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Carpet Care
The two most important factors for soil and stain control are density and fiber. If the tufts are close together, everyday dirt and spills will not penetrate as easily. When tufts are far apart, soil will go through to the carpet backing where it is more difficult to remove and damaging to the carpet.
Some fibers are easier to maintain than others:
- Wool resists soil well but is harder to clean than synthetic fibers.
- Quality nylon carpeting is resistant to soils and stains and is extremely easy to clean.
- Polyester resists most soiling and also has good cleanability, except for oil-based stains.
- Olefin resists soil well, but oil-based stains are especially difficult to remove.
In all cases, fast action will result in easier stain removal.
Regular MaintenanceCarpet should be vacuumed lightly every day to eliminate day-to-day surface dirt and litter. A light vacuuming consists of three strokes with the cleaner over a given area of carpetforward, back and forward. Every day may be more than the average person can manage, but two or three times per week will help to maintain your carpet’s appearance.
Carpets should be vacuumed thoroughly at least once a week to remove sandy, gritty soil. It is important to remove this soil before it becomes embedded in the carpet pile and reaches the backing. Removal is important because sand and grit have sharp edges that can cut the fiber and reduce wear life. A thorough cleaning takes seven or more strokes with the vacuum.
Sweepers and Vacuum CleanersCarpet sweepers remove lint, crumbs and other surface dirt, but they do not get at embedded soil. A straight suction-type vacuum cleaner will remove surface dirt and soil, but not embedded dirt. It is suitable for daily light cleaning.
The beater-bar vacuum with a brush and strong suction provides the best cleaning.
Keep your vacuum cleaner in good mechanical condition. Brushes should be clean; replace brushes when they wear out. Change the bag according to manufacturer’s instructions.
SpillsClean up spills immediately so they do not become permanent spots or stains. A spill that has been allowed to sit untreated will begin a chemical reaction with the carpet fibers making it almost impossible to remove the stain.
Professional CarePeriodic professional care is also important to the life of your carpet. Professional cleaning removes the embedded gritty and greasy soil not removed by vacuuming. Grease and oil cause dirt to cling to the fiber, which makes it impossible to remove with a vacuum.
A gray or yellow cast on the carpet is a definite indication that professional cleaning is needed.
Selecting a Cleaning MethodThe four main carpet cleaning methods are: Dry Powder, Dry Foam, Shampoo, and Hot Water Extraction.
1. Dry Powder Method
Advantages:
- Short drying time.
- Effective for spot cleaning.
- Good for delicate and non-colorfast carpets.
- Relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages:
- Less effective on heavy soil or water-based soil.
- Complete granule removal may be a problem.
- Dry cleaning solvent can evaporate in storage.
2.Aerosol Foam Sprays
Advantages:
- Convenient.
- Quick drying.
- Needs no special equipment.
Disadvantages:
- Best for lightly soiled carpet.
- Cleans only the carpet surface.
3. Liquid Shampoos
Advantages:
- Good for cleaning moderately to heavily soiled carpet.
- Brightens colors and fluffs up carpet pile.
- Moderate price.
Disadvantages:
- Easy to overwet the carpet.
- Needs longer drying time.
4. Hot Water Extraction
Advantages:
- Excellent for cleaning moderately to heavily soiled carpet.
- Can observe when the solution is soil free.
- Drying time somewhat less than with the shampoo process.
Disadvantages:
- Some possibility of overwetting.
- Most expensive of the four methods.
- Equipment is heavy and bulky.