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.
Carpeting is a versatile and cozy floor covering—but once the weather gets wet and rainy, you’re more likely to experience carpet mold. Do you know the common mold warning signs? The sooner you find the problem, the easier it will be to take care of the problem.
Mold grows quickly, and you might not notice it unless you know what to look for. Some homeowners are dismayed to find out that their carpets are beyond saving. That’s why it’s so important to perform regular inspections throughout your home.
Here’s a closer look at some of the major warning signs that your carpet has mold:
Damp carpet: Mold doesn’t need much to grow. The spores float through the air. When it meets water and a food source (e.g., wood, carpeting, drywall, etc.), mold can develop and grow rapidly. If your carpet is damp for more than a day, you may discover mold underneath. Do your best to blot up water, and dry the carpet as fast as possible. If a certain area of your carpet is constantly damp, you may have a leak. Try to address that before the water damage and mold spread throughout your home.
Musty odor: If a room smells musty and moldy, there’s a good chance that mold is lurking in your carpet. Unfortunately, the more time you spend at home, the less likely you are to notice the smell. Pay attention if a visitor tells you that there’s a musty odor, and investigate to see whether you notice any other signs of carpet mold.
Discoloration: Whether water or the mold itself, discoloration and stains on your carpet can indicate that you have a mold infestation. Keep an eye on your carpet, and look for any new or unusual stains. Not only will you stay on top of any potential mold problem, but you’ll also be able to blot up and treat any stains you discover.
Unexplained allergies: If your allergies are sensitive to mold, pay attention. Unexplained allergy symptoms can indicate that mold is growing somewhere in your home. While it could just be an unusual amount of pollen or dust coming in from outside, there’s a good chance that you have a mold infestation somewhere, especially if you notice any of the other signs.
Mold testing kits: Finally, a positive result from a home mold testing kit can indicate an issue. It doesn’t always mean the mold is growing in your carpet, of course. Mold can grow anywhere it’s damp, such as under your sinks and in your bathrooms. If you get a positive result, it’s worth investigating your home’s carpeted areas to see if there are other signs of mold growth.
Carpet mold is a health hazard, as well as just plain unpleasant to deal with. To ensure your carpeting stays clean, pristine and allergen-free, reach out to the team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today to schedule a service appointment. We’ll help you clean and restore your carpets to like-new condition.
Carpet is a fantastic flooring choice for nearly any home. However, it does have one major flaw: it can become stained rather easily. The good news is that most stains can be lifted without a professional’s help—you just need to know the proper steps for removal. This post will cover how to remove oil from carpet in South Amboy, NJ.
Removing cooking oil stains
Just because your kitchen doesn’t have carpeting doesn’t necessarily mean that a cooking oil stain can’t occur elsewhere in the house. Follow these steps to remove cooking oil if it spills:
Blot with a paper towel: First, grab a dry paper towel and blot the stain until no more oil appears on the paper towel.
Apply rubbing alcohol: Take a clean washcloth and apply a little bit of rubbing alcohol to the stain. Be sure to blot the stain with the alcohol instead of wiping, as wiping can spread it to other areas.
Mix water and dishwashing liquid: A solution of one quart of water and a quarter teaspoon of dishwashing soap will be your heavy-duty cleaner for this mess. Just be sure that the dishwashing soap doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin—these chemicals will ruin the carpet.
Blot with a sponge: Soak up some of your cleaning solution on a sponge and blot it directly on the remaining stain. Continue blotting the carpet until the stain is no longer visible.
Removing motor oil stains
Another common type of oil spill involves motor oil. Although it’s a bit more time consuming, the answer to the question of whether oil can be removed from carpet in South Amboy, NJ is still “yes.” Here are the steps to take if motor oil spills on your carpet:
Scrape off excess oil: Using a butter knife, try to scrape off as much excess oil as you can from the carpet. Just don’t press too hard, because you don’t want to rub it in.
Sprinkle baking soda: Your next step in how to remove oil from carpet in South Amboy, NJ is to sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on the stain. After applying the baking soda, wait 15 minutes and vacuum the area.
Use dry-cleaning solvent: Place a few drops of dry-cleaning solvent on a clean cloth and apply it directly to the stain.
Mix a solution: If the dry-cleaning product doesn’t eliminate the stain, you’ll need to mix up a homemade solution. Two cups of warm water mixed with one tablespoon of white vinegar and one tablespoon of liquid dish soap may do the trick.
Apply and rinse: Use a sponge and work the solution onto the stain. Once you’re done, rinse the area with cold water and let it dry.
Hire our pros to remove all stains!
With a little hard work, the answer to the question, “Can oil be removed from carpet in South Amboy, NJ?” is an emphatic “yes!” If your carpet needs some professional help after you’ve worked on the stain, call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center! Our team performs both full carpet cleaning and spot cleaning to ensure your carpeting looks as good as new.
