet

Robusta carpet -The company manufacturer sisal carpet and wool carpet (flatweave and Wilton) .

CARPET MANUFACTURERS TURKEY

Yasin Kaplan carpet- A turkish carpet manufacturer.

Sultan Carpet - The company manufactures hand made turkish rugs.

CARPET MANUFACTURER BELIGUIM

Lano carpet-Manufacturer of tuft, woven carpets.

CARPET MANUFACTURERS CHINA

Yong Lun carpet- This is a chinese manufacturer of custom made carpets , rugs and carpet backing.

Fushun carpet- A chinese carpet manufacturer. It manufactures silk carpet.

CARPET MANUFACTURERS MIDDLE EAST

Mashad carpets - based in Iran. Mashad carpets are made of wool. The carpets are mostly curvilinear with a single central medallion, corner floral designs, and very busy curvilinear floral motifs in the background.

Mada Carpet

Useful link
FloorFact carpet manufacturer directory

Why You Must Install Your Carpet with Carpet Pad

noreply@blogger.com (chiadikar) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:42:00 +0000

The thin line between you enjoying your carpet for a long time and it wearing out quickly could be a carpet pad.

A carpet pad is simply a cushion on which a carpet is laid. It is also called a carpet cushion. Often people budget for a carpet without considering a very important component of a carpet kit , that is a proper carpet pad. Just get this clear -if you install a carpet without a good pad , it will wear out and mat fast. Matting is the untwisting of the yarn and subsequent interweaving (tangling) of the yarn tips as a result of traffic.

Most often people settle for the standard carpet pad included in the price of the carpet. The problem with these standard carpet pads is that they are often of a low quality and won’t provide your carpet the necessary protection and give the users the maximum comfort.

There are a number of carpet pads to choose from the market. They vary in the material, treatment and finishes.
There are the fiber carpet pads, rubber carpet pads and foam carpet pads.

Fiber carpet pads come in three flavors: Natural fibers, synthetic/felt synthetic and recycled textile fiber.

Natural fibers include felt, horse hair and jute. These are highly susceptible to rottening if over-wet and develops odor fast. They shed, collect dust , mildew in damp areas such as concrete floors, and stretch out of shape. They can be uncomfortable to people with allergies.

Some felt carpet pads are now improved by coating with rubber and latex(rubberized and latexed carpet pads) so as to combat these disadvantages.

Synthetic fiber/synthetic felt pads are made with materials such as nylon , polyester, polypropylene and acrylic. They are needle-punched into relatively dense carpet pads which have firm feel.

The rubber carpet pads are of two varieties: the foam rubber and sponge rubber.

The foam rubber carpet pads are often glued to the back of kitchen carpets. They have covering on both sides. They are insect proof, mildew and moth proof, and non-allergenic.

Sponge rubber (flat and waffle) carpet pads are made from natural and/ or synthetic rubber and other chemicals. They are made into continuous sheets. They are sensitive to heat, have good resilience, damaged by dry cleaning solvents, and lose resilience with age. They are also moth, beetle, mildew proof and non-allergenic. The waffle pads hold moisture.

Foam carpet pads come in three types : Prime urethane, bonded(rebond) urethane and mechanical frothed urethane.

Prime urethane carpet pads come in three varieties :conventional prime, grafted prime and densified prime. Densified prime urethane is manufactured by changing the cell structure of prime urethane.
They are not affected by heat , non-inflammable , and not as resilient as rubber. They are not affected by dampness or insects , non-allergenic , and good for concrete slabs and basements.

Bonded (rebond) urethane: It is gotten by bonding together by pressure and gluing agents little pieces of prime urethane . It is normally associated with the problem of containing a preservative (BHT) used in many plastics and even bread .This preservative causes the yellowing of carpet fibers. Many cushion manufacturers have removed BHT from their products.

Mechanical frothed urethane: This is made with carpet backing machinery. The urethane foam is applied to non woven materials, forming a carpet pad with density and firmer feel.

Note : Carpet pads should not be too thick or too thin. If too thin then the carpet wears fast. If too thick the carpet becomes difficult to stretch and starts to ripple(buckle) over time.

You can easily test to feel the thickness. Just put layers of carpet pad under the carpet and feel its thickness. Thick carpet pads should be used in rooms with low traffic while thinner carpet pads should be used for high traffic rooms.

The quality of a carpet pad is determined by its density (weight of one cubic foot of carpet pad). Carpet pads are made virtually in different weights , to stand light , medium , and heavy traffic.

Inexpensive bonded urethane padding is sufficient for low-traffic areas while prime urethane is good for high traffic areas.
Laying a new layer of carpet pad over an old carpet pad causes the layer to be too thick and causes ripple.