Caring For Your Carpet

Recommendations after your project is complete

1. You may walk on your new carpet immediately. Vacuuming will remove loose fibers, and some fiber loss is normal for the first 6 months.
2. During and immediately after installation, you may notice a slight odor from the removal of your old carpet and cushion or from the new carpet, cushion, adhesives, or seaming tape. Open windows and doors and run your HVAC system at maximum capacity for 48 to 72 hours. The smell typically clears in less than 72 hours.

Preventive maintenance / carpet cleaning tips

• The quick clean — vacuum — Vacuuming removes dirt that dulls the carpet's appearance.
  • Select a vacuum with good suction and strong beater bars, which brush the carpet and loosen dirt.
  • Change vacuum bags and filters regularly.
• Get carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months — Even if you clean between visits, plan on professional cleaning at least every 12 to 18 months.
  • Professional methods include steam cleaning (hot water extraction), absorbent pad or bonnet cleaning, rotary shampoo, and dry foam powder.
  • Lighter-shade carpet may need cleaning more often.
• Clean spots and spills quickly — Use products that won't damage carpet.
  • Blot liquids with a white paper towel or absorbent cloth; scoop solids with a spoon.
  • Treat the spot per the manufacturer's recommendation. Apply spot remover (Perky Spotter is available at our office) to a clean towel or cloth — not directly to the spot. Work inward from the edge, use small quantities, don't rub, and don't over-wet the pile. Blot as dry as possible with a clean towel.
• Stop dirt at the door — The less dirt that enters, the less that ends up in the carpet.
  • Use outdoor and indoor mats or runners with underlayment pads.
  • Ask everyone to take off their shoes before coming inside.
  • Change HVAC air filters as recommended — the more particles removed by the filter, the fewer that land on the carpet.

Basic area rug care

• Beating larger rugs — If your larger rug is easy to pick up, shake it outside first, put it over a clothesline and beat it, then bring it inside and vacuum. If the label says dry-clean only, roll it up and take it to a dry cleaner — call ahead, many don't clean rugs.
• Vacuuming area rugs — Rugs with fringe require gentle technique. Use gentle suction and start from the center, vacuuming toward the fringe without catching the strands in the beater bar. Lift the edge to vacuum beneath the fringe. For wool rugs, disable the beater bar.
• Caring for Oriental, Turkish, or Persian rugs — Clean imported rugs per the manufacturer's specifications or use a professional cleaning service. Be gentle with fringe. For heirloom rugs, always go with a professional.

Product expectations

In the months following installation you may notice some shedding or sprouting. This is normal and won't affect the carpet's life or beauty.

• Shedding — The shedding of loose fibers is normal and will subside with regular vacuuming.
• Sprouting — If a single tuft extends beyond the surface, simply clip it off — do not pull it out.
• Pile reversal or shading — This seeming color change can happen in various parts of the carpet as light reflects differently off pile fibers bent in different directions. It's a characteristic of plush carpet, not a defect.
• Wrinkling — If ripples appear, give us a call. It may be necessary to professionally re-stretch the carpet.

Depressions, indentations, and stain resistance

• Heavy furniture can cause indentations, some of them permanent. Use furniture glides or cups under the legs of heavy pieces, or move furniture a few inches so the weight isn't concentrated in one spot. To work out depressions, coax the pile back into place with your fingertips or the edge of a spoon, dampen the area, and use a hair dryer on a COOL setting while working the fibers.
• Almost all carpet made today has stain- and soil-resistant finishes, but no carpet is entirely stain-proof — it still requires care. Remove spots and spills promptly; if they're left, they may become permanent. Call the number on your carpet warranty for specific cleaning information.