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Topics: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Laminate Floors, Oriental and Area Rugs, Vinyl Floors, Wood Floors
Care and Maintenance of Carpet
Proper maintenance of your carpet will extend its lifespan and help it to keep its fresh appearance. You should vacuum often and tend to stains and spills immediately. Should a stain happen, Alexanian's has a spot lifter product that is excellent at removing carpet stains.
Most of today's carpet is treated with special finishes to resist soil and stains. However, no carpet is entirely stainproof. Stain-resistant finishes hold the spill on the fibre's surface, giving you some time to absorb the liquid using the correct spot removal technique. It is important to act quickly before the spill has a chance to penetrate the fibres. The longer you leave the spill unattended, the more difficult it will be to remove.
Spill procedure: don't panic!
The following is a useful procedure for spills. First, quickly blot up excess liquid with a towel. Be sure not to rub! For water based spills, use a mild, bleach-free detergent diluted with water. Apply using a clean cloth, and always work from the edge of the spot to the center. Rinse the area with water mixed with a small amount of white vinegar. Blot and allow to dry completely. A hair-dryer on medium setting will speed drying. Spills that are oil-based are a little more difficult to deal with and may require a solvent based cleaning agent. We recommend you contact a professional rug cleaner immediately.
Care and Maintenance of Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile requires very little maintenance. The tile surface is non-porous, very durable and highly stain-resistant. Normally all that is ever required is damp sponge mopping, using a small amount of soapless detergent in warm water. If you ever need to use a stronger cleaner make sure it is neutral i.e. non-acidic and non-alkaline.
For soiled areas you can use an all-purpose household cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for ceramic tile.
A few important things to keep in mind:
Don't use soap on tile because it leaves a film which dulls the surface.
Do not use use steel wool pads or similar abrasive cleaning pads. Loose particles of steel can cause rust stains in grout.
Acid based cleaners can affect the colour of the grout and can cause marble tiles to dull. You should not use vinegar and water for example. Vinegar is an acid.
Care and Maintenance of Laminate Floors
Generally all that is required for laminate floors is vacuuming, dust mopping, and occasionally a damp towel. Consult the manufacturer's recommended cleaning procedures for further details. Some manufacturers offer special cleaning and touch-up solutions.
There is also a technique for replacing severely damaged boards. Check the manufacturer's guidelines for the precise way of doing this. It usually requires saved boards from the original installation. If you do not know the manufacturers, Alexanian's can recommend an installer who may be able to help.
Care and Maintenance of Oriental and Area Rugs
Oriental rugs produced from wool are fairly easy and economical to maintain. Wool is very resilient, cleans well, and actually seems to stay clean for a long time. For area rugs made from man-made fibres, the procedure is similar with some manufacturers having special cleaning instructions.
Regular care
Vacuum oriental rugs regularly to prevent dirt and grit from sifting into the roots of the fibres. This is where harsh damage can occur. Flip the rug over and vacuum the back side as well. Smaller rugs can also be hung up outside and beaten carefully to loosen collected soil. Always be careful vacuuming the fringe area. Damage to fringes can reduce the value of a rug and can be costly to replace. The use of top quality padding under your Oriental carpet is also recommended to provide protection from dirt, wear and slippage.
Professional cleaning
Depending on the amount of traffic, a professional cleaning is recommended every three to six years. Always use an experienced professional cleaning service that specializes in handmade oriental rugs like our own Alexanian Carpet & Rug Cleaning.
Spills - don't panic!
All rugs eventually fall victim to a spill. Do not panic. Here is where speed is important, which means if you are reading this to address a recent spill....it may be too late. Immediate attention can make a great deal of difference to the seriousness of a stain.
The following is a useful procedure for spills. First, quickly blot up excess liquid with a towel. Be sure not to rub! For water based spills, use a mild, bleach-free detergent diluted with water. Apply using a clean cloth and always work from the edge of the spot to the center. Rinse with water mixed with a small amount of white vinegar. Blot and allow to dry completely. A hair-dryer on medium setting will speed drying, or try elevating the rug to allow air underneath. Spills that are oil-based are a little more difficult to deal with and may require a solvent based cleaning agent. We recommend you contact a professional rug cleaner immediately.
Spots or stains
For existing stains, Alexanian's has a spot lifter product that works great on most common carpet stains. It is available at any Alexanian Carpet store. For spot removal it is a good idea to try any cleaning solution being used on a small, obscure part of the carpet to check for colour fastness.
Tears, Holes, or Worn spots
Physical damage like tears, holes and worn spots can often be repaired by a skilled professional rug repairer. This type of damage should be repaired promptly before further damage can occur. Ragged fringes or loose binding can also be repaired. Alexanian's can recommend a reliable repair service in your area.
Care and Maintenance of Vinyl Floors
For general care just sweep or damp mop the floor as required. Any spills should be damp mopped immediately. Ground-in dirt should also be damp mopped and if necessary an appropriate mild cleaning solution can be used.
Do not use soap because it will leave a film that will make the floor appear dull.
Consult the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations whenever possible. Many manufacturers have special cleaning solutions for their floors.
Other important care considerations:
Support furniture with wide-bearing non-staining floor protectors.
Place door mats outside of each entrance to your home to help prevent dirt, sand, oil, driveway sealer, and other substances from being tracked in onto your new floor. - Do not use rubber backed mats or cocofibre mats because they may damage the surface of your floor.
When moving heavy furniture or appliances, always use some type of plywood, underpad, or hard board to help prevent the floor from being cut, torn, or gouged.
Care and Maintenance of Wood Floors
Because of the many different finishes on wood floors today, it is important to know the manufacturer and follow their recommended cleaning procedures. However, if the manufacturer is not known, then the following are some general cleaning tips.
For waxed floors:
Keep grit off the floor, dust mop or vacuum regularly and keep door mats clean. Wipe up spills promptly with a dry cloth or dry paper towel. Use a slightly dampened cloth for sticky spills and buff with a dry cloth to restore luster. When areas of heavy use no longer respond to buffing, wax only those areas and buff all the floor to an even luster. Your floor should only need to be completely rewaxed once or twice a year depending on traffic.
For surface finishes, including urethanes:
Keep grit off the floor, dust mop or vacuum regularly and keep door mats clean. Wipe up spills promptly with a dry cloth. Use a slightly dampened cloth for sticky spills. For general cleaning, there are good generic wood floor cleaning products available. Do not use a soap based cleaning solution or excessive water. When the original floor luster does not return after cleaning, the floor may require recoating. Do not wax a surface finish because the floor coating characteristic could be compromised.
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