Floor Covering Advice from the Experts
You’ve just taken delivery of your new Carpet Right carpet. Here’s how to care for your carpet:
It is a common belief that you should not vacuum new carpets immediately after they have been laid. This is not the case and you can, in fact, vacuum straight away.
When your new carpet is fitted you may notice a few single tufts or loose ends standing above the pile. This is quite normal and any loose strands can be trimmed off with a pair of scissors or a suitable knife. Don’t pull strands because this will damage your carpet. Your carpet may also appear to shed fluff for some time after laying. This is caused by very short lengths of fibre left over from the manufacturing process. This is not a fault and the fluff can simply be vacuumed away.
Carpet Care Guide
Vacuum your new carpet regularly
Dirt and tiny pieces of grit become trapped in all carpets. As the carpet is walked on these particles rub against the fibres and cause premature wear. Vacuum at least once a week and use doormats to remove excess dirt and grit. Avoid wearing footwear if possible.
Using Rugs to protect your new carpet
You should consider placing rugs or mats in high traffic areas as well as under tables or chairs where people rub their feet along the carpet as they sit.
Footwear
Keep in mind that rubber-soled shoes (such as sneakers) are designed to grip and will therefore pull at the pile of your carpet. If you avoid wearing such footwear in the house your carpet may retain its looks for longer.
Prevent a spill from becoming a stain
Accidental spillages happen in every home and have the potential to ruin your carpet. Here are some simple tips that may help prevent a spill becoming a nasty stain.
Be diligent and act quickly
Spillages are more easily removed when attacked straight away. Never allow a spill to dry on your carpet (with the exception of mud which can usually be vacuumed off when completely dry).
Never Scrub - Ever!
The carpet pile will be damaged if you scrub your carpet so, even if you do remove the stain, you will still have altered the appearance of the carpet. Always use a patting action or gentle wiping using an appropriate, non-bleached absorbent material.
Never use hot water to clean your carpet
Heat is used in the dying process to add colour to carpets. If you add hot water to a spill you are actually encouraging it to bond permanently with your carpet. Instead, use cold water to rinse the spillage out of the carpet.
Do not soak the stain
Soaking your carpet with water may damage the backing. Simply dampen, then soak up with a clean absorbent cloth (even kitchen towel works well here). If you repeat this process then you have a good chance of successfully removing the spillage completely. Once most of the visible stain has been removed, leave your carpet damp with several layers of kitchen roll, weighed down by something flat and heavy (such as a book) overnight. This will help to draw the remainder of the stain out of the carpet.
Do not use fabric wash powder or dishwashing liquid on your carpet
If you have ever cleaned a stain using washing up liquid, you most likely will have found that an unsightly mark appears in the same spot weeks later. This is caused by traces of detergent being left on the carpet pile. Detergent clings to dirt (which is why these products work so well), but if not rinsed away it will gather dirt where you don’t want it and keep it there! If you do use detergent make sure that you rinse the carpet extremely well, immediately afterwards.
Stain Removal Guide
The following is a stain removal guideline only. For persistent stains, or if in doubt, consult a professional carpet cleaner as soon as possible.
Wine, Milk, Coffee, Tea and Orange Juice
Always soak up the liquid with absorbent tissue then dab the area with a clean white cloth which has been moistened in a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and warm water.
Grease or Oil
Using a blunt knife or spatula, remove as much solid material as possible. Blot up the residue and treat with a dry cleaning liquid, blotting frequently with absorbent cloth.
Tar
Carefully scrape up the solids with a blunt knife and then treat the stain with a recognized brand of tar remover, following the instructions carefully.
Urine
Mop up immediately and dab area with a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and a small amount of white vinegar added to the solution.
Blood
Always soak up excess blood with absorbent tissue, then dab the area with a clean white cloth, moistening with cold water as you go. If the stain has been allowed to dry, dissolve with cold water and continue as before.
Animal Solids
Carefully scrape up the solids with a blunt knife then dab the area with a clean white cloth moistened with a solution of diluted carpet shampoo and warm water.
Oil Based Paints
Blot excess spillage with absorbent tissue then clean with white spirit. Dab the area with diluted carpet shampoo and then follow with an application of clean water. Dab until dry and brush the affected area.
Shoe Polish
Carefully scrape up the solid and clean gently with a dry cleaning fluid. Then use a clean white cloth, moistened with diluted carpet shampoo, to rinse the area.
Chewing Gum
Freeze the gum with a proprietary freezing agent, break up when frozen and remove. Repeat as necessary.
Felt Tip Pen
Some felt-tip pens have spirit-based ink, some have water based ink. Methylated spirit on a cotton wool bud will remove spirit-based ink, which has a pungent smell. But do not allow it to penetrate to a foam backing. The methylated spirit may stain a light coloured carpet. For water-based ink, use carpet shampoo.
Pen Ink
Addressing the pen mark immediately is the key to success. Dab a cotton wool bud with methylated spitrits. Take care not to spread the stain. On vinyl upholstery or wall coverings, immediately scrub with a nail brush and warm soapy water (the ink will cause a permanent mark if left).
Nail Polish Varnish
Spoon up deposit; avoid spreading the stain. Moisten a pad of cotton wool with amyl acetate or acetone (non-oily nail varnish remover) and dab on affected area. Use it only in a well-ventilated area.
Deep Cleaning
Inevitably some dirt will accumulate over time and this can cause a carpet to lose its freshness. In such cases we recommended professional cleaning. Periodic professional cleaning (how often depends on use) can help to prolong the life of your carpet.