From stains to tears, carpeting can run into a lot of trouble over the years. Another danger homeowners can encounter with their carpet is color loss. Although color loss is often caused by chemicals, it can also occur naturally over time. This post will cover everything you need to know about natural carpet color loss in South Amboy, NJ:
Sun fading: The most common type of natural color loss is caused by the sun. Over time, carpeting near windows will begin to fade due to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sun fading can also occur with upholstered furniture placed near windows. In drastic cases, carpeting near southwest-facing windows can begin to lose its color in as little as six months. For this reason, it’s important to consider your flooring options near the windows in your home.
Fume fading: Carpet can also naturally lose its color due to fume fading. This occurs when pollutants in the air react with dyes in the carpeting. Fume fading often occurs in areas with high levels of car exhaust, like in a big city. But this kind of natural carpet color loss in South Amboy, NJ can also be the result of fumes from pools or spas. If you have an indoor hot tub or pool, we don’t advise installing carpeting.
What can be done to prevent color loss?
So, can carpet naturally lose its color in South Amboy, NJ? Yes, it can. Luckily, color loss is easier to prevent than you might think! Here’s how you can prevent both natural and chemical color loss:
Close the curtains: Besides not installing carpeting near windows, the only way to prevent sun fading is by keeping your curtains or blinds closed. If you really want to allow some natural light in, consider installing window film on your windows. Protective window treatments block UV rays from penetrating the glass, and they’re hardly noticeable if they’re installed correctly.
Invest in fade-resistant carpeting: There isn’t much that can be done once your carpeting starts to fade—you’ll have to remove and replace it with new flooring. If you’re still interested in carpet, consider buying fade-resistant carpeting. As the name implies, fade-resistant carpets will last longer before they begin to fade or become discolored. Although this type of carpet may cost a bit more, it’s worth the investment.
Watch how you clean it: Carpets can also fade or become discolored due to chemicals, mainly those found in some types of cleaners. Using a powerful carpet cleaner with the wrong pH value can permanently fade the carpeting, which is why you should avoid cleaning your carpet by yourself. Bringing in the pros to tackle heavy-duty cleaning ensures a sparkling-clean carpet that’s not going to become faded.
On top of knowing the answer to whether carpet can naturally lose its color in South Amboy, NJ, our team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center can help prevent it. We only install the highest-quality carpeting, and we use the right cleaning agents to prevent chemical color loss. Reach out to us to learn more about our products and services!
There’s nothing quite like a clean, plush carpet underneath your bare feet. Carpets are lovely, whether they’re saving you from cold toes on a chilly winter morning or improving your comfort on a warm summer evening. Once they’re installed in your home, you may never want to get rid of your carpets. Of course, that begs the question: what is the average lifespan of carpet in South Amboy, NJ?
About three to five years (sort of)
Under ideal circumstances—that is, in a family of three with no pets and no smokers—a well-installed carpet should last around three to five years. Over that period of time, it’s fairly certain that one or two spills will have transformed into permanent stains, or that someone will unknowingly track dirt or mud through the house.
Even if you manage to avoid accidents on the rug, the day-in, day-out act of walking across your carpet will wear it down. Eventually, your carpet fibers will fall out, exposing the bottom layer of the carpet and leaving the surface uneven and unpleasant to look at, let alone walk on.
The real truth
That’s the best-case scenario. Want to add a family cat? You’ll also put your carpet at risk of being used as a scratcher. Want a dog? If they don’t come potty-trained, your carpet will feel the pain for the first few months. New babies are tons of fun, but they also have little to no regard for the state of your floors.
For every new family member you add, you can subtract a few months of use from your carpets and rugs. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your carpet in South Amboy, NJ.
Vacuum regularly
At a minimum, you should be vacuuming your carpets at least once a week. If you have several pets or a large family (or both), you should be vacuuming two to three times a week.
Failing to keep up with this cleaning and maintenance could substantially reduce the life of your carpet. What’s more, your carpet could begin to collect dust and germs that exacerbate allergies and pose a threat to those with compromised immune systems.
Call in a pro
The single best thing you can do to extend the life of your carpets and keep them looking fantastic is to schedule a regular carpet cleaning. In our little corner of New Jersey, that means calling in Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We’ll work hard to extend the lifespan of your carpet in South Amboy, NJ.
Since we opened our doors all the way back in 1948, Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center has dedicated our team to making sure that all of our valued clients are satisfied from beginning to end. We offer a wide variety of services, including carpet installation, carpet cleaning, area rug cleaning, hardwood waxing and so much more. Even better, we’ll clean your carpets with state-of-the-art equipment that will reduce your discomfort all around.
Give us a call today to schedule your free estimate. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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