Carpet blog

Removing Pet Stains

2012-02-25T12:11:00.001-08:00

There are many different products available on the market that will help you to remove almost all types of stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills and dirt the moment they crop up. Cleaning them up won't even require you to leave your home just to rush out and buy the expensive types of cleaning products.

There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Its simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains. Below, you'll find some tips on how to clean up pet stains and some other types of common carpet stains.

Pet stain
For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water. You can use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution. After you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap. The combination is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water. You should always make sure the soap doesn't contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.

Ink stains
    1. You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local department or grocery store.
    2. You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.
    3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is removed.
    4. Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don't spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains
    1. Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water.
    2. Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate.
    3. You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.
    4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.
    5. Rinse the area with warm water.
    6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.
    7. By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels. Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.

Synthetic Fiber Carpet

2012-02-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Nylon
The fiber nylon was introduced first by the DuPont Chemical Company in 1938. Several years later, after a great deal of development, nylon became the first synthetic fiber to be used in the entire carpeting industry.

The first 3 generations of fiber experienced many problems with the worst being staining. The 4th generation fiber of nylon had a mill applied coating that solved a majority of the staining problems. The ability of the fiber to repel water and oil based spills as well as soil helped to propel nylon into the top selling carpet fibers out there.

After several other changes, the DuPont company introduced the fifth generation nylon fiber. This stain resistant fiber would repel most dye stains if treated in a reasonable time. This fiber is
more accurately called an acid dye blocker in that it doesn't allow acid dyes to penetrate and stain the fiber.

The protective coating mill is applied and fills the dye sites with anionic molecules.

Tip
An easy way to test fiber for the presence of a fluorochemical is to cut a couple of fibers from a non traffic area and apply a few drops of oil and water mixture. If it beads up, then there is an active fluorochemical present.

Whenever testing for the presence of the acid dye blocker, you should again cut a couple of fibers from a non traffic area, then immerse the fibers in a red kool-aid mixture and wait for 5 minutes or so. Remove the fiber from the liquid and flush with neutral detergent solution. If the acid blockers are present and active, there will be no discoloration.

Polyester
The fiber of polyester was first introduced into the garment industry around in the 1950s. By the late 1960s, polyester was introduced into the carpet industry as a face yarn. In hand, feel,
and appearance it is similar to nylon, although it doesn't possess that same resiliency.

Polyester doesn't absorb water based spills, isn't affected by urine or kool-aid, but it will
absorb oil based spills. Polyester is non allergenic and mildew resistant.

Acrylic/modacrylic
Both of these fibers were first used as carpet yarns around the late 1940s. They disappeared around 1988 due to the competition from other fibers. In was reintroduced to the market around 1990 in Berber styling.

This was done so that people could take advantage of the wool like appearance, hand feel, and the fact that its more spot resistant, much easier to clean, and not damaged in the ways that wool is.

Olefin
Olefin is the latest of the synthetic fibers to be adopted to carpets. Once only available in continous filament, it is now produced in staple form as well. Olefin has a wide variety of uses that include primary and secondary backing of tufted carpets, warp yarns, and other uses as well.

Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

2012-02-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

The dry foam procedure is mostly rather than dry as the name infers, although the content of moisture is so low that it can actually be referred to as dry foam (90% air - 10% liquid). The dry foam machine is equipped with a pressure tank, which you will pour a solution of water and shampoo into.

A compressor will work to convert the solution into foam which is then dispensed all over the carpet using a revolving cylindrical brush. The brush will work to comb the foam through the piles of the carpet so that each individual fiber of the carpet is cleaned.

To achieve success, you must make sure that the
bubbles being produced are of uniformed size so the foam can complete the cleaning process before it is dispersed. Once it has dried, the carpet is then thoroughly vacuumed to remove the dried crystals of dirt that have been left behind.

Below, are the steps to the dry foam procedure:
    1. First of all, vacuum the carpet and remove all the stains that you possibly can.
    2. Mix the dry foam solution according to the directions of the manufacturer.
    3. Shampoo the carpet then once it has dried, vacuum the carpet.
    4. Depending on the type of carpet you have, groom the pile to speed the drying process.
    5. Complete the work by using a furniture leg pad or block to eliminate furniture stains or rust.

