Tips & Tricks

1. Cleaning Carpet

   When cleaning your carpet, do not use an excessive amount of water. Excess water will soak into the carpet's backing, break down the latex which holds the primary backing to the secondary backing, and ruin your carpet.

2. Vacuuming Carpet

   The importance of vacuuming your carpet on a regular basis cannot be overemphasized. Vacuuming preserves your carpet's new appearance and maintains its original nap. Walkways and high traffic areas should be vacuumed at least twice a week. If throw rugs or mats are used, remember to remove them during the vacuuming process.

   Vacuum against the grain using a slow spiral motion. This will keep your carpet free of dust and loose dirt, and the nap will lift to make it appear new again. The new Frieze carpets do exceptionally well when vacuumed against the grain.

   Remember to shut the vacuum off when distracted or when moving a piece of furniture. Leaving a vacuum running in one spot too long can burn and destroy that section of the carpet.

3. Sharpening Carpet Colors

   You can sharpen your carpet's color by sprinkling a small amount of salt around. Salt provides a mild abrasive cleaning action that will not hurt the fibers.

4. Maintaining carpet's longevity

   The foundation for maintaining your carpet's longevity is choosing the right padding. With Berber carpet, you would want the padding to be 3/8" thick, with a weight of 8 lbs. You can also use 1/2" thick padding with a 10 lb. weight. I personally prefer waffle/rubber padding, which would be considered 80 to 100 ounces.

5. Pulls and Strands

   Check for visible pulls or strands and cut off any that you find. If pulls or strands are not cut, you risk causing a "run" in your carpet.

6. Throw Rugs & Mats

   It is not advisable to keep rugs in high traffic areas over a long period of time, as this will mat the carpet down.

7. Catch Trays

   Use clear plastic catch trays underneath your clay pots and potted plants. This will prevent discoloration of your carpet from moist pots. The trays work great, are inexpensive, and are inconspicuous. You can find these at most nurseries or hardware stores.

8. Moving Furniture

   Do not slide furniture across the floor, for this will loosen your carpet. Magic Sliders are beneficial for moving furniture and they also can be used to protect your carpet from those unsightly indentations which occur from the weight of the furniture on one specific spot.

9. Base molding

   Base molding should always be in place before installing carpet. This will eliminate the need of having to remove the molding when it is time to have your carpet restretched. Molding placement is based on your carpet's thickness. The basic rule of thumb, bring your molding up 1/2" from the floor. For thinner carpets, base molding need only be 3/8" from the floor.