You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge carpeting by the way it looks at face value, either. Selecting quality carpeting takes some time and skill. However, if you take the carpet selection process seriously, you’ll avoid having to replace it quickly after installing it or hating the way it deteriorates soon after you’ve bought it.
How to select quality carpeting
Select carpeting based on more factors than just the type of fiber that composes it. If you’re choosing carpeting with quality in mind, you’ll want to look at the carpet’s style and weight. Evaluating all of these elements will allow you to choose high-quality carpeting that is a cut above the rest for your budget.
When you’re choosing quality carpeting, you’ll want to consider how much you’re willing to spend on the carpeting. If the sky is the limit for your spending, then you can be picky about what type of carpeting you choose. You’ll have to balance quality with practicality if you’re on a strict budget.
What type of carpet is the most durable?
With five types of fibers traditionally used in carpet, some are more durable than others. Ultimately, wool and nylon tend to be more durable than the others. Still, that doesn’t mean that the other types of carpet aren’t decently durable, depending on how they are used.
At the top of the list, wool is a luxurious type of carpet that tops the rest with softness, durability, and resistance to staining. Since wool is so sought after and amazing, it tends to run for a pretty penny. Priced between fifty bucks and $100 per square yard, wool carpeting is only sold to the select few homeowners who can splurge on it.
For those who want durable carpeting but can’t justify spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on carpeting their home, nylon carpeting is a fantastic alternative. Since nylon is also durable and very soft, you won’t miss out on any of the features of wool that make it so desirable.
Usually, nylon rings in at $18-$35 per square yard in price, which makes it significantly more affordable than wool. At about half the cost of wool, it’s more accessible to the masses. Since nylon resists stains, soil, fading, and damage, it’s a great investment for a carpet material. Nylon is the choice of over half of carpet consumers for good reason.
Modern nylon manufacturing sometimes increases the material’s resistance to stains and wear. Some nylon brands also include carbon-composite nylon filaments that they spin into the nylon strands to lower the instance of shocking carpet traffic.
Of course, if you opt for these new-and-improved nylon options, you may end up spending as much as you would if you were opting for opulent wool carpeting. Still, if you have the budget for it, it’s worth checking out these high-quality, improved choices.
Shag carpets used to be a thing of the ’60s and ’70s. Back in the day, they came in many unique colors and thicknesses. Due to the overall thickness of the carpet, shag was known for being harder to care for. It has always been a lot harder to vacuum and have cleaned. Shag carpeting has made a comeback in more recent times, and it’s important to know how to care for thicker carpeting. Here are a few tips and guidelines that can help you keep your shag carpeting looking nicer and stay cleaner.
Vacuuming Is Very Important for all Carpeting, Especially Shag
Regular vacuuming for most carpeting is very important. This is especially true for shag carpeting. Dirt particles, human and pet hair, and all sorts of other debris can get down into the base of your carpet. Dirt and other particles can wear against your carpet fibers, leaving them looking worn out and dingy. They can especially get trapped in thicker, shag carpet.
It’s important to vacuum often and thoroughly with shag carpeting. Going slower than you would with a normal, shorter to medium-length carpet is essential. You may want to move along a north and south path, and re-vacuum it, going in an east and west path.
Purchase a Carpet Rake for Shag Carpeting
A solid carpet rake is a valuable tool to help keep your shag carpeting in top condition. There are numerous types of carpet rakes to choose from. A typical carpet rake may have nylon fibers and be used for fluffing up your shag carpeting. This can help it look less matted and fluffier in appearance. It will also loosen up debris, making it easier to vacuum when it’s time to do that.
Other kinds of carpet rakes deal with pet hair more specifically. These rakes look somewhat like oversized pet brushes with long handles. Ensure that the rake head is clean after each use, as they will collect pet hair and other debris.
Carpet Brushes
Hand-held carpet brushes are great for light cleaning and can keep shag carpet and rugs looking much nicer. You should first vacuum to loosen the dirt. Next, mix a little dishwashing liquid and water in a bucket and dip in the brush so it is damp but not dripping water.
