Installation & Care

Custom installation of carpet on stairwell

 

The first step in getting a new carpet for your home or business is all about figuring out what you like, finding the right color and choosing the best product for your budget.  The next step is all about getting it installed -- and that includes getting ready.  Putting down a new carpet can be done in a few hours but may take longer.  You need to ask: "How long will it take to lay the carpet? Preparations will take time too.  All of the furniture, probably including furniture in closets as well, needs to be removed -- think moving day.  If you need help with moving furniture, we need to know in advance so we can help you in the best possible way. 

It may be necessary to prep the floor before installing the pad and carpet.  Usually that is easy and not time consuming -- but -- your job may be an exception.  We can tell you this when we come out to measure for the job.  When we measure, we take into account the directional run of the carpet to be installed, pattern, nooks and crannies etc. so that we can order the amount of yardage you need with very little overage (you will want some overage to save for walk off mats and any major repair needs that come up over the years).

Then you have the choice of pad to consider.  The quality of the pad you choose is very important.  We will help you decide based on the type of carpet you select and the specific conditions of your floor.

Finally, there is the question of getting an installer.  Carpets and Floors has been in business for a long time.  Over the last past 50 plus years we have worked with a lot of installers.  Dan Jones, who has owned Carpets and Floors for a lot of those years progressed from being an apprentice installer to one of the most skilled and experienced in the business.  From experience, he knows what an installer needs to do to make clients happy and what it takes to do an excellent job.  

Carpets and Floors has highly skilled installers on staff.  When the need arises, other vetted, highly skilled installers are contracted with to do jobs.  Most importantly to you, we guarantee our installation work. Ask us about that.

 

 CARPET AND RUG MAINTENANCE

 

WE ARE HERE TO HELP WHEN "THINGS HAPPEN"

 

Lula checking out rugs and carpets

 

We invite all of our customers to call on us when a problem arises with their floor coverings.  Over time broadloom may need to be re-stretched. Your best friend Fido digs a hole in the carpet.  Your aged and sickly cat urinates on the rug.  A small section of flooring fades.  Wood flooring becomes scratched.  LTV gets marred.  

 

We are committed to helping you maintain and keep your flooring investment looking good.  We will give you our best advice on how to maintain your floor.  But, we all know that "things happen".  Our professional installers can fix a whole lot of things.  We are happy to take a look and see what we can do to solve your problem.  If a specialized artisan or other craftsman is required, we will help you find someone to work with.  

 

HOW DO I GET OUT STAINS AND HOW DO I CLEAN MY FLOORING

 

How do I get out stains and how do I clean my flooring are among the most frequently asked questions we get.   When it comes to cleaning  the most important piece of advice we can give do it often.  No one likes to hear that, but the truth of the matter is your flooring whether it is broadloom carpeting, rugs, hardwood, parquet, bamboo, cork, sisal, seagrass, luxury vinyl tile, wood laminate or something else will last longer and look better if you clean it well and often.

For carpets and most rugs that means vacuuming with an appropriate vacuum cleaner once a week (more often in high traffic areas, a chore, we know).   Vacuum slowly.  Some shedding is normal with a new carpet.  For loop pile carpets use a cylinder vacuum with no beater brush (a beater brush can cause pilling).  For cut pile carpets, us an upright vacuum cleaner with a beater brush.  If you have question about what to use with your particular carpet or rug, give us a call.  You can reduce the amount of dust, dirt, asphalt etc. brought into the your home by putting down mats at frequently used entries and employing what we call "walk off mats or rugs". 

For hardwood type surfaces use a dust mop and supplement with a damp mop (not sopping wet).  Be sure to follow manufacturers instructions.  For vinyl and other man made products broom sweep and damp mop with clean water (again follow manufacturers instructions).  

When it comes to stains the rule of thumb is clean it up as soon as you can -- right away is best.  For most spills, whether on a hard or soft surface, scooping up solids without pressing down and blotting liquids with a clean towel are the first lines of defense.  If the stain persists, wet a clean towel with cold water and blot again, repeating the process again and again until the stain is fully absorbed into the towel.  Do not scrub.   Remember that every floor surface is susceptible to staining regardless of what type of stain guard has been applied.  The fabrication that guards against stains simply resists absorption.  To get rid of the stain, you still have to clean up the spill.  