Advantages
The process of dry foam cleaning is capable of covering a lot of area in a very short amount of time. There isn't really any danger involved in saturating the carpet simply because the moisture
content is low. This will also help you to minimize the problems that are commonly associated with over wetting.

Disadvantages
The dry foam method is capable of removing average levels of soil. There is however a possibility of excessive residue and soil build up if the machine you are using has inadequate extraction capabilities.

Dry foam is the ideal method of choice if you have older carpet if you want to get your carpet as clean as possible. You can rent a machine at your local department or carpet store if you don't think you'll use it enough to buy it. They don't cost that much to rent, which is great for those who just want to give it a shot and see what happens.

Dry foam carpet cleaning isn't that hard to do, as you'll be fine even if you have no experience with these types of machines. The above information will help you greatly, and if you follow it, you shouldn't have any problems. Dry foam can make a carpet look spectacular, as long as you follow the manufacturers directions on mixing the dry foam solution. Once you've finished cleaning your carpet with dry foam, you'll probably find yourself falling in love with the results.

Steam Carpet Cleaning

2012-01-19T02:49:00.001-08:00

The process of steam cleaning your carpet involves hot water being fed to a spray extraction tool or
wand, coupled to a pump vacuum power unit. The cleaning solution is injected under pressure deep into the carpet through water jet nozzles.

The water will then penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing. This action will loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been.

There are many types and makes of steam carpet cleaners available on the market, ranging from small portables to the large and very powerful truck mounted units. The principle is the same no matter what model you pick.

The models that are truck mounted are designed so that only the hose and the wand are taken into the area being cleaned. These units are very powerful, delivering hot water and generating a high vacuum recovery that can be powered by diesel fuel, gas, propane, or even by the motor of the truck.

Most carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, and professional cleaners endorse this process for achieving soil removal efficiency. With the present state of art equipment and technology, we are more than capable of high production and cleaning of carpet.

The real disadvantage to steam carpet cleaning are the problems that are associated with over wetting and longer drying times. These can be eliminated however, by a skilled operator who uses equipment that is well maintained and in good overall operating condition.

Currently, there are two methods being used with
steam carpet cleaning.
    1. This method involves a traffic lane cleaner being sprayed onto the traffic lanes and then agitated into the fibers. The entire area is then cleaned by using a hot water extractor that has a cleaning solution being injected into the fibers through the wand.
    2. The second method involves a free rinse emulsifying pre-spray being sprayed onto the entire carpet, then agitated into the fibers.

Steam cleaning procedures
    1. Prepare the equipment and supplies. In a pump or power sprayer you should mix the free rinsing pre-spray. In the solution tank of the extractor, mix the rinsing agent.
    2. If you have a lot of furniture to move, make yourself a floor plan.
    3. If the area being cleaned has furniture, you should remove as much as possible.
    4. Thoroughly vacuum the carpet. If the pile is crushed or matted, use a pile brush to loosen the soils which will make vacuuming more effective.
    5. Pre-spray a good amount of the pre-spray.
    6. Using a grooming tool, agitate the pre spray deep into the fibers then let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes, making sure that it doesn't dry out.
    7. Extract the area using a portable, truck mounted, or automatic carpet cleaner.
    8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the entire area has been cleaned.
    9. Groom the cleaned area, replace all furniture that was removed, then clean all equipment that you used.

Todays Carpet Trends

2012-01-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

Heading beyond beige
Long ago, when the choices of carpet were minimalto basic beige, the designers were known to treat it more often than not as a natural background for rooms. These days, with numerous patterns, textures, and colors to choose from, the carpet is quickly emerging as the focal point in many interior
designs.

Even though you may think the need for neutral carpet has faded away, it hasn't, as Berber is still an outstanding choice|. Unlike the plain choices of the early 1990s, the variations of these days offer more pattern and texture. Even the conventional kinds of Berber carpet offer more visual interest with more extreme differences in pile being cut thicker, with deeper loop textures.

Color being sprinkled against a neutral background will add interest and dimension while helping to mask spots and spills. The flecks of color arenow appearing against tan, beige, and cream type
backgrounds as well as in other neutrals as well.

Colors and textures
The major shift in new items is going in the direction of layered color and softer texture in carpet. The mixture of pattern and texture will always be a popular choice simply because it reduces soil and vacuum marks. The other benefit here is that the color and texture offer a more distinct styling and plenty of fashion appeal as well.