Clean small areas at a time with the brush, working the liquid into the stains and dirty spots. You can vacuum up any excess water with a shop vac. If the shag rug or carpets have numerous spots or dirty areas, the process may take a bit of time.
Using these tips on your shag rugs or shag carpeting will help keep them looking better and extend life. You can easily make shag carpet improvements with a few little tricks and extra effort to keep them looking their best.
Getting your carpet cleaned regularly is highly recommended. However, not all carpet cleaners provide the same quality of service. If you paid for a cheap cleaning service, you may end up with a partially clean — and also still wet — carpet.
Wet carpets could also be the byproducts of issues in and around your home. A burst pipe in your basement may have flooded the floor. By the time you notice the flooding, the carpet is already soaked.
Wet carpet can be a real issue. In this article, we’ll provide you with tips you can use to quickly dry out your carpet so you can start using it again.
Why Is Wet Carpet Bad for Your Household?
Before we enumerate the different wet carpet fixes, we first wanted to highlight why having wet or damp carpet inside your home is far from ideal.
The main reason why a wet carpet is problematic is that it’s a prime breeding area for mold. Fail to notice the moist carpet in time, and it may end up covered by so many layers of mold that you won’t be able to use it anymore. You could lose your carpet because of the mold infestation. At the very least, you may need the help of wet carpet repair companies.
Furthermore, a wet carpet can make your home uncomfortable. Stepping on a moist carpet is unpleasant, and it also produces an odor that can weigh heavily on your nostrils.
Wet carpets don’t belong in your household so get rid of them by following the tips detailed in the next section.
Tip #1: Eliminate the Source of Moisture
Is your carpet moist because your floor is flooded? In that case, your focus should be on stopping the flooding first.
Patch up the burst pipe causing the flooding ASAP so you can stop moisture from seeping into your carpet. If the pipe cannot be repaired easily, you may have to consider turning off your water main until a plumber arrives.
Tip #2: Finish the Cleaner’s Job Using a Wet Vacuum
It’s frustrating to receive a wet carpet after you paid to have it cleaned. Still, you cannot stew in that frustration too long because your carpet needs to be vacuumed.
To be more specific, you need to use a wet vacuum to thoroughly extract moisture from the carpet. You can rent that wet vacuum if you don’t want to splurge on a new appliance.
Tip #3: Use Fans and Dehumidifiers for Carpet Drying
Fans and dehumidifiers can help dry your carpet. Simply point the fan or dehumidifier at the wet carpet and let it run for a while. Remember to place the fan or dehumidifier on dry, level ground so you don’t have any accidents.
Tip #4: Open Your Windows
Improving airflow is very helpful if you’re trying to dry your carpet. With that in mind, you should keep your windows open for as long as possible so the carpet is exposed to plenty of air.
Tip #5: Cover Your Carpet with Baking Soda
Lastly, you can also use baking soda to extract moisture from your carpet. Sprinkle a heaping amount of baking soda on your carpet and let it stay there for 30 minutes or so.
After 30 minutes, you can vacuum the baking soda and also remove excess moisture in the process.
Don’t allow any wet carpet to get settled inside your household. Follow the tips in this article to effectively dry your carpet and make it usable again.
Wondering if there is a way to deodorize carpet? There are several simple tricks and techniques that can freshen up dirty, smelly carpet.
Read on to learn how to deodorize a carpet, so you can say goodbye to bad odors for good.
Enzyme cleaner
An enzyme cleaner is one of the most effective ways to remove bad smells from your carpet, especially if you live with pets. Pet accidents on carpet smell—no matter how diligent you are at cleaning them up. If pet accidents have taken a toll on your carpet, use an enzyme cleaner to get rid of them. This powerful cleaning product uses enzymes to encourage bacteria to feed on organic matter (like pet accidents) to fully remove them from carpet. You can find an affordable enzyme cleaner at your nearest home improvement store or online.
Vinegar
When it comes to learning how to deodorize a carpet, remember that there could be many possible sources that are causing the smell. If you’re dealing with musty odors, your carpet likely contains mildew. Instead of using harsh chemicals, simply use vinegar to remove the mildew and the smells that go along with it. Combine 2 cups of warm water and 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle, and give the entire carpet a good spray. The vinegar scent neutralizes as it dries, taking the mildew smell away in the process.
