Antique type carpets help to add a touch of grandeur
and glamour to your home or office, speaking greatly
about your rich and extravagant tastes. Antique
carpets are beautiful home furnishings and solid
art investments. They aren't just decorative items,
but pieces of tradition, ethniticity, and true class
that dates back thousands of years.

Antique carpets represent enormous range in motifs
and color harmonies and you'll simply lose yourself
seeing the diverse combinations of rich antique
colors and heavy intricate weaving.

The diverse range of antique carpet pieces that you'll
encounter while shopping for them are mostly Oriental
carpets and rugs that portray the mystery and legend
of the far off lands of the Orient.

Antique carpets and rugs are imported mostly from China,
Persia, India, Afghanistan, Caucasus, and Turkey.
Some of the famous weaving areas of such antique carpets
include Kashan, Agra, and many other locations.

Antique carpets have a more artistic integrity, as
they are exclusively hand woven. They are sold all
over the world, with clients more than willing to pay
whatever they have to in order to redefine their home and
decorate in style.

If you are looking to add luster and glamour to your
home or office and are ready to spend a fortune on the
exquisite pieces of art, then you shouldnt wait a single
minute.

The first thing to do, is contact one of the several
reliable, knowledgeable, and genuine art dealers
and galleries who deal in antique carpets and
have profound knowledge about the various aspects
of a good and genuine antique carpet. They can
guide you in selecting the best one per your
budget and tastes.

You've got a bit of work to do as well. You should
visit a lot of dealers and educate yourself
about dyes, wools, design quality, and the many
styles of weaving as well. Touch the carpet and
scrutinize them carefully. Beware of the machine
made synthetic carpets that some dealers will
tell you are antique carpets.

Below, are some tips to help you when buying
antique carpet.
1. You have to remain careful and thoughtful
while analyzing each piece of antique carpet.
2. You'll also need to try and understand
the age and origin of the carpet that will in
turn give you a much better insight about the
overall quality of the carpet.
3. You'll also need to look and see if
the edge and borders are there in the antique
carpet you intend to buy, as the end and edge
borders are sometimes lost or even cut out on
purpose. Keep in mind that the borders will
determine the overall value of your carpet.
4. Keep an eye out for holes and moth
attacks that are both common when dealing with
antique carpets. These problems must be attended
to before you buy the carpet.
5. You should always deal with dealers who
have the prices marked on the carpet. See to it
that your dealer sticks to that price.

Natural fibers used with carpet are produced either
by insects, animals, or even plants. The fibers
that are produced by insects or animals are known as
protein fibers. Those that are made by plants are
known as vegetable fibers. Vegetable and protein
fibers share the common disadvantage that they are
both very absorbent and will have extended drying
times when wet cleaned - which can lead to mildew,
shrinkage, and even dry rot.

Wool
Wool fiber is produced from the fleece of lambs or
sheep. Wool of carpet is imported from countries
such as England, Australia, and New Zealand. Wool
is the oldest and considered to be the finest of
all carpet material.

The ability of wool to stretch up to 40% of its
original length and the fact that it can be bent
back and forth more than 180,000 times without
breaking makes it very resilient. Wool is the most
expensive material for carpet, although it is also
the best you can buy.

Silk
The fiber of silk is produced by the larva of
various insects known as silk worms. The silk, in
continuous lengths from 300 to 1600 yards is spun
to produce the cocoons. As a fiber, silk is naturally
non flammable, strong, and not affected by static
charge problems - even at low humidity.

Cellulose fiber
This type of fiber is produced by plants and normally
not used as face yarns. These types will however,
show up as backing materials of tufted as as well
as carpets that have been woven.

Cotton
Cotton is a vegetable seed fiber that is produced
from the cotton plant. The primary use for this
fiber is yarns woven in carpet or rugs. Cotton is
resistant to alkaline solutions and becomes stronger
when it is wet.

The biggest disadvantages to cotton is the fact
that is the most absorbent of all fibers and requires
extended drying times after being wet cleaned. It
is also easily damaged by acids, stains easily,
mats down, soils quickly, and is subject to mildew,
dry rot, and shrinkage.

Jute
The fiber of jute is produced by the jute plant
which grows in South America, Pakistan, and even in
India. The stalk of the jute plant is where the
longer coarse fibers are obtained, located between
the outer bark and within the inner pulp.

