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Carpeting can be one of the most durable investments you make for your home - provided
you care for it properly. With routine cleaning and basic maintenance, a quality
carpet can last 20 years or more.
Today's carpets are designed to hide soil and even repel it, thanks to advances in
chemical treatments. However, carpet fibers can still trap and hide dust, dirt, bacteria
and other pollutants. Over time, that can lead to matting and a general deterioration of
your carpet.
Regular carpet cleaning has a number of benefits that we sometimes forget:
- It extends the life of your carpet.
- It gives a fresh, clean look to a room.
- It makes a room smell better.
- It eliminates dust and particles that bother people with allergies and asthma.
Vacuuming
Regular vacuuming is perhaps the easiest and most dependable way to giving your
carpet a longer life. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you're vacuuming
at home or shopping for a new vacuum:
- Choose a vacuum cleaner with dual motors, one for suction and the other for
the beater bar that loosens dirt. (Canister vacuums and 'electric brooms' don't
have a beater bar.)
- Make sure your vacuum cleaner has adjustable and rotating brushes that can
loosen ground-in soil, and a strong enough airflow to penetrate to the backing.
- Make sure the filtration bag is enclosed and adequately limits particles from
re-circulating into the air.
Rug Cleaning Tips
A Rug can be a purchase for a lifetime and for generations if cared for properly.
The information contained herein offers simple, basic tips on cleaning and protecting
your rug. These rug cleaning tips are merely suggestions and you may wish to contact
your rug cleaning professional for advice. Depending on foot traffic your rug will
need periodic washing by a rug cleaning professional.
- Rotate your rug periodically for even wear.
- Vacuum on a regular basis. Be careful of fringe and the height of the beater bar. Consider not using the beater bar.
- Use a quality pad or cushion to allow for cleaning and prevent slippage
Blotting Stains:
When stains occur, dilute with water. Do not soak the area. Work quickly; do not allow
stains to set. Blot from the edge of the spill towards the center using a clean
white paper towel or cloth. Avoid as much as possible rubbing the area or
pushing the stain further into the pile.
For semi-solid or solid spills use a spoon to scoop up as much as possible.
Allow to air dry or dry with a fan or hair dryer. Avoid excess heat if a hair
dryer is used. Once the area is dry, lightly brush the pile to restore its
texture. You never know when a spill will occur. To expedite the clean-up
please consider keeping the following items in a small kit for this purpose:
- Clean white cloth
- A soft bristle brush, like a clothes brush
- Mild detergent, it must not contain bleach or alkaline
- White vinegar
- Dry cleaning fluid
- Weak ammonia
- Clean sponge
- Alcohol
- Glycerin
UPHOLSTERY CLEANING & CARE
With the appropriate care, your upholstered living room, dining room, and bedroom
furniture can provide many years of splendid use. By carefully following the upholstery
maintenance, cleaning, and stain removal information provided below, you can greatly
extend the lasting beauty of your home living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture.
GENERAL UPHOLSTERY CARE GUIDELINES & CLEANING TIPS
Follow the simple guidelines below to keep all your upholstered furniture looking like
new. To avoid fading, keep upholstered home furniture away from direct sunlight.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture as often as possible. Even if your home furniture
has seen little use, the abrasive action of dirt and dust particles can wear the
fibers of your upholstery fabric. For high-use furniture, it's a good idea to
frequently beat the cushions and then vacuum and rotate them.
- Damp-dust arms and headrest areas with a cleaning solution to prevent body oil
accumulation on the upholstery fabric (be sure to follow the manufacturer's
recommendation as to the type of upholstery cleaning solution to use)
- Avoid placing newspapers directly on home furniture upholstery fabric, since
ink will accumulate and is difficult to remove.
- Never cover your upholstered home furniture with dark-colored blankets, sheets,
etc., because the dyes can rub off onto fabric when dry or bleed when wet.
- Avoid the use of dyes, paints, inks, nail polishes, and Mercurochrome around
your upholstery fabric, since these substances alter color and will stain.
- Never remove cushion covers for dry cleaning or machine washing, even though
they have zippers.
- Periodic professional cleaning will keep soil accumulation from marring the
beauty of the upholstery of your home living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture.
UPHOLSTERY CLEANING - FIRST AID
You've just spilled a glass of wine on your living room sofa—what do you do now? It's
important to act promptly but not to panic. Follow these guidelines to control a spill
and prevent a stain.
- Act quickly before a spill spreads or dries.
- For liquid spills:
Blot lightly with a dry paper towel to start. Increase pressure and use a fresh paper
towel until no more liquid is absorbed. DO NOT RUB! If residue remains, see the stain
removal guide below.
- For solid or semi-solid spills (such as foods):
Gently lift the substance from the upholstery with a spoon or dull knife, scraping
carefully toward the center of the spill. Treat any wet residue as a liquid spill.
If residue remains, see the stain removal guide below.
- For dry spills (such as ashes or dry cosmetics):
Adding any liquid to a normally dry substance, such as ashes, may cause a permanent
stain. Vacuum, beat the area with a ruler or similar implement, vacuum again, and then
use the adhesive side of masking tape to remove any residue. If residue remains, see the
stain removal guide below.
- Check the manufacturer's label for any cleaning instructions and/or fabric cleaning code.
- The following are the standard fabric cleaning codes used by furniture manufacturers.
Use these codes to determine what types of cleaning methods are appropriate for your fabric:
W Use water-based cleaning agent
S Use mild (water-free) cleaning solvent
WS Use water-based cleaning agent, or use mild (water-free) cleaning solvent
X Clean ONLY by vacuuming or light brushing
- Always test water or a cleaning agent by applying to the same upholstery fabric on
a hidden area of the upholstered piece. Allow to dry completely, and then check its
effect on the fabric.
- Apply water or a cleaning agent (as recommended in the stain removal guide) in small
doses to avoid spreading the stain or causing a ring. Be patient; apply several times,
blotting firmly with a dry paper towel to soak up the liquid after each application.
- Never rub a fabric; rubbing could result in damage to the nap, loss of color, or
spreading of the stain.
- Restore the nap on velvet by brushing gently before it dries.
- To avoid water spotting, use a fan or cool blow dryer (on a cool setting) to accelerate
drying. Dry from the outer edge of the affected area toward the center.
- If the stain persists, seek professional cleaning assistance.
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