Carpet flooring offers superior comfort, warmth and decorative value to a home, but if you want your carpet to remain in the best condition possible, it’s important to invest time and energy into its ongoing maintenance and care. To ensure that your carpet lasts for years to come and continues to look its best, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Read on to find out more about wearing shoes on carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ and how you can protect your carpet fibers from staining and damage.

Bare feet, shoes and socks on carpet

In many households, shoes are not usually permitted on carpeting. Shoes track in mud, dirt and other debris from outside and leave dirty footprints all over carpeting, especially lighter-colored carpeting. However, not a lot of homeowners realize that shoes aren’t the only problem for carpet flooring. In fact, the dirt and dust that shoes leave behind is often not as bad as the potential effects of bare feet on carpeting. The sweat glands on your feet naturally produce moisture throughout the day and leave behind residue on your carpet fibers. This might not seem like such a big deal, but even small amounts of sweat and moisture can impact the condition of your carpet over time.

Moisture and sweat can attract dust and dirt to cling to your carpet fibers, making it more difficult for you to achieve a thorough clean of your carpet. Sweat can also contribute to more staining and create unpleasant odors in your living space. Because of this, it’s important to avoid going barefoot on your carpet as much as possible. Wearing socks or slippers on your carpeting allows you to avoid tracking in dirt or leaving behind trace amounts of moisture and sweat. Getting into the habit of changing into socks or slippers when you come inside can help you maintain much cleaner and longer-lasting carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ.

In addition to wearing socks or slippers on your carpet, there are some other aspects of care and maintenance that you should put into practice. Vacuum your carpets regularly to lift away dust and dirt and to prevent stains and odors from developing. You should also consider shampooing your carpet on a regular basis to lift deeper stains and residual debris from your carpet fibers.

Finally, professional carpet cleaning can make a huge difference in the overall appearance and longevity of your carpeting. If you invest in this service on a regular basis, it can help keep your carpet looking like new for years to come.

Get more tips for carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ

If you’re looking for professional care and cleaning for your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ, reach out to Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. Since 1948, we have been proud to provide our customers with exceptional carpet and upholstery cleaning services. We also offer carpet installation and repair, tile buffing and waxing and water damage restoration. You can find out more about everything we can do, get a quote or schedule a consultation by giving our team a call today.

Choosing the best carpet for your home can ensure a comfortable and welcoming living space. It can be a retreat for your feet, and a pleasant sight for your eyes for years to come, but only if you keep up on carpet maintenance. And while it’s true that carpets are not forever, you don’t want to have to buy expensive carpeting every few years. Vacuuming your carpets and doing nothing else is likely not enough to keep your floors as neat and clean looking as you’d like, so what else should you do?

If you’re tired of battling damages and stains, read on! Here are five tips for treating high traffic areas of your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ:

• Use the right type of vacuum: The most used areas in your home are going to get dirty and worn more quickly than the areas that are less frequently traveled. If you recently installed brand-new carpeting or bought a home with wall-to-wall carpet that’s still in good condition, this may be the ideal time to purchase a new vacuum cleaner. Many vacuums have rotating bristles and HEPA filters, as well as tool attachments for multiple functions. These types of vacuums are great for carpets overall, and especially for high traffic areas—just don’t forget to clean the bristles and filter from time to time.
• Vacuum often: Some rooms and areas of your home won’t need as much vacuuming as others. The more heavily used areas, like hallways and living rooms, tend to need a good vacuuming a couple times a week. Make sure to vacuum often, and always do multiple passes over high traffic locations.
• Rethink the no-shoe policy: Asking family and friends to remove their shoes at the door may seem like a good idea, but is it really? On the one hand, no shoes on the carpet can prevent transfer of debris (dirt, sand, rocks, pollen, etc.). Unfortunately, the oils that transfer from bare feet to carpets are a main cause of dirty-looking floors, which can make the cleaning process more complicated.
• Blot, don’t scrub: It’s important for every homeowner to know how to treat stains the right way if having healthy carpets is the goal. Let’s say a food or liquid spills onto your carpet. Your initial reaction to a spill on your carpet might be to grab a towel or sponge and scrub it out. However, scrubbing is a common carpet cleaning mistake that must be avoided. Instead, blot the stain with a clean cloth, then apply the proper cleaning solution for that particular type of mess.
• Neutralize pet odors: Household pets may have favorite spots on the floor where they like to hang out. Unfortunately, carpets absorb bad orders from dogs and cats. Try this trick to neutralize pet smells for up to two weeks: mix a half cup of white vinegar with lukewarm water and blot with a soft, clean cloth.

Want to hire a professional to come clean or spot clean your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ? Call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today to schedule an appointment!

