Floor Talk!

Smart, regular care and upkeep will keep your area rugs looking great, and your home looking as beautiful, stylish and unique as ever. Check out the following advice and be a little smarter about smart and stylish, colorful and captivating, area rugs.

• You should vacuum or sweep your rug as you would wall-to-wall carpeting.
  Be careful that the fringes don’t get pulled or sucked in by the vacuum cleaner.

• Rotate your rug 180 degrees every few months, or every year, depending on traffic patterns.
  Rotation is necessary for two reasons. First, all parts of your rug should be exposed to light equally so that the
  colors fade evenly. When colors are exposed to the sun evenly, they become harmonious and the rug ages nicely, but if
  different parts of the rug receive unequal amounts of sun exposure, over time, one side might look over faded and one side
  too bright. Second, is traffic. All parts of the rug should be exposed to an equal amount of traffic so that the pile wears evenly.

• A water spill should be dried immediately with a hairdryer set on a warm temperature.

• Try to dry both sides of your rug if possible.

• In case of a soft drink or alcohol spill, apply salt or baking soda to the spot for a few minutes to absorb the color of the drink.

• Then vacuum off the salt or baking soda. After vacuuming, use a wet towel to gently wipe the stain in the direction of the nap
  (the direction the pile faces).

• You can wet the towel with regular or carbonated water. Be gentle; For old stains,
  take the rug to a professional handmade rug retailer.




• Have your rug washed by a professional every 2 to 5 years depending on the amount of traffic on the rug.
  It is important to have it washed professionally because, as the rug is used, dust, dirt and broken fiber get into the foundation.
  Professionals dust the rug with special equipment to get all of these elements out of the foundation before washing the rug.
  Then, they usually wash the rug by hand using natural soap. They will also make sure the rug is dried from the surface to the
  foundation before it is used again. Most handmade rug dealers and retailers offer appropriate cleaning services.

• Consult with your retailer about the proper padding to be placed under your rug.
  Padding is an important element and will both stabilize and protect your rug. Good padding also makes it safer to walk on your
  rug and will protect its value and appearance.

• If the rug is to be stored for a long time in a place without exposure to light or
  air, first vacuum or broom it.
  Then use mothballs (sometimes tobacco is also used) in order to protect it against
  insect damage. It is best to put the mothballs in the middle of the rug and roll the rug reasonably tight against its nap (against the
  direction the pile faces) so that it looks like a cylinder. Then store the rug in a dry location.

  
  

• When considering repairing a rug, factor in the cost of repair in comparison to the value of the rug.
  Repairing a handmade rug, similar to weaving, is very time consuming and labor intensive; as a result, repair can sometimes be costly.
  Sometimes, it is better if collectible items remain in their original state and not be repaired because their value might actually decrease by any change, even if the change appears good. Getting the opinion of a professional is always a good idea.
  Most reputable handmade rug retailers offer you repair services.

Don’ts

• Don’t avoid walking on your area rugs! Avoiding walking on your new area rug is like keeping a new car locked up in the garage undriven. With usage, as the top layers of pile (in most cases wool) break, the pile looks shinier and smoother, and with light exposure the colors look more harmonious. In fact, with proper use, handmade rugs generally become more valuable.

• A water spill should be dried immediately with a hairdryer set on a warm temperature.

• Do not scrub your area rug. You can wet the towel with regular or carbonated water. Be gentle;

• Do not try to clean old stains yourself. For old stains, take the rug to a professional handmade rug retailer.

• Do not take your rug to general carpet-cleaning companies because the techniques and chemicals they use for wall-to-wall carpets may not be appropriate for handmade rugs.

One of the greatest benefits of laminate flooring is that it requires so little care, upkeep and maintenance. The very best laminate floors feature special “wear layers” that prevent scratches, dents, dings and fading from exposure to sunlight. So they are perfect for busy families and high-traffic living spaces.

Although laminate floors are extremely durable, they are not indestructible. Keeping these tips in mind will ensure your laminate floor will look newer, longer.

Take this true/false quiz to test your knowledge on laminate maintenance!

1. Doormats are needed only at the front door.

False. Place doormats or walk-off mats at each entryway to collect excessive moisture and dirt. Place doormats or walk-off mats at each entryway to collect excessive moisture and dirt.

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Do your children spend time playing on the floor? Do your children put toys in their mouths that have been on the floor? Have you ever thought about the toxins in your floor cleaners?

Some cleaners may contain toxic ingredients that are not listed because they are proprietary or trade secrets. Often it’s not only the contents of the cleaner, but the odors and fumes that the cleaner gives off.

Warning labels on containers refer only to toxic hazards from ingestion; however, only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by ingestion. 90% are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of particles.

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Flooring, no matter how new or beautiful, is meant to be walked upon. Vinyl flooring is no exception. Time and the onslaught of foot traffic will most certainly take its toll. But take heart, keeping your vinyl flooring as beautiful and inviting as the day it was installed just requires a little knowledge. So, check out the following advice and be a little smarter about smart and stylish vinyl flooring.

New vinyl floors are extremely durable and long lasting, but like any floor covering they still need regular maintenance to stay looking like new. Follow these general guidelines for vinyl flooring. For more detailed information always refer to the manufacturer’s written floor care procedures. You can’t avoid wear on your vinyl flooring, but knowing how to care for and maintain it can keep you floor in beautiful condition and make it a source of pride for years to come.

• For the first 24 hours after your new vinyl floor is installed, protect all the seamed areas. Also, don’t walk on the seam sealer. The seams in the floor need time to set properly.
• Keep the room at 68° F or greater for at least 2 days after installation. This allows the adhesives to setup properly.
• Do not roll heavy objects directly on to a newly installed vinyl floor for at least 5 days. This can cause the vinyl and adhesive to become compressed, and once the adhesive sets up any compressed marks will become permanent.

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New carpeting can be elaborate and elegant, cool and contemporary or tasteful and traditional. It’s one of America’s most popular floor covering choices, enhances virtually any room and it can add value to your residence. Keeping that feeling, and your carpet in beautiful condition, is a challenge if you don’t know the proper steps of maintenance. And that’s why we created this section. We want you to know that, with the care guidelines below, your new carpet can stay attractive for many years, and many bare-foot crossings, to come.

DO’s

• Place walk-off mats wherever there are entrances to your home from high-soil areas like backyards, garages and so on. A few dollars invested in these mats can prevent a lot of dirt and grime from being tracked across your beautiful new carpet.
• Buy a quality vacuum and use it regularly. There have been significant improvements to vacuum cleaners in the past few years, making them easier to use, and better at doing their job. They’ve gotten lighter in weight, stronger in suction and loaded with convenience features. A good vacuum cleaner can be your carpet’s best friend so vacuum as often as you want! Thorough vacuuming removes loose dirt and dust from the fibers. Over time these particles dull your carpet’s appearance; frequent vacuuming maintains the beauty of your floor covering and extends its life.
  

• Use a machine with a good beater bar and maximum suction. High traffic areas may need more vacuuming more often. Also, get attached to using the cleaner’s attachments. They make it easier to clean the tight spots – along walls and up and down the stairs. Be sure to set your vacuum settings to the proper carpet height.

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