 

Wine Spill Photo Courtesy of Wools of New Zealand

 

CARPET STAIN REMOVAL HINTS*

 

Following these hints will completely remove the stain some of the time.  Other times you will be able to get up only the worst of the spill.  In that case, do not "fuss with it".  Get up the worst of it and then call all us for a referral to a professional cleaner.   We cannot guarantee that any of these methods will work so you may feel more comfortable calling a reputable cleaner immediately.

 

Stain Remover Key

1  Cold Water    

2  Detergent solution of one tsp. clear dishwashing liquid mixed with a cup of warm (not hot water)

3  Ammonia solution of one Tbl. clear household ammonia (3% solution) with 1/2 cup of water

4.  Dry cleaning Solvent  (Please note that dry cleaning solvent should never be used on polyester or other oil based material.  Only try to clean polyester with a solution of 1 cup of water and 1 tsp. of colorless dishwashing liquid or with an all purpose household spray cleaner or laundry pre-wash spray such as 409 or Shout.)

5.  Ice cubes in a plastic bag placed on the item to chill to a point where the item can be shattered, picked up, scraped off or vacuumed up                           

6.  Vinegar solution of 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water

7.  Warm water (not hot)

8.  Clear nail polish remover (preferably acetone)

9.  Rubbing alcohol or methylated spirits of mineral turpentine

10.  Rust Remover

11.  Absorbent powder such as salt, talc, or proprietary absorbent powders

12.  Absorbent cleaner such as Host

If you need to use anything other than water to get rid of a stain, be sure to damp up the solution with water when finished.  Soaps, etc. left on the material will attract dirt.  Also be sure not to get the carpet sopping wet.  Keep damping up the water or solution as you work on the stain.

                                                                        

Type of Stain

(For each type of stain, apply the first number's stain remover shown in the key.  If it does not completely remove the stain, go to the second number and so on.  For example, for bleach use cold water first and then move on to the ammonia solution described in the key under number 3.  The go to solutions are water, mild detergent solution and/or white vinegar solution.  Some stains are best left to a reputable cleaner.   If the solutions here do not work, call a carpet cleaner immediatley.  Over time, a stain becomes harder and harder to remove.  Feel free to call us for carpet cleaner recommendations.)                              

Alcoholic Beverages  (1,2)                                   

Bleach  (1,2,3)                                                              

Blood  (1,2)                                                              

Butter  (4,2)                                                            

Candle Wax  (5,4)                                                      

Chewing Gum  (5,4)                                               

Chocolate  (2,3,6)                                                      

Coffee  (1,2,4)                                                          

Colas and Soft Drinks  (7,2)                                       

Cooking Oils  (4,2)                                                    

Cream  (2,4)                                                          

Egg  (2)                                                                

Felt Tip Pen  (7,2)                                                    

Floor Wax  (4)                                                       

Fruit Juice  (1,2)                                                      

Furniture Polish  (4,2,3)                                             

Gravy and Sauces  (7,2)                                           

Ink (fountain pen)  (1,2)                                           

Ink (ballpoint)  (4,8)

Ink (permanent) (May require a carpet cleaner)                                               

Ketchup  (7,2)                                                        

Lipstick  (4,2)                                                      

Mercurochrome  (2,3,6)                                                

Milk  (7,4,2)                                                            

Mustard  (2)                                                      

Nail Polish  (9,4)                                                        

Oil and Grease  (4,2)                                            

Paint (latex)  (2,3,4)                                                  

Paint (oil)  (10,4,2)                                                     

Rust  (4,2,11) (Rust may require a carpet cleaner)                                                           

Salad Dressing  (2,4)                                                  

Shoe Polish  (4,2)                                                      

Soot  (4,2,3)                                                            

Tar  (4)                                                              

Tea  (1,2,4)                                                              

Urine (fresh)  (1,2)  (Animal urine may require a carpet cleaner)                                                

Urine (old)  (2,3,6)  (Animal urine may require a carpet cleaner)                                                    

Vomit  (2)                                                                     

Wine  (12,1,2)                                                          

* Many thanks to Wools of New Zealand and Karastan Fine Carpets and Rugs for supplying this chart.