Jute is normally used as weft yarns, across the
width, in woven carpets and as a backing material
in the construction of tufted carpets. Jute is an
inexpensive material that also serves other uses
than just carpet. Like all other fibers, this one
has disadvantages as well. The fiber is weak when
it becomes wet and is also subject to dry rot,
shrinkage, and mildew.

Sisal
The fiber of sisal is produced by the leaves of the
agave plant. Sisal is very strong and primarily
used for making rugs, sacking, rope, and even
carpet. The fiber stains easily and is also very
difficult to clean. Wet cleaning can also cause
shrinkage so its best to use low moisture methods.

Rayon
There is quite a bit of confusion about rayon and
it is easy to understand why. Rayon is a
synthetic fiber that is produced from natural
cellulosic fibers of wood pulp or cotton. The
material is put through several chemical treatments
which help to turn it into a synthetic fiber.

Primarily, rayon is used for area rugs because of
its silk like appearance. It can be damaged by
acids, has low resistance to abrasion and is also
prone to cellulose browning.

Shopping for carpet is something that has never been
an easy task. To most people, it is more of a chore
than fun. For most people, shopping for carpet is
a dreaded experience that should be avoided at all
possible costs - although they aren't in this alone.

Once you realize that others feel the same way, its
time to go shopping. Frieze is an excellent choice
of carpet, one of the most popular types that you
can purchase even today. Frieze offers you a lot
of benefits without having to compromise anything.

The following are points that you'll want to consider
when you evaluate the durability of the carpet:
1. 75% twist
2. 15% fiber type
3. 10% density

Twist
The twist type of carpet has a spiral shape. It
is used via heat method that twists the yarn into
its permanent shape. The fibers can have up to
seven twists per yarn, as the more twists you have
the better. The result in the end is a rustic
knotted look that is very appealing.

Fiber type
Frieze carpets are normally made with high quality
nylon yarn. Nylon is one of the most popular
and most widely used fiber types for wall to wall
carpets.

Density
It is very interesting that several people use the
density of carpet as their primary factor in
judging quality.

As you may know, carpet can be too dense. The
denser a carpet is, the harder it will feel, as
the fibers are compacted. The fibers were meant
to wear on their sides rather than on the tops,
as they need their room to move.

To help you get a better idea of carpets and the
types that stand out, we'll take a look at several
of them below.

Gulistan
Gulistan is actually one of the top manufacturing
companies of frieze carpets. The company was a
trendsetter early on with innovate styles and a
very impressive selection of colors and easy
care. Even though the company is one of the
smallest in the world, it has proven it has what
it takes to compete, with it's high quality nylon
frieze that is popular even today.

Laura Ashley
The Laura Ashley company is a name that sports an
elegant English country look that continues to
grow and inspire. The company brings a lot to
the table, from impressive carpets to bed linens,
paint, and upholstery fabrics.

Beaulieu industries
This company licensed the Laura Ashley name and
premiered close to two dozen products, which
included a cool frieze carpet. The company has
been very successful with their carpets, managing
to compete for several years.

The bottom line
Anytime you shop for carpet, no matter what the
style may be, you should always know what you want
and how it will fit in with your home. Along with
frieze carpet, there are many other types such as
Berber, loops, high pile, and others that will add
quite a bit to your home. Your carpet is very
important, and therefore you shouldn't rush buying
it.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get
assistance from a professional, friend, or a member
of your family. Those that have experience with
carpet can be a great help when you purchase your
own, especially if you don't have a lot of
experience.

By getting help when you need it, researching, and
just taking your time, you'll have no problems at
all shopping for a carpet. Carpets can make or
break a home, which is why it is very important that
you know what you are buying before you make that
critical purchase.

The dry foam procedure is mostly rather than dry as
the name infers, although the content of moisture
is so low that it can actually be referred to as dry
foam (90% air - 10% liquid). The dry foam machine
is equipped with a pressure tank, which you will
pour a solution of water and shampoo into.

A compressor will work to convert the solution into
foam which is then dispensed all over the carpet
using a revolving cylindrical brush. The brush will
work to comb the foam through the piles of the
carpet so that each individual fiber of the carpet
is cleaned.

