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STS Carpet Care

The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming.
Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Realize that walking on soiled carpet allows the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove and can damage the fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before problems occur. For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. In areas with heavy traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes daily and the entire area twice weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and reduce matting.

Check the quality of your vacuum
A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the pile. To ensure that your vacuum will conform to the highest industry standards, make sure that your vacuum cleaner is certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Vacuum Cleaner Indoor Air Quality Program. Visit www.carpet-rug.com for details and listings.


Select the best vacuum for your type of carpet
Shaw recommends using vacuums with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and mechanically loosens soil for removal. Carpet with thick loop pile construction, particularly wool and wool-blend styles, may be sensitive to brushing or rubbing of the pile surface and may become fuzzy. For these products, Shaw recommends a suction-only vacuum or a vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet so it does not agitate the pile. A vacuum with a beater/brush bar can be tested for excessive fuzzing in an inconspicuous location before regular use.

 


Pay attention to vacuum bags
Replaceable paper vacuum bags do a better job of trapping small particles than cloth bags. With cloth bags, the particles pass back into the room. High efficiency vacuum bags, also called micro filtration bags, trap even smaller microscopic particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust mite byproducts, which are often found to be a source of allergies. All vacuum bags should be checked often and replaced when half full.

Check the belt and the setting
Make sure the belt is in good condition and that the brush or beater bar rotates when in contact with the carpet. To adjust the vacuum to the correct height setting for the carpet, raise the beater/brush bar to the highest setting and then lower it until it contacts the pile enough to slightly vibrate the carpet several inches away from the machine, but not low enough to cause significant slowing of the motor.

Change vacuuming directions
Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and help reduce matting.

Carpet Care: Spot and Spill Removal
Protect your carpet-step by-step
No carpet is stain proof, but since many are stain resistant, you have time to act. Below is a list of general guidelines that will remove most spills and stains. For incredibly tough stains we recommend calling a professional carpet cleaner to remove the stain.

1. Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or a dull knife.

2. Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or white cloth towels. Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill.

3. Remove the stain using one of the cleaning procedures listed below.

4. Rinse the cleaned area with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.

5. Absorb any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weighing them down with a heavy object. This step is necessary even when the carpet doesn't seem particularly damp.
 

 

What do you use to clean the spill?
You should use the following items for handling spills on your carpet. It's important to use only the items listed, because many other household cleaners contain chemicals that may permanently damage your carpet. Always use white cloths or white paper towels. Detergent solution Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more than 1 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). A clear, non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is recommended. Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue. Vinegar solution Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water .Ammonia solution Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. (Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpets.) Non-oily nail polish remover Spot Rem over Use spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.
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