CAUTION: The following cleaning tips have been compiled from various sources. If you choose to proceed with these tips, you do so at your own risk. BCCM does not approve or disapprove these cleaning tips, and takes absolutely no responsibility for the procedure and/or outcome, etc.
Place
walk-off mats at all
entrances.
Walk-off
mats should be used at the
exterior
of all entrances to absorb the soil and moisture. They can help
trap the excessive dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as
oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that would otherwise be tracked
into the home. Mats should also be cleaned on a regular basis so
they don't become sources of soil themselves.
Use
a quality pad.
You
should always use a quality pad under
your carpet, particularly on stairs. Good pad not only gives better
resilience and comfort underfoot, it can extend the life of your
carpet.
Occasionally
move heavy
furniture.
Move heavy furniture occasionally to avoid excessive pile crushing.
You should also use floor protectors designed for carpet under the
legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the
weight. Do not use chairs or appliances with rollers or casters
without a chair pad designed specifically for carpet or damage can
occur.
Protect
carpet when moving
furniture.
When moving heavy wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc.),
prevent damage by placing a protective barrier of heavy cardboard
or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.
Clean
your area rugs.
If you use area rugs on your carpet, be sure to clean them
regularly. Clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath as
well. Also, be sure to check area rugs for colorfastness before
placing them on carpet because the color in some rugs may bleed
through. After cleaning your carpet, allow it to dry completely
before replacing rugs.
Reduce
periods of direct
sunlight.
Protect your carpet from
prolonged periods of
direct
sunlight with blinds, shades, or awnings
2)
REGULAR VACUUMING
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.
Select
the best
vacuum for your type of carpet.
It
is recommended to use 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, use 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.
3)
REMOVAL OF SPOTS
AND SPILLS
Protect
your carpet--step by-step.
No
carpet is stain proof, but
since many are stain
resistant, you have time to act. Look below to see if the specific
spill you're trying to remove is listed. If so, you'll see
instructions to help. If not, use the following general
guidelines.
What do you use to clean the
spill? Be prepared with the following checklist.
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.
White cloths or white paper towels
Detergent
solution
Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more
than ¼
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
Chewing
gum remover (freeze or solid type)
Spot
Remover
Use spot removers designed
specifically for grease, oil, or
tar, such as Carbona or Energine.
NOTE: Solution-dyed fibers can withstand bleach, but do you know if your carpet is solution-dyed?
Difficult stains on carpets made from polypropylene or other solution-dyed fibers may be removed with a mild bleach solution (one part chlorine bleach to five parts water). Be careful because not all carpets can withstand bleach.
WATER
SOLUBLE
STAINS
A.
Absorb as much as
possible with white towels. Blot the stained area with white towels
dampened with cool water until there is no more transfer of the
stain onto the towels. If any of the stain remains, use the
detergent solution. (A solution of a mild liquid detergent (no more
than ¼ 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.) Spray lightly onto
the spot and blot repeatedly with white towels, working from the
outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading.
Rinse thoroughly by spraying with clean water, and then blot or
extract. Do not use too much detergent because the residue will
contribute to rapid re-soiling.
A-1. As in A, but before using detergent, apply the white vinegar solution to a white towel and blot or spray onto spot.
A-2. As in A, but before using detergent, apply a household ammonia solution to a white towel and blot or spray onto spot.
Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpet. Rinse as in A.
OIL
BASED STAINS
B.
Blot
as
much as possible with white paper towels. Apply the special oil and
grease spot remover (Spot remover specifically for grease, oil, or
tar, such as Carbona or Energine.) to a paper towel and repeat
blotting. (Protective gloves should be worn, as the solvent will
quickly remove oils from the skin and could result in irritation.)
Do not pour or spray directly on the carpet pile, as damage to the
backing or adhesive underneath could result; use the towels to
transport the solvent to the carpet. Repeat as often as necessary. Provide
adequate ventilation. Do not use flammable
solvents.
FREEZE
STAINS
C.
Freeze stains, such as chewing
gum
and candle wax, with ice or a commercially available product in an
aerosol can. Shatter with a blunt object and vacuum before the
chips soften. Follow up with solvent as in B.