Carpet can be a big investment, but with good maintenance, a good-quality carpet should last 7 to 20 years. When you get new carpet, purchase a firm cushion to go underneath. The foam cushion will absorb shock and help your carpet last longer. Keep your carpet clean by vacuuming once or twice weekly. The dirt that gets into your carpet is gritty and acts like sandpaper under the fibers. Upright vacuum cleaners have traditionally been the best for carpets, canister vacuums for smooth floors. But manufacturers are now producing hybrids--such as uprights whose attachments allow them to be used like canister vacuums (figure A). Similarly, many canisters now have power brushes that allow them to be used as uprights. When you're in the market for a vacuum cleaner, select one that provides good suction and has at least a 12-amp motor. If a dark liquid spills on your carpet, blot it up quickly before it produces a stain. Don't scrub the stain: you'll only work the liquid deeper into the fibers. Start at the outside of the stain and work inward to prevent the stain from spreading. To clean dry stains, spray the area with carpet cleaner and allow it to soak for 3 minutes. Then blot the area with a white cloth, and rinse the cloth often. Don't use a colored cloth, which could bleed into your carpet. After the area dries, vacuum it to remove residue. To repair small burns, vacuum the area first to remove any loose ash. Then separate fused carpet fibers with a sharp knife (figure B), pulling up through the fibers. After you've separated the fibers, pull them up with tweezers, and clip off the burnt ends with cuticle scissors (figure C). If candle wax drips onto the surface of your carpet, you may be able to break it off. Place several ice cubes in a plastic bag, and seal the bag tightly. Lay the bag on the wax, and leave it in place for 5 minutes to harden the wax. Remove the bag, and try to break off as much hardened wax as possible. Clean any remaining wax by placing a brown paper bag over the area and heating it with an iron. The paper will absorb the melted wax.
RESOURCES :
Ruth Katz, Home Service Expert
| 
)
)
)