A majority of Americans consider their pets beloved members of the family—and just like family, cats and dogs can drive you crazy and frustrate you. The problem is that you can’t voice your irritation with pets like you can with your human family members. You love your cat, but you don’t love the smells he sometimes leaves behind. For instance, that urine odor wafting throughout your house is unpleasant and no way to greet guests when they enter the front door.

Luckily, the awful scent your dear old kitty has left behind does not have to be a permanent feature of your home. Below are some tips to help any pet parent remove cat urine from fabrics and carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ.

Clean up what you can

The first thing to do is remove as much of the cat urine as possible, because less urine means less of a need for deep cleaning. It’s for this reason that you should clean up as much of the mess as you can as soon as you notice your cat has peed anywhere other than in his litter box. According to the Humane Society of the United States, urine spots on fabric furniture or carpet should be blotted away with an absorbent paper towel. While it won’t pull out all of the urine, there will be less remaining to treat later.

Your cat may have urinated on other fabrics, like drapes, clothing or linens. In cases like these, wash or dry clean the items as soon as possible. Urine odor becomes more stubborn the longer it stays on fabric, so don’t wait to clean it out using baking soda or enzymatic additives.

Use an extracting wet vac

It’s important to note that while you can use an extracting wet vac to remove cat urine, you should always avoid steam cleaners. A wet vac cleaner expels clean water onto the carpet or furniture fabric, then sucks the dirty water back up into the tank. This step rinses the area rather well for carpet flooring. Unless you want to enhance the urine smell, avoid using a steam cleaner. The heat from this device can cause odors to set into the fibers of the carpet, making the odor removal job more difficult.

Sprinkle baking soda afterward

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which does a fantastic job of absorbing odors from carpet. To use baking soda as an air freshener, sprinkle it on carpets or upholstery after you have cleaned off the urine and the area has had time to dry. Sprinkle and let it set for at least one hour, then vacuum it up.

Prevent accidents

The more your cat pees outside of his litter box and on your indoor surfaces, the harder it’ll be to keep the odor under control. Try some methods like litter box retraining, laying down absorbent pee pads, getting your cat spayed or neutered and adding more litter boxes. You should also consult your veterinarian, as inappropriate urination may be a sign of underlying medical issues.

If you need your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ professionally cleaned, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. Reach out today to schedule an appointment!

Dealing with a flooded room is something that nobody wants to think about. From replacing your belongings to taking care of inspections and mold remediation, the whole ordeal is a huge pain in the neck, even if you have flood insurance. The only way a flood could get worse is if you have carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ.

Though the severity of the situation depends on a few different factors, anyone who’s dealt with a flood in a carpeted room can attest to the fact that it’s a nightmare. Let’s hope you never have to worry about it, but in the event that you do, this post will teach you what you need to know to get started on dealing with your carpet after a flood.

Where did the water come from?

You may just think, “Water is water.” Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The source of the floodwater makes a huge difference in the steps you’ll need to take going forward. If it’s clean water, like from a burst pipe or an overflowed tub, you can clean the carpet yourself. If the flood water is “gray water,” meaning it’s unsanitary water from a dishwasher, washing machine or similar source, your carpet is ruined and you’ll need help from a professional. The same is true for “black water,” which is unsanitary and dangerous water from rivers or streams that contains pathogens.

What can professionals do?

Professional carpet removal is required if the flood water is gray or black. Luckily, that’s one of our specialties! Here are the steps we take to help get your life back in order after a flood:

• Remove the carpeting and furniture: After the water has stopped flowing, we’ll get to work removing all of the carpet, padding and furniture from the room. The longer wet carpet and furniture sit in the affected area, the greater the chance that microbes begin to grow, which poses a serious health threat for everyone. Remember to leave removal to the pros. We have all of the proper safety gear to ensure nobody gets sick from microbes.
• Bring in fans: The best way to dry out a flooded room is to bring in industrial-strength fans, and that’s exactly what we do after we haul out your old carpeting and furniture. How long we leave the fans running depends on the severity of the flood, but rest assured the fans will eventually get rid of all the water from your home.
• Inspect for mold: Mold growth is one of the biggest dangers from water damage, especially if the water is gray or black. Once the room is dry, a full mold inspection will need to be performed. If any mold is found, you’ll need to have that professionally taken care of as soon as possible.
• Replace the flooring: Finally, once everything is dry and mold-free, our team can install new flooring. If performed correctly, you’ll never be able to tell that a flood happened in the first place.

If your carpet is soaked, be sure to pick up the phone and call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. From simple cleaning to water damage restoration and even new installation, we’re your one-stop shop for carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ!