Carpet
Life ExtendedIn many instances people do knot know that repairing or changing the
selvages on the sides of the rugs can add to the rug's life. By investing a little, you
can save big. Securing the fringes on the both ends of a rug, keeps the knots in
their place and if properly secured, knots do not come off and you can enjoy the
beauty of your rug for many years to come.
If you would stop to think how much abuse your carpet gets, perhaps you would have a little more compassion
for it. After all, the poor thing just lies there letting everyone walk all over it. And it never complains when you
track dirt on it or spill things all over it.
I'll bet you will get more loving years of service out of your carpet if you just show it you care. And the greatest
care you can give a carpet is to keep it clean.
Professional rug cleaning — once every year — is the best treat you could shower on your carpet. In
between, there is a lot you can do to maintain love and harmony between you and your floor covering. First of
all, vacuum regularly. You can't vacuum too often. When vacuuming, use a beater-bar that will raise the pile
as it goes across the floor so the trapped dirt will be vacuumed up.
If something spills onto the carpet, blot it up immediately. Blot is the key word — never rub, scrub or brush
because you might be grinding the stain into the rug rather than removing it, and this may even cause
damage to the carpet fibers. Blot and clean from the outside of the stain toward the center; this helps prevent
spreading. When using a cleaning agent, apply the cleanser to a clean, white cloth rather than directly to the
stained area to avoid saturating the carpet.
If the spill or stain is oil-based, you may need to purchase a dry cleaning solution available at grocery and
hardware stores. For non-oil-based spots, mix one teaspoon of non-bleaching dry powder laundry detergent
with two cups of water. Wet that clean, white towel with the mixture and go at it gently but diligently. Remove
the soapiness with clear, lukewarm water and absorb the excess moisture with an absorbent white towel.
Press down on the towel, or pile a few books on it, to help it absorb excess moisture that might be deep down.
Repeat the rinsing and blotting process until you are sure all the detergent is gone. Finally, place a dry white
towel over the area and weigh it down with books or other heavy objects for a couple of hours to finish
absorbing the last traces of moisture.
Is it a stubborn stain that just won't go away? Try this: mix one tablespoon of non-bleaching, non-sudsing
household ammonia with one cup of lukewarm water. Go through the rinsing, blotting process as described
above. Next, you need to neutralize the ammonia. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and apply this
solution using the same procedure as above.
A note of warning: If the stain is from coffee, tea or urine, do not use the ammonia/water cleaning method; the
acidity in the former liquids combined with ammonia will play havoc on your carpet fibers.
Remember, if you love your carpet, it will love you back.