The new products are quickly changing the perception of carpet as not only being a background to showcase other furnishings to the possibility that the carpet can become a focus for design as well.

Construction
The new manufacturing abilities have created several new looks with carpets that are made with cut and loop yarns. Some examples include bows, swirls, lattices, plaids, pin dots, and several others.

By taking advantage of these choices, you can add
a great deal of interest to the room and in sequence with the florals, stripes, and other patterns on windows and furniture. The carpetpattern and structure will also improve the belief of quality and value in the carpet, and will add a much broader element to the surroundings as well.

These days, carpets may do more than just protect your sub floor. They can create a new level of comfort and warmth to your home, with literally thousands of choices available. Carpet is easier than ever to clean as well, making it more than worth worthy of being in your home.

With a number of various trends and new and exciting colors to select from, the carpets of today
can help to make your house come alive. The carpets will add new meaning to your rooms, making you enjoy your home even much more. If you have older carpet in your home now, you should not wait around another minute to upgrade. As soon as you take a look at all of the choices you have, you will want to get that new carpet in right now - as your floor with want to thank you as well!

Natural Fiber Carpet

2012-01-06T09:41:00.001-08:00

Natural fibers used with carpet are produced either by insects, animals, or even plants. The fibers
that are produced by insects or animals are known as protein fibers. Those that are made by plants are known as vegetable fibers. Vegetable and protein fibers share the common disadvantage that they areboth very absorbent and will have extended drying times when wet cleaned - which can lead to mildew, shrinkage, and even dry rot.

Wool
Wool fiber is produced from the fleece of lambs or sheep. Wool of carpet is imported from countries
such as England, Australia, and New Zealand. Wool is the oldest and considered to be the finest of all carpet material.

The ability of wool to stretch up to 40% of its back and forth more than 180,000 times without breaking makes it very resilient. Wool is the most expensive material for carpet, although it is also the best you can buy.

Silk
The fiber of silk is produced by the larva of various insects known as silk worms. The silk, in continuous lengths from 300 to 1600 yards is spun to produce the cocoons. As a fiber, silk is naturally non flammable, strong, and not affected by static charge problems - even at low humidity.

Cellulose fiber
This type of fiber is produced by plants and normally not used as face yarns. These types will however, show up as backing materials of tufted as as well as carpets that have been woven.

Cotton
Cotton is a vegetable seed fiber that is produced from the cotton plant. The primary use for this fiber is yarns woven in carpet or rugs. Cotton is resistant to alkaline solutions and becomes stronger when it is wet.

The biggest disadvantages to cotton is the fact that is the most absorbent of all fibers and requires extended drying times after being wet cleaned. It is also easily damaged by acids, stains easily, mats down, soils quickly, and is subject to mildew, dry rot, and shrinkage.

Jute
The fiber of jute is produced by the jute plant which grows in South America, Pakistan, and even in
India. The stalk of the jute plant is where the longer coarse fibers are obtained, located between the outer bark and within the inner pulp.

Jute is normally used as weft yarns, across the width, in woven carpets and as a backing material
in the construction of tufted carpets. Jute is an inexpensive material that also serves other uses
than just carpet. Like all other fibers, this one has disadvantages as well. The fiber is weak when it becomes wet and is also subject to dry rot, shrinkage, and mildew.

Sisal
The fiber of sisal is produced by the leaves of the agave plant. Sisal is very strong and primarily used for making rugs, sacking, rope, and even carpet. The fiber stains easily and is also very difficult to clean. Wet cleaning can also cause shrinkage so its best to use low moisture methods.

Rayon
There is quite a bit of confusion about rayon and it is easy to understand why. Rayon is a
synthetic fiber that is produced from natural cellulosic fibers of wood pulp or cotton. The material is put through several chemical treatments which help to turn it into a synthetic fiber.

Primarily, rayon is used for area rugs because of its silk like appearance. It can be damaged by acids, has low resistance to abrasion and is also prone to cellulose browning.

Carpet Cleaning Tips

2012-01-02T09:53:00.001-08:00

Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet
as often as it is needed. To achieve a clean carpet,
you'll need to have it cleaned by a professional or
you'll need to use a deep cleaning machine. There
are advantages and disadvantages to this method,
although a thorough cleaning is needed every six
months or so.

Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them
in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Simply
using water on a spill will help most of them. If
that doesn't work, simply expand your search. You'll
find several products out there on the market that
can help you get rid of spills quick.

The products range in use and can be helpful when
matching them with the different types of spills.
You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to
help you keep stains out. By taking immediate action
you can prevent spills from becoming stains that
leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care
of very well. You should always take the time to
vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good
job. This means going over the floor in several
directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all
it can. High quality vacuums are the best choice,
as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to
clean off people's shoes and keep most of the
tracked soils off the surface of the carpet. You
should always use entrance mats outside of your
doors and make sure that anyone who enters your
home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off
of their shoes before they enter. You can also
take off your shoes and request that guests do the
same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or
home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils,
and starches. The dry soil types are easily
removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed
on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the
damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than
just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the
life of the carpet. If you have just laid the
carpet, you are already aware of the expenses
involved with doing so.

Even if you haven't had this done, you probably
know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet. A
clean carpet will add value to the home if it is
maintained well. It will also help to keep the
home free from odors as well. Also, it will help
to make a comfortable living area for your friends
and your family.

Selecting Carpet For Your Lifestyle

2011-12-23T04:58:00.000-08:00

Anytime you choose carpet, you have to think about many aesthetic as well as technical areas. With well over a hundred thousands designs and colours being released every year, choosing the right carpet to match your needs can be a very challenging task indeed.

Carpet is offered in a number of various textures, constructions, colors, and designs - which will open
the doors to virtually any interior design that you can imagine. The combination of texture and color will complement the look of both formal and casual environments, while helping to bring continuity to the overall room designs.

The most essential thing to think about when you shop for carpet is the amount of visitors that will be
on the carpet that is going to be installed as well as the area you hope to use it in. The design and the texture are both key aspects when you select a carpet for a specified area and use.

Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the mosty widely used fibers with carpet manufacturing, with each one displaying qualities that make themselves great with specific applications and uses. Even though nylon is the most expensive type of fiber, it is also the softest and most resilient, which makes it great for any room in your home, including those areas that have a high level of traffic.

Polyester fabric is less tough than nylon, although it more cost efficient and offers a high level of resistance to stains, which makes it a great choice for areas such as bedrooms or dining rooms that are not subjet to a lot of traffic.

The fiber olefin is solution dyed, which results in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be cleaned easily using a water and beach solution - without any loss to the color.

Unlike the other types of fibers, olefin is fade, mildew, and mold resistant, which results in a carpet that performs well indoors and outdoors. Keep in mind however, that olefin isn't very resilient and as a result, it should only be considered with berber construction.

You can get carpets in either plush or berber construction. The berber type of carpets are well made with a continuous level loop, while plush carpets are constructed of loops that have been sheared, which results in the strands standing upright.

Berber construction carpets don't crush or matt, due to their high level loops. They are however harder underfoot, uncomfortable to sit on or lay down on, and they can easily become ruined by pets with long nails. Berber carpets are well suited for high traffic areas, which include walk ways, living rooms, and entrance areas. They aren't popular with bedrooms, as their hard texture makes them a less than attractive option.

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or lay on and they offer better sound and thermal insulation. They tend to crush and matt though when they are subjected to high levels of foot traffic.

The use of nylon fiber paired with a tight low pile construction will help to limit the amount of pile and matt crushing, due to the high resilient nature of the nylon fiber and the added support that is gained from tight construction.

The warranties for carpet ranges from 5 - 30 years, with the general rule being that you don't cover the stairs. Most carpet warranties will require the installation of new carpet padding as well at the time of installation in order for the warranty to become valid.

Carpet Tiles

2011-12-21T06:30:00.001-08:00

Every time it involves your floors, you should not restrict
your self to just carpet, but try out the new carpet
tiles rather. Carpet tiles are available in an
array of designs and a great choice of materials
as well. Bordered, geometric, contemporary, or
bamboo - will give your floors a complete makeover
and a great look as well.

Whenever you go out to purchase carpet tiles, you will need
to consider exactly where you want to install them.
The tiles will vary in thickness as well as density.
Carpet tiles with more thickness have a cushion
to ensure that it's soft on the surface, making them perfect
for homes. They will also provide a degree of
thermal insulation as well. The thinner types of
tiles are best for offices, gyms, and other high
traffic areas. All carpet tiles are easy to
maintain and will last you for a long time.

