Recommendations & Tips

Four Steps For Proper Carpet Care

Carpet cleaning is just like exercise! If you get into a routine and keep it up, you will see great results and feel better for it. Products that rate highly on CRI’s Seal of Approval (SOA) program are your assurance that you will clean correctly the first time. Here are four simple steps to keep your carpet clean and looking great:

• Vacuum high traffic areas daily, and everywhere according to a vacuuming schedule, using an SOA/Green Label-approved vacuum.
• Clean spots and spills quickly with products that do not damage the carpet or cause it to resoil quicker.
• Professionally deep clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt and grime.
• Stop dirt at the door by using mats outside and in, taking your shoes off when you enter the house and changing your air filters to reduce airborne dust particles.

The Seal of Approval Program

CRI wants vacuums, extractors, cleaning systems and cleaning products to be as effective as possible. The Seal of Approval program is the only one in the industry that scientifically measures cleaning efficacy. The results help consumers make informed decisions, and manufacturers improve their products. So carpets are cleaner, healthier and last longer.

 

---

Spot Removal Steps

Act Quickly! Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment; so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer you wait, the higher the probability that a spill will become a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or white paper toweling (no prints or colors).

Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed. If the spot can be identified, locate the substance in the spot removal computer and follow the directions carefully.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth and work in gently.

Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times. After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

---

Proper Wool Care

• Vacuum regularly.
• Attend to spills immediately.
• Professionally clean as required.

Vacuuming
• An upright vacuum with a beater bar/brush is the best type for cut-pile carpet. A suction-only vacuum may be required for loop-pile carpets to prevent excessive fuzzing.
• Vacuum cleaner dust bag should be emptied when half full.

Preventative Maintenance
• Exercise prevention maintenance by placing absorbent mats at the most frequently used entrances to your home. Change or launder when these mats become dirty. Filters in your heating and air conditioning systems should be changed regularly.

Spot And Spill Removal
• Keep absorbent cloth or paper towels and cleaning solutions on hand for quick response to spills and accidents.
• When applying the cleaning agents, never apply them directly to the carpet and use a small quantity at a time.
• By working your way inwards from the outer edge of a spot, you can prevent the stain from spreading.
• When cleaning up spills and spots, avoid rubbing as this can cause the spot to spread or distort the pile.
• Keep the carpet as dry as possible during cleaning. After applying the required treatment, blot the area as dry as possible with a clean cloth and then cover with paper towels to dry.

Keep the WoolClean Carpet Spot Removal Kit on hand for quick response to spills and accidents. A WoolClean Kit can be purchased through a Wools of New Zealand partner retailer. To locate a retailer near you, visit www.woolsnz.com or call 1-800-367-0462.

To ensure a cleaning agent is safe for use on your wool carpets and rugs, look for the WoolSafe logo. This logo signifies that the product has been scientifically tested and is approved as being safe and effective for cleaning wool carpets.

---

Choose From Accepted Cleaning Methods

Here is a list of Carpet and Rug Institute member companies and their recommended methods for cleaning carpet. If you have any questions concerning a carpet manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method, please contact the manufacturer directly.

Atlas Carpet Mills®
• Phone: (800) 372-6274
• Website: atlascarpetmills.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

B Carpet
• Phone: (800) 241-4019
• Website: burtcocarpet.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction/Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Barrett Carpet Mills
• Phone: (800) 241-4064
• Website: barrettcarpet.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Beaulieu Group, LLC
• Phone: (800) 227-7211
• Website: beaulieu-usa.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Bloomsburg Carpet Industries, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 233-8773
• Website: bloomsburgcarpet.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction/Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Daltonian Flooring Inc.
• Phone: (800) 788-1408
• Website: daltonian.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Foam/Dry Compound/Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Dixie Group, Inc., The
• Phone: (866) 606-7475
• Website: thedixiegroup.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Contact Manufacturer
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Fortune Contract, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 359-4508
• Website: fortunecarpet.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Interface, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 336-0225
• Website: interface.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction/Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: Contact Manufacturer

J+J Flooring Group
• Phone: (800) 241-4586
• Website: jjindustries.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Mannington Mills, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 241-2262
• Website: mannington.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: Contact Manufacturer

Milliken & Company
• Phone: (800) 241-4826
• Website: millikencarpet.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Residential Carpet – Dry Polymer Compound – Capture
• Recommended Service Providers: Contract Carpet – Dry Polymer Extraction performed by MilliCare Comm. Carpet Care.

Mohawk Industries, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 241-4494
• Website: mohawkind.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: CRI Seal of Approval Products & Service Providers that use Seal of Approval Products.

Northwest Carpets
• Phone: (800) 367-2508
• Website: northwestcarpets.net
• Deep Cleaning Method: Call Manufacturer
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Royalty Carpet Mills
• Phone: (800) 854-8331
• Website: royaltycarpetmills.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Shaw Industries, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 441-7429
• Website: shawfloors.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Tai Ping Carpets Americas, Inc.
• Phone: (800) 433-2440
• Website: taipingcarpets.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Tandus Centiva Inc.
• Phone: (800) 248-2878
• Website: tandus.com
• Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
• Recommended Service Providers: ServiceMaster Clean