Carpet Cleaning Tips

Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet as often as it is needed.  To achieve a clean carpet,
you'll need to have it cleaned by a professional or you'll need to use a deep cleaning machine.  There
are advantages and disadvantages to this method, although a thorough cleaning is needed every six
months or so.

Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean.  Simply
using water on a spill will help most of them.  If that doesn't work, simply expand your search.  You'll
find several products out there on the market that can help you get rid of spills quick.

The products range in use and can be helpful when matching them with the different types of spills.
You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to help you keep stains out.  By taking immediate action
you can prevent spills from becoming stains that leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care of very well.  You should always take the time to
vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good job.  This means going over the floor in several
directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all it can.  High quality vacuums are the best choice,
as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to clean off people's shoes and keep most of the
tracked soils off the surface of the carpet.  You should always use entrance mats outside of your
doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off
of their shoes before they enter.  You can also take off your shoes and request that guests do the
same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry.  The remaining 20% are greases, oils,
and starches.  The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming.  As long as they are removed
on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more thanjust healthy, as it can also help to prolong the
life of the carpet.  If you have just laid the carpet, you are already aware of the expenses
involved with doing so.

Even if you haven't had this done, you probably know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet.  A
clean carpet will add value to the home if it is maintained well.  It will also help to keep the
home free from odors as well.  Also, it will help to make a comfortable living area for your friends
and your family.

Choosing The Right Carpet Cleaner

Choosing an effective carpet cleaner is easier said than done.  There are many carpet cleaning companies
out there, each one claiming to be the best.  With each one claiming to be the best, it can be very
hard deciding which one is the best for you.  If  follow the tips below, you'll have no problems finding
your ideal carpet cleaner.

First of all, you should know what your choices are in cleaning methods and you should also know which
one is the one you'll want to choose, as there are several available to choose from.  A dry extraction
type of cleaning will use a compound that contains detergents what will free stains and dirt which will
then allow them to be vacuumed up.

Dry foam on the other hand may be used by applying foam to the carpet and then vacuuming it up with a
wet vacuum.  You can also choose a vacuum that uses stronger chemicals and a stronger suction to get
dirt up.  For your needs, you should choose the vacuum accordingly.

Once you know your options, talk to family and friends for their recommendations.  There are several
places on the internet that offer reviews for local as well as nationwide carpet cleaners.

You can also get estimates as well.  Find out what the professionals charge and what is considered
to be extra.  You should also find out what chemicals are going to be used, how long the
process will take, and whether or not they plan to move any furniture.

You'll want to make sure that chemicals used are going to be safe for you, your children, and
also your pets. If you are using a professional company, you'll want to let them know what type of
carpet you have.  If you don't let them know and you have a type of carpet that will shrink or
change color during cleaning, you'll probably be in trouble.

Probably the most important thing, is to know who is coming to your home.  You should always make
sure that you know the history of the carpet cleaner as well as inquire if background checks
are performed by the company.  These steps will help to keep you and those you love safe.

Follow the above tips, and you'll have no problems with finding the right carpet cleaner.  There are
many types to choose from, as well as professional cleaning companies.

If you are considering whether or not to use a professional carpet cleaner, you should consider
the alternatives as well.  First, spot removal isn't the only necessary carpet cleaning that you
need to do, nor is the vacuuming.

Even home carpet cleaning machines won't do as good of a job as a pro can do.  When you use these
types of carpet cleaners, you can help to preserve your carpeting for years and years to come.

Last, professional cleaning can help many people who have allergies to feel better once they have
clean carpet.  If you have allergies, a professional cleaning may be the ideal way to solve just about
all of your carpet problems.

In a nutshell, it makes the most sense to have your carpet professionally cleaned.  It doesn't really
cost a lot of money, yet it will give you the peace of mind in knowing that your carpet is very
clean.

If you've been looking to clean your carpet or have it cleaned, professional is without a doubt
the way to go.  You don't have to bother with it yourself, yet you'll know that your carpet is going
to be cleaned right - by someone who knows exactly what they are doing.

