Carpet Care and Cleaning:
What to expect after installation

When you purchase new carpet, you do so because you love how it looks and feels. It’s a feature that will enhance your room and give it a fresh, spectacular look. Of course, you want that look to remain for many years ahead. The following information will cover important aspects of caring for your carpet so you can be assured that the beauty it possesses today will remain for years to come.

You may experience these things ...

There are a few things that may happen to your carpet after it is installed. Usually, they are nothing to be concerned about and can be easily cured. However, if you need professional carpet restoration help with Water/Flood Extraction, Structural Drying, Mold Remediation Services (cleanup), Smoke/Fire Cleanups & Restorations, etc., we suggest that you contact the professionals at All Brite Cleaning & Restoration, Inc..

Shedding

most carpets retain some loose fibers after they leave the mill or store. These fibers often appear as balls of fluff on the surface of your carpet or in your vacuum cleaner. With time, they will work their way out of the carpet and no longer be a nuisance.

Sprouting

Occasionally, loose tufts will appear above the carpet surface. To remove the loose tufts, clip them to be even with the carpet’s surface. DO NOT PULL OUT LOOSE ENDS! If you do, you will permanently damage the carpet.

Shading

You may notice some variations in the color of your carpet — one area may seem to change color when you look at it from different directions. This is because light reflects differently as the pile is pushed in a variety of directions. Foot traffic generally causes this to happen and the best solution is to sweep or vacuum the pile in a uniform direction.

Rippling

During times of high humidity, your carpet might experience some slight rippling. This situation usually resolves itself as the carpet settles. If the problem persists, please call your flooring retailer. The New Carpet Smell Like new cars, some new carpets have a “new carpet smell.” It is nothing to be concerned about and usually goes away within a week, sometimes within days. There are some things that you can do to minimize the smell. Most importantly, be sure to ventilate the area as much as possible. You should open the doors and windows and use fans to keep the air circulating during installation and for up to 72 hours afterwards. Take advantage of your heating or air conditioning fans, if you have them. You should also vacuum your carpet often to help remove the odor. Static Electricity When your home’s relative humidity is low, a static charge can build up in your carpet as you walk across it. If you touch something made of metal, you get zapped. There are commercially available products you can apply to your carpet to reduce or eliminate static electric build-up. Patience is also a good remedy. Your carpet will hold less of a charge as time goes by.

Crushing

Your carpet will display crushing in spots where heavy objects have been placed. To raise the pile back to its former height, you will have to do some vigorous brushing. You can also try passing a hot steam iron over the indentations — but bring the iron no closer than 6 inches above the carpet.

How to Keep Your Carpet in Great Shape

Your new carpet will bring you much satisfaction in the years to come, but only if you keep it in great shape. Here are a few tips to make your relationship with your carpet a long and happy one.

Routine Maintenance

Regular carpet care and routine maintenance are essential to maintaining your warranty coverage. Over time, normal foot traffic and soiling will cause a change in any carpet’s appearance. Hot water extraction, either alone or in combination with cleaning, is required to maintain your warranty. The service must be performed by a trained carpet care professional every one and a half to two years to refresh the texture and rejuvenate the fibers in your carpet. You must retain your receipts for proof of maintenance service, should a warranty claim arise. Each fiber manufacturer has its own definitions and limitations regarding stain, soil, and static resistance. Abnormal matting, crushing, or loss of texture retention from normal foot traffic is defined by the standard rating scales and definitions set forth by each fiber manufacturer.

Vacuuming Is Key

Vacuuming is key to keeping your new carpet young, fresh, and beautiful. Dirt and grit will become embedded in the pile and affect your carpet’s color and cause matting of the pile. So you’ll want to vacuum heavy-traffic areas every day if possible. Less heavily used areas can be maintained with once-a-week vacuuming. Vacuum about three passes for light cleaning, and up to seven passes where there is more soil. For best results, use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or rotating brush — with plenty of suction — used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Make sure you adjust the attachment to the proper height for your carpet. For loop pile carpet, avoid attachments with teeth or ridges. Give It a Rest! Redistributing the load your carpet bears can lengthen its life. So, rearrange your furniture periodically to give some areas of your carpet a rest. Heavy Duty Cleaning Vacuuming won’t always take care of your carpet cleaning needs. Sometimes you need to do a little heavy duty cleaning to get your carpet looking like new again. Many different types of carpet cleaners are commercially available, including dry cleaners, spray-on foam cleaners, and wet shampoo. Because there is a chance that these can damage your carpet and invalidate your warranties, please call us to check which cleaning method is best for your particular fiber and carpet. The best method, however, is to hire a professional carpet cleaner to give your carpets a thorough cleaning. When you decide to have your carpet cleaned professionally, choose the carpet cleaner with the same care you’d take in maintaining any major investment. Don’t be afraid to ask your carpet cleaner for a reference or a firm estimate. And don’t hesitate to call us for a recommendation.

Treating Spills & Stains

The best cure for a spill is a fast response. If a spill is allowed to become a stain, it will be much more difficult to remove. Here are some tips for eliminating stains and spills.

Stop Stains Before They Start

There are three important steps that you must use to treat a stain, hopefully before it has a chance to set in your carpet: Apply: Wet a clean, white (not printed) paper towel with a cleaning solution. Then dampen the carpet with it. Avoid wetting the carpet through to its backing. Blot: Absorb the excess liquid from the carpet by pressing straight down with a clean, dry, white paper towel. Do not rub. Place a half-inch thick pad of clean, dry, white paper towels with a weight on top and leave overnight if necessary. Scrape: Gently scratch the soiled area with the blunt edge of a spoon. Scrape from the outside edge of the spot toward the center.

Things to Have Handy

The following solutions should be kept handy for treating spills and stains. Detergent: Mix 1/2 teaspoon clear dishwashing detergent with 1 cup warm (not hot) water. Pre-Soak Solution: Mix 1 teaspoon enzyme laundry detergent (such as Axion, Biz, or others) with 1 cup water. Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% strength available in drugstores) with 1 teaspoon of household ammonia. Use within two hours of mixing. Ammonia: Undiluted household ammonia. Dry Powder Cleaner: Powdered carpet cleaner. Dry Cleaning Solvent: Non-oily, non-caustic type sold for spot removal for garments. Caution–may be flammable.



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Carpet Care and Cleaning: What to expect after installation