If your carpet gets a lot of traffic over the course of the day, you might be struggling to keep it clean. Between dirty shoes tracking in mud and spilled drinks from family members and visitors, it might seem impossible to maintain a carpet that looks great. Short of restricting access to your carpeted flooring entirely, you probably can’t prevent stains and spills altogether. However, you can prevent lingering stains that permanently damage your carpet. Follow a few simple steps to keep your carpets looking as fresh as possible for years to come:
- Treat your carpet: Invest in a stain-preventing carpet treatment that you can apply yourself. These treatments prevent spills from leaving stains and make it easier for you to clean up carpet messes. If it’s been a long time since you’ve applied carpet treatment, it might be a good idea to apply it again.
- Consider carpet runners: If you have pets or small children in your home who tend to track messes over your carpeting, carpet runners can be very helpful to prevent staining. A few strategically placed runners in the highest traffic areas of your space can go a long way. You can even use small rugs in these areas that you can simply run through the washing machine when they get dirty.
- Keep up on cleaning: You should vacuum regularly to lift dirt and debris from your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ. Leaving this debris in your carpet can lead to staining and permanent damage to your carpet fibers.
- Respond to spills quickly: Don’t leave spills unaddressed for any longer than you have to. Respond quickly by blotting the stain with a towel or cloth. You can use diluted vinegar to help lift the stain. Getting to spills before they dry is essential if you want to avoid permanent staining in your carpet.
- Get help from a professional: Sometimes, you need a little bit of assistance to keep your carpet looking its best. Regular carpet cleaning service from a professional can make a huge difference when it comes to the appearance of your carpet. Regular cleanings can also boost the longevity of your carpet. The key with carpet maintenance is consistency. As long as you make an effort to prevent stains, respond quickly to spills and have a regular routine when it comes to cleaning, you can keep your carpeting in good shape.
If you want to restore the appearance of your carpet, consider a professional cleaning from Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We’ve specialized in floor cleaning and carpet maintenance since 1948. Over that time, we’ve developed a wealth of experience working with flooring of all kinds to provide customers with the most thorough and dazzling cleaning service possible. We offer comprehensive services, including carpet repair, tile and grout cleaning, rug alterations, carpet re-stretching, furniture cleaning, drapery cleaning and much more. To get started today with a free service estimate, simply reach out to us by phone or online.
Most of us benefit from carpet every day, but rarely do we stop to think where carpet comes from, and how it became the widespread flooring product it is today. With that in mind, we’ve prepared a miniature history lesson for you on the growth of the U.S. carpet industry.
The beginning of the U.S. carpet industry
The U.S. carpet industry began by simply borrowing the techniques and machinery of the British carpet industry. In the time immediately following the Industrial Revolution until nearly the beginning of the 20th century, carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ was a necessity for most homes, as the floors were often made out of such unsightly materials that they couldn’t be left uncovered. Today’s varnished hardwood wasn’t really a popular flooring option until the second half of the 19th century.
Initial growth of the industry (Industrial Revolution to 1920s)
Early on, carpet production was expensive, because carpets were hand loomed and woven of relatively expensive wool. Even so, by 1850 the United States was weaving more than 8 million square yards of carpets and rugs per year. When the carpet industry adopted power looms in the 1870s and developed less costly materials from which to construct their carpets, production really took off, quickly growing from 20 million square yards in 1870 to 83 million square yards in 1923.
Decline of the industry (1920s to 1950s)
Despite this growth and relatively steady demand, the U.S. carpet industry was not really able to compete with imports from the U.K., which led to a steady decline of the industry in the U.S. from 1920 to 1950.
The resurgence of the U.S. carpet industry
In the 1950s, the U.S. carpet industry, like many domestic industries, saw a great boom in production and demand. In the years following World War II, U.S. citizens had unprecedented wealth, opportunity and buying power.
Carpet mills in South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi and Georgia saw massive growth and investment in the early 1950s. New budget-friendly forms of carpeting were created using synthetic materials, as were new luxury forms of carpet, providing carpet choices for every budget. Today, 45 percent of all of the carpet produced worldwide is produced in the southern U.S.
The carpet industry today
Carpet is still a crucial part of everyday life here in America, as it has long been the most popular flooring choice nationwide—but it’s undoubtedly true that the industry has slowed down from its initial boom. Expensive labor costs have led to labor shortages and greater automation, which has also facilitated a lot of consolidation in the industry. Now there are just a few very large carpeting firms, rather than a number of medium-sized and thriving companies. Despite all the challenges of the modern age, the U.S. carpet industry is still the leading provider of carpeting worldwide, and carpeting firms still serve a vital role as major employers in their communities.
Carpet has been making home life more pleasant for generations. When you get new carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ, it’s not all that different from the carpeting that was being installed here in the Northeast in the 1800s. And why should it be? You know you’ve got a great product when it stands the test of time. Give us a call here at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center if you’re in the market for carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ, and for all your flooring needs. We’ve been in business since 1948, so we really know the carpet industry inside and out.