Carpet creates a warm, inviting feeling when installed in a home. However, there are some drawbacks, including its absorbency, which results in the carpet retaining water when exposed.
It is crucial to not let water absorb into a carpet, as this could cause some water damage that can be very hard to repair. Small spills here and there won’t do much, but flooding can cause irreparable damage, even if you leave your dehumidifier running.
Thankfully, a carpet cleaning company will be able to offer carpet water damage solutions to bring your carpet back to usable condition. Here is an overview of how to spot water damage in carpet and what you should watch for:
Sogginess: This is a pretty obvious one—if you step on water and feel or hear it squishing beneath you like a sponge, this is an obvious sign there is water saturating the carpet. You should take immediate action to remedy the problem and remove the moisture.
Discoloration: Carpets with water damage tend to fade and discolor. If you notice spots in the carpet that are strangely “off” compared to the rest of the carpet, this could be a sign of water damage, especially if you also notice black or green mold spots or other symptoms of water damage in the area.
Water damage on lower walls and baseboards: Water damage that’s present on baseboards and the lower sections of walls could indicate there is also water damage to the carpet in the immediate vicinity of those spots.
Foul smells: Water damage is typically associated with a musty odor that smells stale or moldy. If the smell doesn’t go away even after you ventilate the area thoroughly, this is a sign you are probably dealing with some water damage.
Wrinkling in the carpet: A carpet that has begun to wrinkle, pucker or buckle up is one that may very well have some water damage underneath. In such a case, the water affecting the carpet probably removed some of the adhesive underneath, so the rug is no longer fully secured to the floor. If buckling starts to occur in your carpet, pull back some of the area to look for dampness or other signs of water damage. If the sub-floor is wet or warped, this could be a sign indicating water has done damage to the area.
Visible mold: If you have visible mold or mildew growing on particular areas of your carpet, this is almost certainly a sign of excessive moisture and/or water damage, and you should take the necessary mold remediation steps as soon as possible.
Leaks: If you’ve had leaks around the home and have noticed some of the other signs on this list, this likely will indicate you’ve sustained some water damage to your carpets.
These are just a few examples of some of the most common indicators of water damage in carpet. The good news is you can resolve the problem with the help of a professional. To learn more about some carpet water damage solutions you can attempt in your home, contact the team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center.
As you choose a rug for a room in your home, you’re probably focused primarily on the rug’s design and aesthetics. But don’t forget to consider the size, the shape and the type, among other characteristics!
A rug that’s too large will dominate the space and potentially not fit in the area you have to work with. A rug that’s too small will look like it doesn’t belong and not provide you with the coverage you’re hoping for.
What are the other factors that should go into determining what size rug you need? Here’s an overview of how to choose a rug for your space:
Measure: Measure exactly where you want to put the rug so you have some dimensions to work with. You should also measure the furniture in the immediate area so you can determine if you’ll have enough room to move the furniture around the rug as needed.
Configuration: The configuration of your room will determine the shape of the rug you select. Different types of spaces can benefit from different shapes of rugs. A square or rectangular rug is ideally suited for areas in which people will be frequently walking or where the configuration of the room is more rectangular. Circular or oval rugs are great for family rooms, where there is often a natural circle formed to create conversational seating arrangements.
Space: The size and shape of rug you select will also depend on the amount of space you have to work with. Round rugs require a little more space, and they also have the added benefit of showing off your floors. Square or rectangle rugs are ideal for tight spaces where you want to create the illusion of a larger room.
Traffic: How much foot traffic do you expect the rug to get in a given day or week? High-traffic locations will require rugs that have shapes and materials designed to withstand greater wear and tear. Areas for spaces that are just storage can benefit from area rugs without a pile. High-traffic areas benefit from square or rectangle shapes, and higher piles in the rug.
Other design elements: Consider some of the other design elements you have around your home, and choose a rug design that complements them. Your rug doesn’t have to match the other design elements of your home, but they should at least flow together. A good rule is that if you want your rug to be a focal point, you can choose more intricate patterns. But if you want your rug to blend in with its surroundings, it should have basic patterns and neutral colors.
Floor type: The type of floor you have may also influence the kind of rug you choose. A hardwood floor will require something durable but also comfortable, for example.
Lifestyle: Finally, consider your lifestyle. Do you have small children and animals? Do you tend to eat in the room where the rug will be placed? These are examples of some considerations you will need to make when purchasing a rug.
For more tips about what to consider when purchasing a rug and how to choose a rug for your space, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today.
Your carpet undergoes a lot of wear and tear, from rambunctious kids and pets to enthusiastic dinner party guests armed with red wine. Dirt, food, mud, grime, pet hair and dander and mystery stains can all make your carpets look old before their time.
Thankfully, carpet cleaning can help fix any messes. But how often do you need to clean your carpet with help from a professional cleaner? Here’s what you need to know about carpet care.
Vacuuming
How often do you vacuum? If the answer is something along the lines of “only when I absolutely have to,” you’re not alone—but you may need to ramp up your cleaning schedule. Vacuuming at least once per week removes surface dirt and debris, before it has a chance to get ground in deep.
When you go without vacuuming for too long, any dirt or grime can get smashed into the carpet. This will abrade the fibers and make it a lot harder for a professional cleaner to remove that caked-in debris.
Of course, vacuuming won’t remove the need for professional cleaning entirely—but if you vacuum weekly, it will help ensure your carpet can go longer between more intensive cleanings.
Do you have children?
If you have kids, you know that a parent’s least favorite utterance is “uh-oh,” especially when you have carpets throughout your home. Homeowners with children should make it a point to clean their carpets every six to 12 months. Not only will this help cut down on permanent stains—and extend the lifespan of your carpet—but it will help keep your carpets fresh and clean for the small people who spend a lot of time close to the floor.
Do you have pets?
Pets are adorable, but they’re also dirty creatures—even if you bathe them regularly. They can track dirt, mud and insects into the house, in addition to shedding a whole host of pet dander and fur. Plus, your pet will undoubtedly have an accident or two in their lifetime. This is a nightmare for anyone with allergies, let alone a neat freak.
If you’ve got pets in your household, you should aim to have your carpets professionally cleaned every three to six months. This is especially important if your pets tend to urinate on the carpets, as that can soak into the padding and leave a smelly mess. Unless you want to replace your entire carpet every time Fido decides to make a case for dog diapers, getting professional cleaning is the best way to go.
Who should I hire for carpet cleaning?
There are a lot of carpet cleaners out there, so choosing the right one is important. Look for a company that prides itself on high-quality carpet care, like Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We use a hot extraction method to ensure all stains come out of your carpet, leaving behind a fresh, clean floor covering.
When you’re ready to schedule your first appointment and have us come clean your carpet, call us right away!
If you take care of your carpets properly, you’ll be rewarded with many years of beautiful flooring. Part of good carpet care includes getting your floors professionally cleaned about once per year. How do you know which professional carpet cleaner is the right one for you?
Here are five things to look for when choosing a professional carpet cleaner:
What kind of certification do they have? Did you know that NASA has created a series of tests for carpet cleaners? If your carpet cleaner is a true professional, they’ll be ranked by The Carpet and Rug Institute, a national independent lab that rates and ranks carpet cleaning companies. They use NASA’s guidelines to vet professional carpet cleaners. That’s a certification that—dare we say it—is out of this world.
What kind of tools do they use? Your professional carpet cleaner should have a variety of carpet cleaning tools available. The best tool around is a hot extraction wand, which agitates the carpets before cleaning, then sucks the dirt, grime and stains out before your eyes. Steam cleaners are a nice option, but they can soak your carpets. That takes forever to dry. A dry carpet cleaner may also be an option. This type of carpet cleaning gets your carpet wet, then buffs the stains out with a pad to soak up the moisture. Neither of these alternatives is as effective as a hot extraction wand, however. Be sure to ask your potential cleaner what kind of tools they use.
