Included among the most important investments in your home are carpeting and upholstered furniture. Proper care, combined with periodic overall cleaning, is essential to keeping them in good condition.
The basic rules of carpet and upholstery care include prompt clean up of spills, regular vacuuming, and periodic professional cleaning.
Carpeting and upholstery can be expected to keep your home warm and cozy, as well as attractive and appealing for years.
Routine Care
Carpet and upholstery's best friend is a vacuum cleaner that is used at least once a week. Vacuuming protects your carpet from fiber wear and removes dust and other fine particles that can keep your upholstery from looking its best. High traffic areas or a favorite chair should be vacuumed more frequently. It is best to set the vacuum at a height that gives a slight resistance when pushing and pulling it over the carpet or upholstery. Be sure and use quality vacuum bags and change them when 1/2 full to maintain high efficiency.
Walk-off mats will greatly reduce the amount of soil and dirt that is brought into your home. They should be cleaned often. Rearranging your furniture periodically to change the traffic pattern allows the carpet to wear more evenly. Moving the furniture to a slightly different position after vacuuming helps avoid concentrated spot crushing.
You can reduce fading of your carpet and upholstery by drawing the shades or draperies when the sunshines in on them. For even better results, window films are a great way to block out harmful UV rays. They now come in designer shades, including neutral tones that appear virtually invisible on your windows.
Stain Removal
Spills and stains should be cleaned up immediately. The chances for removal are 75% better if the stain is not allowed to set. For common food and beverage stains or pet accidents, first clean up the spill and blot with white paper towels. Next, gently press deep into the stain with a clean, damp white cloth or sponge. Blot dry; never rub or scrub.
If the stain is still present, apply a cleaning solution recommended by your carpet cleaner or manufacturer. Follow directions, then blot the area with a white absorbent towel until it’s clean.
Stubborn stains may require a spot remover which matches the base of the cleaner with the base of the stain. Sometimes a deep spill will appear to have been removed only to recur days later. If this happens, repeat the previously used cleaning procedure until the stain no longer returns.
Periodic Cleaning
Your carpet and upholstery will perform and look their best when properly cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner at least once a year. Prior to cleaning, call the technician’s attention to any stains or other items that may need attention. This will help the technician treat all persistent stains, removing any that are not permanent.
A thorough cleaning makes your carpet and upholstery look new and prolongs their beauty and strength.
Carpeting and upholstered furniture enhance the beauty and value of any home. They provide the background against which a room's accessories stand out. Carpeting and upholstery can be expected to keep your home warm and cozy, as well as attractive and appealing, for many years. Proper care will protect your investment.
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