Basic Carpet/Upholstery Care Guide
Use Mats/Rugs at all entrances to your home.
Entry mats are a simple, effective way to keep your carpet looking better longer. Think of them as your first line of defense against dirt, grime and other pollutants. By using entry mats and rugs, you can keep yourself and other family members and guests from tracking dirt into your home and onto your carpet. By keeping dirt from getting to your carpet, you reduce the abrasive effect it has on carpet fibers. You not only keep your carpet looking better longer, you prolong its life.
Regular vacuuming
Even with the use of entry mats and rugs, soils and dirt will get to your carpet. Regular vacuuming removes this dirt before it can get heavily embedded into your carpet causing discoloration, matting and premature wear. Soil, dirt and grime wear out your carpet; regular vacuuming doesn’t. Up to 80% of the soil and dirt in a carpet is the dry particle type that vacuuming will remove.
How often should you vacuum?
In areas that get a lot of heavy traffic, daily vacuuming is recommended. Manufacturers recommend making seven passes over each area for maximum effectiveness. For lighter traffic areas, three passes over each area once a week will suffice to combat the dirt and grime.
Which type of vacuum is best?
A vacuum with powerful suction that has a beater bar or rotating brush is best for carpeted areas. Make sure you adjust the vacuum for the height of the carpet. Deep brush agitation may damage loop-pile like Berber carpet. Also, to make sure your vacuum is operating at its peak efficiency, check the vacuum bag regularly and change it when it reaches half full. Also remember to replace worn belts and brushes according to manufacturer’s maintenance requirements.
How to care for your upholstered furniture
If possible, do not put furniture in direct sunlight as the powerful ultraviolet rays will cause fabrics to fade over time. You can extend the life and comfort of your furniture by rotating and reversing the cushions and pillows every one or two weeks. No matter the quality, foam will begin to compress with regular use. Rotating the cushions (like rotating the tires on a car) ensure a more even wear. Vacuuming your furniture every two to three weeks will also extend its life. Be sure to blot any spills and remember: Do Not Rub the area! Rubbing only serves to drive the spill deeper into the fabric. Working from the outside to the inside of the spill will prevent spreading. Be sure to test any cleaning method on an inconspicuous area to check for color bleeding. Do not attempt to wash or dry clean your own furniture. To maximize the life of your furniture investment, have your furniture cleaned professionally every two years or every year if used heavily.