The tiles will come in many materials and
designs. If you select, you can make your house
a green house by using bamboo carpet tiles, or you
can choose terracotta carpet tiles that will
give your internal an earthly feel.

You might would like to cheer things up a bit or even
play down your floor, based on the look you
are going for. Carpet tiles that are made from
foam, rubber, linoleum, and vinyl are best for
children's rooms, office spaces, or other high
traffic areas. The cost for the tiles will
depend on their thickness and density, which
means that the prices can range from 1$ per square
foot up to 40$ per square foot.

Tiles for carpet will offer you a number of benefits
when comparing these to wall to wall carpets.
They are simple to install and easy to transport,
as you can set up them without having to move
any furniture! They are very long lasting too,
and will go longer compared to most sorts of carpet
even if they're used in high traffic areas.

You can also unleash your creative side as well
with carpet tiles. You can mix and match
different tiles, or use a color for the border
and even create a distinctive look using
various patterns. Unlike wall to wall carpet,
you don't need any professional help in case
of tear, wear, or staining. If they become
torn or stained, just replace that tile with a
new one.

There are carpet tiles available to suit each and every
taste, even budget and furnishings style
as well. As they are more affordable, they will
offer you the chance to experiment with your
interior. Pretty much the same with carpets,
installing tiles is very important.

They should be set up on hard areas, for example
stone, cement, or ceramic tile. The surface has
to be smooth and clean, so the adhesives will
last and your floor will have a well finished
look. The carpet tiles will usually have cushion
or padding already installed, that will decrease
the cost and expand the life of the carpet.

Carpet Repair

2011-12-20T13:38:00.001-08:00

How often you need to repair your carpet depends on you. There are instances such as burns, crushing, fading, furniture, bleeding, sprouting, and carpet beetles where you'll want to take action. Most of the time, you can finish a repair job without needing a professional, although there will be times when you will need professional assistance.

Burns
Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes in contact with the carpet. If the burn is small,
the burnt fibers of the carpet can be cut out with scissors. If the burn is large, you'll need to replace the area with a new piece of carpet. You can do this yourself if you know how, or have an installer do it.

Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges of the carpet. To fix this, simply cut the fibers that are sticking out.

Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being left on the carpet. To get rid of these nasty marks, you should sprinkle your carpet with some club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron it. Do this a couple of times and you will see your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Shading, crushing, and matting
A lot of traffic on the surface of the carpet will cause it to flatten, which may give some types of
carpet a shaded appearance. If this happens, you should brush and vacuum the area. If you can't fix the problem, you may need to hire a professional, as this can sometimes be very tricky.

Shedding and snagging
Shedding is a problem of usage, as the fibers will surface on the carpet. This isn't a defect in manufacturing, but a normal problem. To fix it, you'll need to vacuum the area. The snags on the other hand are tufts that have pulled out of the surface of the carpet. They will occur more often with loop pile than cut pile carpets. You should never pull them off, but instead cut them pair of scissors.

Sprouting
A carpet is known to have sprouts only when there are tufts on it, which are longer than the rest. As pulling on them will only damage the carpet more, you should trim them off with scissors and level them down to the rest of the pile.

Static electricity
This depends on the carpet material, construction, and padding. Humidity will play an important role
as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the carpet fibers. A humidifier will help to retain moisture, and you can also spray the surface of the carpet with an anti static agent.

Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean
of food. The carpet beetles are quite annoying, as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain, seeds, and flour. If the carpet is infested bad, you professional cleaner is the way to go.

Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer of the color from one section to another. Good underlayments can help to prevent bleeding to a certain degree. Crocking on the other hand is the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed. To avoid this, simply avoid getting your carpet wet.

A carpet installation job that is one right can help you reduce your repair worries to quite an amazing degree. You can always call a pro as well, as their services will often end up being much cheaper than if you were to go ahead and replace the entire carpet.

Picking Out A Carpet

2011-12-19T11:50:00.001-08:00

Carpets are available in many different styles and colors, although when you shop for your carpet, you should try to buy the best quality carpet you can get for the money. Even if you happen to be on a
very strict budget, you shouldn't skimp on your carpeting or your carpet pad, as quality products will tend to last longer, wear better, and even save you quite a bit of money in the long run.

