Remember, dry soil is the enemy. Sand and gritty abrasive granular soil “cuts” carpet fiber. This causes wear, taking the luster out and leaving a dull appearance to your carpet. Use a good mat system before your outer doors to help keep soil outside. Vacuum those often.

Take your shoes off! You have heard this a thousand times, and it is 100% true. Shoes are the primary source of dirt getting into your home.

Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum – This removes dry soil, pet hair, food crumbs, and allergens.

Blot up spills quickly with absorbent materials such as terry cloth towels or paper towel. Call Duo-Care for spotting tips or to schedule an appointment.

Have your carpet cleaned annually by a professional company like Duo-Care.

Many models and brands are effective, but CFM (cubic feet per minute) is the key. This is what creates the actual suction. The better the vacuum is sealed, generally the better the CFM. Try to find a vacuum with HEPA filtration. That means it has a fine filter to keep dust and allergens trapped inside the vacuum instead of blowing them around your home. Make sure you set the beater bar to a proper height and keep the bag or canister from overfilling. You should be able to buy a very good vacuum for 200.00-400.00.

Vacuuming is the most important maintenance for carpeting. 90% of all soil is dry particulate soil. 80% of that soil can be removed with vacuuming! The IICRC recommends vacuuming every day, however 1 to 2 times a week is sufficient for most homes. So vacuum away, as much as you want!

There are 2 basic construction types of carpet: cut pile or loop.

• Cut pile examples: Plush, Twist, Frieze, Shag, or Saxony
• Loop style examples: Berber, Level loop, High-low loop

There are thousands of varieties of both types including blends. After choosing your color, style or pattern, the most important question to answer is what rooms or areas will these carpets be used in? Rooms that have less use such as bedrooms, or a library may need a less durable carpet. Family rooms, hallways and stairways will need a more durable carpet.

Fiber Types:

• Wool – Natural wool carpet is the benchmark of fine carpet, but it is very expensive and is more prone to staining than synthetic fibers.
• Synthetic (Man Made) – Nylon, Polyester, Olefin, and Acrylic. All of these fibers have pros and cons, however Nylon is the premier fiber of the synthetic family. Nylon accounts for 90% of carpet sales in the United States. Some of the advantages Nylon are:
  • It wears well
  • It cleans well
  • It is usually stain resistant (except acid dyes – red food colors and mustard)
  • It comes in many colors and styles
  • It is soft to the touch and comfortable

OK we have covered a lot. We don’t want you to be confused or feel this is too complicated, but your carpet is your 3rd largest purchase after your home and automobile.

One of the most important variables to consider is fiber density. The tighter and more compact the yarn is the better the carpet will wear. The more face yarn per square inch, the longer the carpet will hold its shape and traffic patterns will not be as pronounced. This is true for cut pile or loop style carpets.

The last thing to discuss is carpet padding or cushion. The same rule of density applies. There is a proper padding for every carpet application. Talk to your carpet retailer for more information.

 As professional cleaners, we recommend at least once a year. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification IICRC also recommends this. The carpet manufacturers and retailers require cleaning once a year to keep warranties up to date. Depending on your lifestyle: I.E. traffic, pets, children, entertaining etc. you may want to clean “high use” areas more frequently. Many Duo-Care customers have us in to clean 2-3 or more times a year. Remember this will not harm your carpet or upholstery as proper IICRC procedures are always used.