Right Carpet For Your Home

If you walk into any carpeting store, you'll find yourself amazed at all of the choices that are there
for you to pick from.  You'll find textured plush carpets, saxony carpets, berber carpets, and even
commercial grade carpets.  There are carpets that can be installed wall to wall, and carpets that can
be cut to size with bound edges and carpet squares.

Your first consideration when purchasing a new carpet should not be color, even though it is important.
Your first consideration should be how much traffic you are going to have on the carpet.  If you plan
to put carpet in the bedroom, then it won't have as much traffic as carpet in the living room.

Stain resistance will also be important.  This is something to think about with any carpet, especially
carpet that is going to be used in a dining room or play room area where there will be a stready
stream of food or possibilities for spills.

You'll also want to inquire about the rating of the carpet as well.  Indoor carpeting is normally rated
on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating.  Carpets with a 5 rating are considered the
best for heavy traffic areas.  Rating of 4 are considered outstanding and recommended for heavy
traffic areas of your home.

Ratings of 2.5 to 4 would provide normal durability for your home.  Carpets that rate 2.5 or lower
should only be used with light traffic areas, such as bedrooms.  Choosing carpet based on the type of
traffic it will receive can help you save a lot of money down the road, although you should buy
carpet suited to your needs and requirements.

The highest quality of carpet you can buy is carpet made of wool.  Wool carpets are very expensive,
although you'll reap the benefits over years of use as wool will easily out perform any man
made carpet.  Two of the best benefits of wool carpet include its natural soil resistance and
it's ability to retain appearance, meaning it won't crush or wear down like other carpets.

The downside to wool carpet, is the fact that it is out of reach for most of us.  If you can't
afford to have woold carpet installed throughout your entire house, then you should instead have
it installed in the room that receives the highest amount of traffic.

There are several different man made carpets that you can choose from as well.  If you have a high
traffic area, then nylon would be an ideal choice due to the durability.  Nylon is stain resistant
as well, and repels mildew.

Carpets made of olefin is also a great choice for high traffic areas as it is very strong and easy
to clean.  Polyester is another good carpet as it is easy to clean and repels water based stains.
Polyester is known for the look and feel of wool, although it is much less expensive.

The color consideration is also important.  Light colored carpets create an effect of a larger
space, although they do tend to show stains more easily.  Dark carpets on the other hand tend to
absorb light, giving a room what many know as the "cozy feeling".

When you find a carpet that appeals to you, you should ask to take a piece of it home.  Look at
it during natural daylight and at night under an artificial light to see if the color changes at all.

Types of Carpet

The carpet market is a vast market, with many types to choose from.  Below, you'll find the several
different types of carpet and what they will offer you and your home.

Woven
Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut pile.  There
are many different colored yarns being used and the entire process is capable of producing very intricate
patterns from designs that are pre-determined.  Normally, woven is the highest quality of carpet
on the market.

Tufted
This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine by using either a single colored or sometimes a
non colored yarn.  If non colored is being used, then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a
design as a separate process.  Carpets that are tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a
combination of both.  Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are
normally at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt
The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more technologically advanced.  They are produced by
electrostatic attraction of individual fibers that form a unique carpet with extremely high
durability.  You can normally find needlefelt carpet in the contract market such as in hotels
or other places where there is always going to be a lot of traffic.

Flatweave
The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking warp and weft threads.  The types of oriental
flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave.  This type is not well known
in the North American region, although it is very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug
This is a simple construction of rug that is handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as
wool or cotton through the meshes of a very sturdy fabric.  Now, this type of rug is generally
known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile
With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft threads will alternate with a supplementary
weft that will rise from the surface of the weave at a perpendicular angle.

Cut and loop piles
The cut and loop pile combines both looped andcut fibers.  They provide a variety of
surface textures for medium durability.  Cut and loop carpets are available in either solid
or different colors.  The several different layers in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in
formal and informal areas.

Saxony
Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are heat set straight.  They consist of
two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, and they provide a very
soft texture for informal as well as formal areas.  They will show each and every footprint
and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony
Textured carpet is the best selling and it works well in informal areas due to the very
soft feel.  They are tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability.  They
also offer a multi colored look that will hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet
Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and offer a uniform color.  They are very soft
and offer more level than textures.  This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to
it's luxurious appearance.