Baking soda
Baking soda has so many uses around the house, and it’s a powerful odor absorber that you can use on your carpets. It’s usually effective at removing both subtle and strong smells. Sprinkle baking soda over the entire carpet; leave it on the floor for several hours, and let it soak up the scents. Simply vacuum up the baking soda after it’s done its job, and enjoy a better-smelling carpet.
You could also use baking soda in conjunction with other products to maximize its effectiveness. The combination of baking soda and essential oils adds a pleasant fragrance to the carpet as the baking soda removes the odors. You can also add borax to the mixture, which is especially effective if you suspect the smells coming from your carpets are due to mold.
Vodka
While vodka is primarily used for cocktails, it’s also a powerful stain remover. If you have spots on your carpet (like from pet stains), just spray vodka on the area. It should remove both the color of the stain and any accompanying odors. You should leave the vodka on the area for 15 minutes; then blot it out with paper towels. Add baking soda to the area to soak up the rest of the vodka; then vacuum it all away.
While there is a way to deodorize a carpet, a DIY job usually isn’t enough to completely remove bad odors. Instead of replacing your carpet entirely, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today. Our superior cleaning products and effective techniques get even the strongest smells out of your carpet, helping your entire home smell fresher and cleaner.
Want to keep your carpets looking fresh and clean? If you’re ready to invest in professional carpet cleaning to preserve the look and feel of your flooring, you should consider including carpet protectant application with the service.
Are carpet protectants worth it? Read on to learn about how carpet protectants work and why this affordable investment can protect your carpet for years to come.
How do carpet protectants work?
Carpet protectant is commonly known as Scotchgard. It can be used on carpet, upholstery and fabrics to keep stains and moisture from soaking into the fibers. It also keeps dirt and dust from soiling your flooring or upholstered surfaces. In short, it’s an invisible barrier that keeps your carpet fresh and clean.
Most carpets leave the mill with a protective coating already applied, but it does wear off over time. Investing in carpet protectant (generally every 18 to 24 months) will prolong the life of your flooring, saving you the expense of costly replacement. If there are any particularly high-traffic areas of your carpet, you should consider investing in more frequent applications since frequent foot traffic can wear down the protective barrier and leave your flooring vulnerable to spills and stains.
Carpet protectants are usually applied directly after a professional cleaning. Once your carpet cleaning technician has removed all traces of spills, dirt and grime from your carpeting, completely restoring it to its original appearance, they’ll apply the carpet protectant to create an impenetrable barrier that protects carpet fibers.
The benefits of carpet protectant
Now that you’ve learned how carpet protectants work, get to know some of the benefits that come with professional carpet protectant installation:
Protects both carpet and upholstery: Carpet protectant not only prevents stains from ruining carpet, but it also protects upholstered furniture, too. The invisible barrier prevents premature wear on a variety of fabric and textile surfaces throughout the house.
Preserves carpet’s fresh appearance: There’s nothing quite like a heavy-duty, professional carpet cleaning to restore freshness and cleanliness to your carpets. A quality carpet protectant preserves this just-cleaned look for years to come, keeping your carpets spotless well after your last cleaning.
Makes cleaning easier: The protective barrier created by carpet protectants keeps dirt and spills from penetrating into carpet or upholstery fibers. Spills can never make it through the surface of your carpet if you’ve invested in a quality protectant, making future cleanup much easier.
Saves you money: Most homeowners simply replace their carpet once it’s become dirty or spotted with spills. Instead of spending the money to replace your carpet completely, a good cleaning, followed by the application of a quality carpet protectant, can restore your floors and save you the cost of full replacement.
Carpet protectants are worth it when they’re applied by knowledgeable experts. Contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today to schedule your carpet protectant application. When you’re ready to transform the appearance of your flooring, we know what it takes to keep your carpet fresh and clean with professional-grade carpet protectant.
Fabric Protection Warranty Plan