Almost all modern carpets are made from either nylon, polyester, or olefin. Nylon is the strongest type of material and also the most widely used. Even though nylon will never wear down to the treads, it can fade and get very scrubby in appearance. Buying the proper padding for your carpet and having it treated with a stain resistant treatment will help to make it last a lot longer.

When you pick out a carpet, you need to know how to tell if carpet is good enough quality. One easy way to test is by looking at the density of the carpet. This means the thickness and closeness of the pile, or each specific strand of fiber.

The closer the fibers are to each other, the better the overall quality will be. You should stick your fingers into the rub or bend it to see if you can feel or see the mesh. The less you feel or see, the better the quality of the carpet. Another factor with quality carpet is the twist level or the number of twists in 1 inch length of fiber - as the more twists you see, the better.

The density of the pile will affect how the carpet will wear, while the cut of the pile will affect how the carpet looks. A plush cut carpet looks like a field of velvet with even color and it's great for a formal look.

The saxony cut carpet has irregular cuts of pile,
and provides a great everyday look. Frieze is a very nubby twisted pile, with a less formal look although the wear it offers is very good.

When you buy carpet, you shouldn't ignore the carpet pad. Along with going for the best quality of carpet you can afford, you should also buy the best quality of pad as well. The padding will cut down on noise, and also help to act as a cushion so it's very important - almost as important as the carpet.

By taking your time and knowing what to look for, you won't have any problems picking out your next carpet. Quality and durability are the keys to great carpet and pad, which is why you don't want to rush this process.

Shopping For Carpet

2011-12-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

Shopping for carpet is something that has never been an easy task. To most people, it is more of a chore than fun. For most people, shopping for carpet is a dreaded experience that should be avoided at all possible costs - although they aren't in this alone.

Once you realize that others feel the same way, its time to go shopping. Frieze is an excellent choice of carpet, one of the most popular types that you can purchase even today. Frieze offers you a lot of benefits without having to compromise anything.

The following are points that you'll want to consider
when you evaluate the durability of the carpet:
    1. 75% twist
    2. 15% fiber type
    3. 10% density

Twist The twist type of carpet has a spiral shape. It is used via heat method that twists the yarn into its permanent shape. The fibers can have up to seven twists per yarn, as the more twists you have the better. The result in the end is a rustic knotted look that is very appealing.

Fiber type
Frieze carpets are normally made with high quality nylon yarn. Nylon is one of the most popular and most widely used fiber types for wall to wall carpets.

Density
It is very interesting that several people use the density of carpet as their primary factor in judging quality.

As you may know, carpet can be too dense. The denser a carpet is, the harder it will feel, as the fibers are compacted. The fibers were meant to wear on their sides rather than on the tops, as they need their room to move.

To help you get a better idea of carpets and the types that stand out, we'll take a look at several of them below.

Gulistan
Gulistan is actually one of the top manufacturing companies of frieze carpets. The company was a trendsetter early on with innovate styles and a very impressive selection of colors and easy
care. Even though the company is one of the smallest in the world, it has proven it has what
it takes to compete, with it's high quality nylon frieze that is popular even today.

Laura Ashley
The Laura Ashley company is a name that sports an elegant English country look that continues to grow and inspire. The company brings a lot to the table, from impressive carpets to bed linens, paint, and upholstery fabrics.

Beaulieu industries
This company licensed the Laura Ashley name and premiered close to two dozen products, which included a cool frieze carpet. The company has been very successful with their carpets, managing to compete for several years.

The bottom line
Anytime you shop for carpet, no matter what the style may be, you should always know what you want and how it will fit in with your home. Along with frieze carpet, there are many other types such as Berber, loops, high pile, and others that will add quite a bit to your home. Your carpet is very important, and therefore you shouldn't rush buying it.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get assistance from a professional, friend, or a member of your family. Those that have experience with carpet can be a great help when you purchase your own, especially if you don't have a lot of experience.

By getting help when you need it, researching, and just taking your time, you'll have no problems at all shopping for a carpet. Carpets can make or break a home, which is why it is very important that you know what you are buying before you make that critical purchase.

Carpet Cleaning

2011-12-19T06:33:00.003-08:00

Although vacuum cleaning can remove a majority of the dry soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet on a frequent basis to remove the oily, sticky soil that builds up in the pile as a result of odors and dirt that is tracked in from outside.

If you can clean the carpet before it becomes too bad, the cleaning chore will be easier to do and a lot more successful. There is a myth that is totallyfalse, which states that cleaning the carpet before
it is necessary will get it dirtier faster. The carpet with the typical household should be cleaned every 12 - 18 months depending on the number of people living there and the amount of traffic that walks on the carpet.

The choice of the right vacuum is important as well. There are some vacuums that will leave residues behind, which will promote re-soiling andbasically defeat the whole purpose of household
cleaning.

Professional carpet cleaners
It is in your best interest to use professional cleaners simply because their experience will enable them to do a much better job than you can do yourself. The equipment they use has more extraction power than the units available to you, and the carpet will dry faster as well. They know the cleaning agents to use, and they know the differences in carpet construction and fibers.

Doing it yourself
If you have made the decision to rent a steam cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you should check on several systems before you make a selection. Most of the units available for rent
don't clean well enough and may end up damaging your carpet. Therefore, you should always consider
the following:
    - Several rental companies offer cleaning equipment that is similar to what the professionals use. The equipment should have enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry within 12 hours of cleaning. You should always avoid rental units found in retail and grocery stores that don't have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet fast enough, as it can actually damage the carpet due to over wetting.
    - Make sure you avoid over wetting the carpet. Any prolonged dampness can lead to mildew
growth and bacteria in the carpet, or cause a seperation of the backing. A wet carpet that stays this way for longer than 24 hours can develop problems. You can control this by using proper equipment and the right training.
    - Carpets that have stain resistant treatments have to be cleaned with products that are formulated for this very purpose, or the stain resistance will be impaired and the warranty will be voided. Never use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches as they can mess up the color of the carpet.
    - Never use any silicone based treatments on the carpet.
    - You can help to reduce the drying time by using several fans to move the air around the carpet. You can use a dehumidifier as well, as it will pull moisture from the air.

Hot water extraction
The hot water extraction system is highly recommended, as it considered to be one of the best methods for carpet cleaning. Also known as steam cleaning, the process consists of spraying a mixture of water and detergent into the pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum that puts it into a holding tank. You can use a truck mounted unit or a portable self contained unit as well. This method is easily one of the best, and is ideal forsoiled carpets or pet stains that you have yet to get out of the fibers.

Carpet Choices

2011-12-19T06:33:00.001-08:00

When you select carpet for your home, you have many
things to consider and many different options to
weigh as well. Carpets come in many different colors
and styles, textures and fibers, and there are many
different qualities to choose from as well.

The two most popular choices of carpet today are the loop pile and cut pile. Loop pile has individual strands of yarn pulled through the backing of the carpet twice, which creates a small loop.

The cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leavingtufts of yarn that stand straight up. Cut pile is
normally more durable than looped pile. Cut piles come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony, and velvet. Loop pile choices include berber, cable, or sisal. For high traffic areas, loop pile is an excellent choice.

One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the cost. Even though there is nothing more luxurious than having wool carpeting in your home, most of us can't afford wool. If you are able to afford wool carpeting you'll find that even though it costs more to install, it will prove to be far more superior than any other type of carpeting. There is no man made carpet fiber that come close to the durability, rich look, or even the feel of wool - which can also last for 30 years or more.

Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and sometimes referred to as man made wool. It is resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and staining, although it isn't recommended for high traffic areas.

Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended for high traffic areas. Nylon is one of the most expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it is still cheaper than wool.

Olefin is a low cost carpet material, often used for indoor or outdoor carpeting. Olefin is colorfast and strong, very easy to clean. One of the draw backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you'll have is the color and patterns of the carpet. Light carpeting colors help to create a spacious effect, making the room appear to be larger. Light color carpets will of course, show much more soil than dark colors.

If you have pets around the house or little kids, dark colors may be your best bet. There are many different varieties of dark colors, which is great for those interested in style. Dark colors are ideal for stains or pets, as they don't show soiled areas near as much as light colored carpets.