Frieze
Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of carpet that is suited for high traffic areas.
It has short fibers that will tend to curl in different directions at the surface to
hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile
The level loop pile is constructed by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both
ends.  This type of carpet is durable as well as track resistant, due to the strong
loops.  Higher loops in the carpet will create a more luxurious look.  They are also great
because they will prevent dirt from filtering on into the carpet.

How Carpet Is Made

The carpet that is made today is a mix of old world craftsmanship and a touch of 21st century innovation.
By combining the two, carpet is able to become the household feature that we all know and love - and
get tired of cleaning.

Carpet can be manufactured in one of two ways; weaving or tufting.  Carpets that are woven are
primarily wool and are very durable, and very expensive as well.  The woven carpet types can be
hand produced, as it has been for centuries, or by machine.  No matter what method is chosen, the same
procedures are followed.

The yarn for the carpet is woven through or around vertical fibers known as warps, and then locked
into place with horizontal strands known as wefts.The woven carpets can utilize a variety of colors
as well to create intricate patterns in the highest quality of carpets.

Tufting machines can also be utilized as well, as they use computers to determine the patterns, styles,
construction, and density.  No longer does someone have to do everything by hand or mentally, as the
tufting machines will take all of the guesswork out and make things easy on the operator.

Once the fibers have been locked into place, the carpet is dyed using a variety of methods that
will create patterns or effects.  For cut pile carpets, the final stage is stretched,
cutting the pile loops.  This is an important stage, as it will determine the softness and
feel of the carpet.

The carpet will also receive a secondary stretch backing as well to give it stability and allow
it to be stretched during the installation process.  Most of the carpets of this day and
age will receive stain protection as well, which happens during the manufacturing phase.

The way that a carpet is made will greatly affect how the carpet is installed.  In the past, the
creation of carpet was a very complicated process, as there were no computers or technology
to do most of the work.  Back then, it was all done by hand.  The carpets were great, although
there wasn't any colors or textures that we have to choose from today.

The carpet manufacturers of today have a lot of technology at their disposal, which makes life
at the plants easy.  Operators can watch and operate machines to do a lot of the work, which
makes their job a lot easier.

The continuous fibers found with carpet are heat set and twisted at the mill to give a tightly
twisted product that is commonly found with  frieze carpets.  This type of yarn is less
bulky although it will hold its shape for a long period of time, which is great for those who
don't like to replace their carpet every couple of years.

Benefits Of Carpet

In the past and even today, carpet is very popular with home owners all across the U.S.  Carpet is
the most practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring out there, as it also accounts
for more than half of all flooring purchases that are made each and every year.  The fact is, carpet
has outsold every other type of flooring for more  than 60 years.

Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can't compete with.  Below, you
will find many of the features that carpet will add to your home.

Warmth
Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you
need warmth underfoot.

Insulation
Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an extra layer of much needed insulation between the
floors of your home.  Depending on the density and weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value
of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency as well.

Safety
Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion
in the event of someone falling.  For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound
Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring.  Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:
1.  Reduces surface noise from foot traffic
2.  Absorbs airborne sound
3.  Blocks transmission of sound
These qualities are valuable in apartments as well as semi-detached homes.

Surface
Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and also hide any
other problems such as warped floors.  The thicker density the carpet is, the more problems it will
be able to hide.

Easy to care for
The carpets of today are more stain resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes
cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever.  No matter type of spill it may be,
there is always a way to clean it up.

Clean air
Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve the quality of air by trapping allergy causing
dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and maintained.

Variety of use
Carpets aren't only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing.  You can easily add carpet
to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non level surfaces, without having to worry about it
slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility
Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room.  Because it is available in a variety of
different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for
decorating.  From the neutral tones to rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take
to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost
Carpet doesn't cost a lot of money, as it offers an economical alternative to the other types of
expensive flooring.  Even with professional installation, you won't pay near as much as you
would for hard surfaces.  Unlike hard surfaces, carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide
to lay down on it.

Life span
The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on
the market.  All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 - 30
years or more, which is very common now days.

Warranty
With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase.  This way,
you'll be protected when you install your new carpet.  Once installed, all you have to do is
enjoy it - as the warranty will ensure that you are very well protected.