Indoor/outdoor carpet is used primarily on concrete subfloors or decking. Over the years, manufacturers have developed more colors and textures for consumers to choose from. The most common indoor/outdoor carpet, which people often call Astroturf (figure A), is a good choice around pools or on boats. Newer indoor/outdoor carpet styles have a lower nap and are more fashionable (figure B). The carpet is thin and has a marine backing so that it can be contoured to the surfaces it covers. It is also much denser than traditional indoor/outdoor carpet and lasts a lot longer. When applying indoor/outdoor carpet, use an outdoor adhesive applied with a notched trowel as recommended by the manufacturer. When you install, the outside temperature should be within the range specified on the container. To clean the carpet, simply sweep or vacuum as you would most other carpets. For deeper cleaning, scrub the carpet with a household cleaner, and rinse with a garden hose. Most indoor/outdoor carpet is mildew-resistant, but mold can still grow on it. To remove mold, wash the carpet with chlorine bleach and water. Test the carpet in an inconspicuous area before using bleach. Synthetic Berber carpets are made of the same material as many outdoor carpets. Although Berber carpets can't be used outdoors, they may be used on screened-in porches as long as they aren't glued in place and no standing water remains on them.
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