If you end up selecting light colors around pets or little kids, you'll find yourself having to work twice as hard to make stains less noticeable. It would be easier and also smarter to select a dark color and make it easier on yourself.

Benefits Of Carpet

2011-12-19T06:32:00.001-08:00

In the past and even today, carpet is very popular with home owners all across the U.S. Carpet is the most practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring out there, as it also accounts
for more than half of all flooring purchases that are made each and every year. The fact is, carpet has outsold every other type of flooring for more than 60 years.

Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can't compete with. Below, you will find many of the features that carpet will add to your home.

Warmth
Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you need warmth underfoot.

Insulation
Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an extra layer of much needed insulation between the floors of your home. Depending on the density and weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency
as well.

Safety
Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion in the event of someone falling. For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound
Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring. Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:
    1. Reduces surface noise from foot traffic
    2. Absorbs airborne sound
    3. Blocks transmission of sound
These qualities are valuable in apartments as well as semi-detached homes.

Surface
Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and also hide any
other problems such as warped floors. The thicker density the carpet is, the more problems it will be able to hide.

Easy to care for
The carpets of today are more stain resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes
cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever. No matter type of spill it may be, there is always a way to clean it up.

Clean air
Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve
the quality of air by trapping allergy causing
dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and
maintained.

Variety of use
Carpets aren't only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing. You can easily add carpet to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non level surfaces, without having to worry about it slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility
Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room. Because it is available in a variety of
different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating. From the neutral tones to rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost
Carpet doesn't cost a lot of money, as it offers an economical alternative to the other types of expensive flooring. Even with professional installation, you won't pay near as much as you would for hard surfaces. Unlike hard surfaces, carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide to lay down on it.

Life span
The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market. All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 - 30 years or more, which is very common now days.

Warranty
With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase. This way, you'll be protected when you install your new carpet. Once installed, all you have to do is enjoy it - as the warranty will ensure that you are very well protected.

Antique Carpet

2011-12-19T06:31:00.001-08:00

Antique type carpets help to add a touch of grandeur and glamour to your home or office, speaking greatly about your rich and extravagant tastes. Antique carpets are beautiful home furnishings and solid art investments. They aren't just decorative items, but pieces of tradition, ethniticity, and true class that dates back thousands of years.

Antique carpets represent enormous range in motifs and color harmonies and you'll simply lose yourself seeing the diverse combinations of rich antique colors and heavy intricate weaving.

The diverse range of antique carpet pieces that you'll encounter while shopping for them are mostly Oriental carpets and rugs that portray the mystery and legend of the far off lands of the Orient.

Antique carpets and rugs are imported mostly from China, Persia, India, Afghanistan, Caucasus, and Turkey. Some of the famous weaving areas of such antique carpets include Kashan, Agra, and many other locations.

Antique carpets have a more artistic integrity, as they are exclusively hand woven. They are sold all
over the world, with clients more than willing to pay whatever they have to in order to redefine their home and decorate in style.

If you are looking to add luster and glamour to your home or office and are ready to spend a fortune on the exquisite pieces of art, then you shouldn’t wait a single minute.

The first thing to do, is contact one of the several reliable, knowledgeable, and genuine art dealers and galleries who deal in antique carpets and have profound knowledge about the various aspects of a good and genuine antique carpet. They can guide you in selecting the best one per your budget and tastes.

You've got a bit of work to do as well. You should visit a lot of dealers and educate yourself about dyes, wools, design quality, and the many styles of weaving as well. Touch the carpet and scrutinize them carefully. Beware of the machine made synthetic carpets that some dealers will tell you are antique carpets.

Below, are some tips to help you when buying
antique carpet.
    1. You have to remain careful and thoughtful
while analyzing each piece of antique carpet.
    2. You'll also need to try and understand
the age and origin of the carpet that will in
turn give you a much better insight about the
overall quality of the carpet.
    3. You'll also need to look and see if
the edge and borders are there in the antique
carpet you intend to buy, as the end and edge
borders are sometimes lost or even cut out on
purpose. Keep in mind that the borders will
determine the overall value of your carpet.
    4. Keep an eye out for holes and moth
attacks that are both common when dealing with
antique carpets. These problems must be attended
to before you buy the carpet.
    5. You should always deal with dealers who
have the prices marked on the carpet. See to it
that your dealer sticks to that price.