Tips and Tricks

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Easy, proactive steps will keep your carpet looking good over time.
Don't track dirt inside

Placing walk-off mats outside all entrances will help?absorb soil and moisture and trap excessive dirt, sand, grit, oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked into the home. Clean mats on a regular basis (or sooner, when they need it) so they don't become sources of soil themselves.

Use a quality carpet pad

A good carpet pad not only gives better resilience and comfort underfoot, it can extend the life of your carpet, especially on stairs. Because some carpets carry warranties with specific density and thickness requirements, be sure and review your warranty before purchasing your pad. Explore varieties of carpet pad.

Occasionally move heavy furniture

Moving your furniture on occasion won't just renew the feel of your room, it will also help avoid excessive pile crushing. Also consider using carpet protectors under the legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the weight. Damage can occur if you use chairs or appliances with rollers or casters without a chair pad designed specifically for carpet.

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, and make sure you 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. 

In addition to frequent vacuuming, its important to clean your carpet on a regular basis. Cleaning systems will remove the oily, sticky soil that vacuums can't take out, and will help keep your carpet looking great over time.

Cleaning systems target the soils that result from cooking vapors, air pollution, and tracked-in dirt. The particles of oily soil deposited on carpet fibers can cause gradual but significant dulling of colors. The color isn't lost, but is hidden under the film. If this type of soil is allowed to accumulate, it begins to attract and hold the dry soil. 

How to clean carpet?
 

• Preventative Maintenance - walk-off mats placed at doorways prevent a majority of staining and soiling 
• Spot and Spill Removal - prompt attention to spills will prevent a stain from setting 
• Vaccuuming - vacuum high-traffic areas to prevent matting
• Hot water Extraction or steam cleaning - every 18 months or more depending on the traffic in your home, will remove oils and particulates that accelerate soiling.

Get on a cleaning schedule

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months, depending on the number of residents and amount of activity.

Choosing the proper cleaning system is important. Some systems may leave residues which accelerate re-soiling and defeats the whole purpose of cleaning.

Shaws choice: Hot water extraction

Research indicates that the hot water extraction system provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as "steam cleaning," although no steam is actually generated. The process consists of applying a cleaning agent into the carpet pile and using water in the extractor to recover the used solution and soil. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or by a portable system brought into the home.

Shaw warranties require that the homeowner be able to show proof of periodic cleaning by hot water extraction (commonly called "steam" cleaning) by a professional cleaning service or do-it-yourself system, using equipment that is certified under the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval program. We strongly recommend cleaning systems that have achieved the Gold Level Performance in the CRI Seal of Approval Program. Click here for a list of Gold Level Performers.

Professional advantages

Professional carpet cleaners are a great choice for your floor. Their cleaning equipment has more extraction power than the rental units available to individuals, and the carpet should dry more quickly. When carpet is cleaned you basically have hot water being forced onto the carpet. Hot water extraction units that don’t have the CRI Seal of Approval may not extract enough of the water from the floor to allow for proper or sufficient drying. When carpet is over-wet and the water isn’t extracted, it can lead to a whole host of issues such as wrinkling of the carpet and in extreme cases, even delamination. This could occur when the carpet is soaked which could in turn cause the backing of the carpet to breakdown. Backing failure can cause the carpet tufts to pull out easily and result in damage to your floor that could compromise your flooring warranties. 

True professionals also understand the equipment, know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction. In addition, when soap residue is left on carpet, it can cause rapid re-soiling on the entire floor. Have you ever had your carpets cleaned only to realize that they look dirtier quicker? The bottom line - choose a service provider or a machine that has the CRI Seal of Approval. 
 

• Apply detergent solution with a damp towel; leave on for 3 to 5 minutes. Blot, don't rub.
• If stain is removed, finish with a water rinse. Blot, then apply a pad of weighted paper towels. If stain is not removed, continue as follows.
• Apply hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution; let stand for 2 to 3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap.
• Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution and allow to dry under weighted plastic wrap until removal is complete.
• Apply water with damp towel.
• Blot; finish with weighted pad of paper towels.
• To neutralize the area, apply white vinegar only after stain is removed.

Always rinse with water and blot dry as the last procedure.

Techniques:

• Apply - Apply all liquids to a clean white (not printed) towel or paper towel and use to dampen carpet. Never wet a carpet through to the backing.
• Blot - Press straight down with a pad of cleniques:an white paper towels - never rub. Rubbing alters carpet texture. Then in a final blotting, leave 1/2" of paper towels on spot overnight with a weight.
• Rinse - Apply water to a white towel or paper towel; blot, don't rub.
• Weight - A weight 1/2" pad of white paper towels, left overnight, will absorb the last traces of liquid and foreign materials. Make sure the weighted object is colorfast and will not bleed onto the carpet. 

Solutions:

• Ammonia - Undiluted, clear, not sudsy, household ammonia.
• Detergent - Mix 1/4 teaspoon clear, see-through hand dish-washing detergent with 1 cup warm - not hot - water.
• Hydrogen peroxide/ammonia - Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% solution available in drug stores) with 1 teaspoon undiluted, unscented, clear (not sudsy) household ammonia. Use within 22 hours of mixing.
• White Vinegar - Undiluted, distilled white vinegar.

Legal:

WE RECOMMEND THE PROCEDURES SPECIFIED IN THIS ARTICLE FOR SHAW FLOORS CARPET MADE WITH Fibers from Shaw Floors. Do not use these proceduces sub sequent to, or in combination with, other cleaning procedures or products.  Always rinse with plain water to finalize the spot cleaning procedure.

Since research has shown that many products sold for do-it-yourself spot removal clean poorly and their residues rapidly attract soil on the cleaned area afterward, Shaw Floors recommends R2x Stain and Soil remover for optimum spot cleaning. Additional cleaning products in the CRI certification program are listed at www.carpet-rug.org.

These stain removal procedures are for some of the most common household spills. These stain removal and cleaning procedures have been carefully developed for use on Shaw Floors' carpet made with Shaw Floors' carpet fibers and may not be appropriate for use on other types of carpet. The stain removal procedures are provided to assist in maintaining your Shaw Floors' carpet and reflect the best information available. Remember, no carpet is stain proof.

For futher information, call the Shaw Toll-free Consumer Information Hotline at (800) 441-7429