LEARNING CENTER

Carpet Care Tips

When it comes to maintaining your carpet, stains and dirt are the primary considerations. Dirt is abrasive against the fibers of your carpets. If ground-in soil is not removed on a regular basis, the traffic areas will begin to wear excessively. Try to get to spots immediately. Listed below are the steps you should take to improve the appearance and life of your carpet.

Vacuuming
Vacuum your carpet often. We recommend once or twice a week. Soil is abrasive to your carpet and much of it is not visible. Failure to remove the soil can cause premature wear. First, try to remove any loose particles such as food, pieces of crayon, bugs, etc. as they can cause a spot on the carpet when vacuumed.

Care for your carpets professionally with ProCarpet - Atlanta, GeorgiaProfessional Cleaning
As general rule, carpet cleaning by a professional, certified firm should take place at least once per year for residential carpet.

Clean more often if you have heavy traffic areas. Commercial carpet should be cleaned at least two to three times per year.

Note: Proper professional carpet cleaning will not leave a sticky residue behind and can be done as many times per year as needed.

Spot Removal and Interim Cleaning
Immediate spot removal is helpful in avoiding a permanent stain. Care must be taken in how spot cleaning is performed. Use club soda or water on a white terry cloth towel to gently blot the spot. Avoid the following because they can permanently set the stain: Laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, soaps, and other products not designed for carpets. If you are unsuccessful in removing your spots, call Pro Carpet to make an appointment. Never use bleach on or near your carpet.

Protective Coatings
Carpets are treated with protectors during the manufacturing process. Dupont Teflon™ and 3M Scotchgard™ are examples of these. After 2 to 3 years, much of the protective coating wears off, depending on traffic. We recommend you have us re-apply the treatment.

Steam vs. Dry Cleaning

STEAM CLEANING  
Steam cleaning involves applying a solution of hot water and a mild detergent/deodorizer at high pressure to break loose the dirt. The dirty water is then extracted and put in a separate tank. The carpet takes between 6-24 hours to dry. The time depends upon the amount of air flow, the humidity level, and the density of the carpet.  

DRY CLEANING
Dry Cleaning  involves the application of a solvent-based cleaning product to the carpet. This is then removed with a large floor buffer with a white cotton bonnet or extracted using water (solvent extraction). One advantage of dry cleaning  with the buffer is that carpet usually dries in 1-3 hours. However, the solvent extraction may be recommended instead of the bonnet method for carpets that are more heavily soiled. Please consult your technician if you have any questions about these two different forms of dry cleaning. Note: Pro Carpet will only Dry Clean your carpet!

ProCarpet has learned though extensive research and experience (over  a half-a -billion square feet cleaned) that the only truly safe and effective way to clean Berber is with dry cleaning. Steam Cleaning Berber (Olefin) can result in yellow chemical burns. Dry Cleaning allows us to maintain the ph of your carpet at a neutral level which results in safely and properly cleaned carpet. Call today if you have any questions about whether you should get Steam or Dry Cleaning

We Only Dry Clean Olefin & Wool Berber Carpets!  

A few more things your should know about Steam Cleaning and Dry Cleaning:

First, industry jargon isn't very accurate:

1. Dry Cleaning  isn't actually dry - it uses a liquid solvent similar to what is used by Dry Cleaners to clean clothing.
2. Steam Cleaning  doesn't use steam. Technically, it is called Hot Water Extraction. (Steam would likely melt the carpet fibers.)

Dry Cleaning

• Dries faster than Steam Cleaning.
• Is gentler on carpets - a benefit if carpets are new and expensive.
• Is recommended for Wool Berber and Olefin carpets because steam cleaning can occasionally cause yellow streaking to appear on these types of carpet.

Steam Cleaning

• Cleans more deeply.
• Can do a better job on heavily soiled areas and pet stains.
• Is needed if a flea treatment is to be applied.
• Costs less than Dry Cleaning.
   

Carpet Drying Tips

• While it is best to avoid walking on damp carpet, it is OK if you:
• Wear shoes with clean rubber soles. (First, scrub the soles with a damp clean cloth).
• DO NOT walk with bare feet. The oils in your skin can transfer to the moist carpet and become a magnet for dirt.
• Vacuum thoroughly when the carpet is dry - to bring the nap up.

To speed up drying you want as much air movement as possible - circulating the driest air possible - and a method to get rid of the moisture being added to the air.

If the outside air is dry:

1. Turn on ceiling fans and portable fans (air movement) .  

2. Ventilate the house by opening a window in each room (air movement and get rid of moist air).  

3. If you have an attic fan, turn it ON. (air movement and get rid of moist air)  

4. If your furnace or air conditioner has a "Fan" setting, leave the Fan ON (air movement). Turn the Cool/Heat switch to OFF (No sense wasting energy)

If it is raining and/or the outside air is humid:  

1. Turn on ceiling fans and portable fans (air movement).

2. In WARM WEATHER , set the Air Conditioning thermostat to a lower temperature than normal. The A/C will take moisture out of the air. Also, if your air conditioner has a "Fan" setting, leave the Fan ON (air movement).

3. In COOL WEATHER , set the Furnace thermostat to a higher temperature than normal. Heating the air increases its ability to absorb moisture. Then, open several windows a few inches at the top and bottom to allow the warm moist air to leave. Also, if your furnace has a "Fan" setting, leave the Fan ON (air movement).

3M Scotchgard™ and DuPont Teflon™ Protection

ProCarpet can help protect your carpet and upholstery from stains, spills, spots, dirt, and more by applying 3M Scotchgard™ and DuPont Teflon™ carpet protectors.

These applications help prevent liquid spills from being absorbed into the fibers. This then  makes it easier blot up and clean those liquids as they simply bead up on the suface. As well, these two applications help stains release more easily when carpet and upholstery is cleaned.

The Scotchgard and Dupont protectors also help with your daily vacuuming by allowing your vacuum to remove up to three times more dry particulate (dust, dirt, small particles) than carpets which are not treated. So you can save money on cleaning bills as well as carpet replacement by getting these applied.

This service is one that that our certified technicians are ready and able to do the next time they are cleaning your carpets.

If you're interested in cutting your cleaning bills, please contact us about adding 3M Scotchgard™ or DuPont Teflon™ to your order.