Which carpet cleaning products do they use? Chemicals, soap and detergent are less than ideal choices for cleaning carpets—at least in less careful hands. Harsh chemicals can leave your carpets looking nice for a short period of time, but they may also make your carpets feel stiff and crunchy. Similarly, if soap and detergent are used, you need to find out how the carpet cleaner plans to remove the detergent from the floors. If they don’t, it will leave a film on your carpet than neither looks nor feels good.
Do you like their customer support? How is the customer service when you call the carpet cleaning company? Are they pleasant? Do they answer your questions, or do they make you feel silly for asking? Customer support might not be the top priority when it comes to clean carpets, but a truly great company will value your business, and that should be obvious when you interact with them. When choosing between two good options, pick the one that demonstrates they care more about their customers.
What have previous customers said about them? Finally, check your carpet cleaner’s reviews. Look for an overall pattern—while there might be some disgruntled customers or a spate of five-star reviews with no other information, you should take it on a holistic level. If the average review indicates satisfaction, you can feel safe entrusting your carpets to these cleaners.
Hardwood is a tremendous surface to use for the floors in your home. It’s durable, looks great and is easier to clean than carpet. There are a multitude of different varieties for every budget and every preference.
But like all the other surfaces in your home, your hardwood floors require some degree of maintenance. While sweeping is an easy way to clean off surface debris, you should really wax your hardwood floors. Floor waxing might be more involved than vacuuming, but the results are often more rewarding as well.
Here are three simple ways to wax hardwood floors and restore their shine.
Solid paste wax
This is an old-school type of wax, and it should only be used on floors that are true linoleum, unfinished cork, unvarnished hardwood or concrete. Avoid this type of wax if your floors are vinyl, no-wax or finished with urethane. You’ll be applying this wax by hand:
Take a soft, lint-free cotton cloth (an old T-shirt works), and get it wet. Wring it out until it is almost totally dry.
Refer to the package’s instructions, and softly and proportionately apply the wax to the floor using the cloth.
The wax may look murky as it dries, but this is ok. You can then use a clean towel, electric floor polisher or a sponge mop coated in terry cloth to buff it to a shine.
Liquid wax
Only use this on linoleum, unvarnished hardwood or unfinished cork. Refer to the package’s instructions before beginning, and refrain from using this if your floors are urethane-finished, vinyl or no-wax:
You can apply it with a moist cloth, as you do with solid paste wax, or use a mop or an electric floor polisher.
Apply the liquid wax delicately and uniformly. Watch it as it dries, as the solvent will dissipate, leaving behind the polish.
Once the polish has dried, you can buff it with an electric floor polisher, a clean towel or a terry cloth-covered sponge mop.
Water-based silicone polish
Avoid using this type of floor polish if your floors are unsealed wood, linoleum or cork. If your floors are urethane-finished, you can use water-based silicone polish on them safely. This process will involve the application of multiple thin coats as opposed to one thick coat. Be careful around your baseboards, as this type of polish may stain them:
Take a clean mop, and moisten its head with water.
Apply some of the polish to the floor and the mop.
Spread the polish on the floor as evenly as possible, taking care not to create bubbles.
After the polish has dried, buff it with one of the methods listed above.
Administer the second and third coats to any areas receiving heavy foot traffic. Make sure to buff the floor after each successive coat dries.
Call for floor cleaning service today
While waxing hardwood floors might not be the ideal way to spend your Saturday, as a reward, you’ll be able to bask in their newfound shine as you walk about the house. Whether you require floor waxing or carpet cleaning, give us a call at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We’re the industry experts when it comes to maintaining floors, and we’d be happy to help you, no matter what your floor is made of.
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