To achieve success, you must make sure that the
bubbles being produced are of uniformed size so the
foam can complete the cleaning process before it
is dispersed. Once it has dried, the carpet is
then thoroughly vacuumed to remove the dried crystals
of dirt that have been left behind.

Below, are the steps to the dry foam procedure:
1. First of all, vacuum the carpet and
remove all the stains that you possibly can.
2. Mix the dry foam solution according to
the directions of the manufacturer.
3. Shampoo the carpet then once it has dried,
vacuum the carpet.
4. Depending on the type of carpet you
have, groom the pile to speed the drying process.
5. Complete the work by using a furniture
leg pad or block to eliminate furniture stains
or rust.

Advantages
The process of dry foam cleaning is capable of
covering a lot of area in a very short amount of
time. There isn't really any danger involved in
saturating the carpet simply because the moisture
content is low. This will also help you to
minimize the problems that are commonly associated
with over wetting.

Disadvantages
The dry foam method is capable of removing average
levels of soil. There is however a possibility of
excessive residue and soil build up if the machine
you are using has inadequate extraction capabilities.

Dry foam is the ideal method of choice if you have
older carpet if you want to get your carpet as clean
as possible. You can rent a machine at your local
department or carpet store if you don't think you'll
use it enough to buy it. They don't cost that
much to rent, which is great for those who just
want to give it a shot and see what happens.

Dry foam carpet cleaning isn't that hard to do,
as you'll be fine even if you have no experience
with these types of machines. The above information
will help you greatly, and if you follow it, you
shouldn't have any problems. Dry foam can make a
carpet look spectacular, as long as you follow
the manufacturers directions on mixing the dry
foam solution. Once you've finished cleaning your
carpet with dry foam, you'll probably find yourself
falling in love with the results.

Whenever you select carpet, you have to consider many
aesthetic as well as technical areas. With well over
a hundred thousands styles and colors being released
every year, selecting the right carpet to match your
needs can be a very challenging task indeed.

Carpet is available in several different textures,
constructions, colors, and designs - which will open
the doors to virtually any interior design that you
can imagine. The combination of texture and color
will complement the look of both formal and casual
environments, while helping to bring continuity to
the overall room designs.

The most important thing to consider when you shop
for carpet is the amount of traffic that will be
on the carpet that is going to be installed as well
as the area you hope to use it in. The construction
and the texture are both key aspects when you
select a carpet for a specified area and use.

Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the mosty widely
used fibers with carpet manufacturing, with each
one displaying qualities that make themselves great
with specific applications and uses. Even though
nylon is the most expensive type of fiber, it is
also the softest and most resilient, which makes
it great for any room in your home, including those
areas that have a high level of traffic.

Polyester fabric is less resilient than nylon,
although it more cost efficient and offers a
high level of resistance to stains, which makes it
a great choice for areas such as bedrooms or dining
rooms that are not subjet to a lot of traffic.

The fiber olefin is solution dyed, which results
in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be
cleaned easily using a water and beach solution -
without any loss to the color.

Unlike the other types of fibers, olefin is fade,
mildew, and mold resistant, which results in a
carpet that performs well indoors and outdoors.
Keep in mind however, that olefin isn't very
resilient and as a result, it should only be
considered with berber construction.

You can get carpets in either plush or berber
construction. The berber type of carpets are well
constructed with a continuous level loop, while
plush carpets are constructed of loops that have
been sheared, which results in the strands standing
upright.

Berber construction carpets don't crush or matt,
due to their high level loops. They are however
harder underfoot, uncomfortable to sit on or lay
down on, and they can easily become damaged by
pets with long nails. Berber carpets are well
suited for high traffic areas, which include walk
ways, living rooms, and entrance areas. They aren't
popular with bedrooms, as their hard texture makes
them a less than attractive option.

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or
lay on and they offer better sound and thermal
insulation. They tend to crush and matt though
when they are subjected to high levels of foot
traffic.

The use of nylon fiber paired with a tight low pile
construction will help to limit the amount of pile
and matt crushing, due to the high resilient nature
of the nylon fiber and the added support that is
gained from tight construction.

The warranties for carpet ranges from 5 - 30 years,
with the general rule being that you don't cover
the stairs. Most carpet warranties will require
the installation of new carpet padding as well at
the time of installation in order for the warranty
to become valid.

Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet
as often as it is needed. To achieve a clean carpet,
you'll need to have it cleaned by a professional or
you'll need to use a deep cleaning machine. There
are advantages and disadvantages to this method,
although a thorough cleaning is needed every six
months or so.

Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them
in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Simply
using water on a spill will help most of them. If
that doesn't work, simply expand your search. You'll
find several products out there on the market that
can help you get rid of spills quick.

The products range in use and can be helpful when
matching them with the different types of spills.
You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to
help you keep stains out. By taking immediate action
you can prevent spills from becoming stains that
leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care
of very well. You should always take the time to
vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good
job. This means going over the floor in several
directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all
it can. High quality vacuums are the best choice,
as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to
clean off people's shoes and keep most of the
tracked soils off the surface of the carpet. You
should always use entrance mats outside of your
doors and make sure that anyone who enters your
home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off
of their shoes before they enter. You can also
take off your shoes and request that guests do the
same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or
home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils,
and starches. The dry soil types are easily
removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed
on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the
damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than
just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the
life of the carpet. If you have just laid the
carpet, you are already aware of the expenses
involved with doing so.

Even if you haven't had this done, you probably
know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet. A
clean carpet will add value to the home if it is
maintained well. It will also help to keep the
home free from odors as well. Also, it will help
to make a comfortable living area for your friends
and your family.

When you select carpet for your home, you have many
things to consider and many different options to
weigh as well. Carpets come in many different colors
and styles, textures and fibers, and there are many
different qualities to choose from as well.

The two most popular choices of carpet today are the
loop pile and cut pile. Loop pile has individual
strands of yarn pulled through the backing of the
carpet twice, which creates a small loop.

The cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leaving
tufts of yarn that stand straight up. Cut pile is
normally more durable than looped pile. Cut piles
come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony,
and velvet. Loop pile choices include berber,
cable, or sisal. For high traffic areas, loop pile
is an excellent choice.

One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the
cost. Even though there is nothing more luxurious
than having wool carpeting in your home, most of us
can't afford wool. If you are able to afford wool
carpeting you'll find that even though it costs more
to install, it will prove to be far more superior
than any other type of carpeting. There is no man
made carpet fiber that come close to the durability,
rich look, or even the feel of wool - which can also
last for 30 years or more.

Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and
sometimes referred to as man made wool. It is
resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and
staining, although it isn't recommended for high
traffic areas.

Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended
for high traffic areas. Nylon is one of the most
expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it
is still cheaper than wool.

Olefin is a low cost carpet material, often used for
indoor or outdoor carpeting. Olefin is colorfast
and strong, very easy to clean. One of the draw
backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you'll have is the color and
patterns of the carpet. Light carpeting colors
help to create a spacious effect, making the room
appear to be larger. Light color carpets will of
course, show much more soil than dark colors.

If you have pets around the house or little kids,
dark colors may be your best bet. There are many
different varieties of dark colors, which is great
for those interested in style. Dark colors are
ideal for stains or pets, as they don't show soiled
areas near as much as light colored carpets.

If you end up selecting light colors around pets or
little kids, you'll find yourself having to work
twice as hard to make stains less noticeable. It
would be easier and also smarter to select a dark
color and make it easier on yourself.

In the past and even today, carpet is very popular
with home owners all across the U.S. Carpet is
the most practical, fashionable, and versatile
choice of flooring out there, as it also accounts
for more than half of all flooring purchases that
are made each and every year. The fact is, carpet
has outsold every other type of flooring for more
than 60 years.

Carpet offers you several advantages that other
flooring options can't compete with. Below, you
will find many of the features that carpet will
add to your home.

Warmth
Carpet is the best choice you can make for your
bedroom, family room, and other areas where you
need warmth underfoot.

Insulation
Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an
extra layer of much needed insulation between the
floors of your home. Depending on the density and
weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value
of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency
as well.

Safety
Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will
prevent accidents along with a natural cushion
in the event of someone falling. For young
children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound
Carpet will also reduce noise better than any
other type of flooring. Carpet works to dampen
noise in three ways:
1. Reduces surface noise from foot traffic
2. Absorbs airborne sound
3. Blocks transmission of sound
These qualities are valuable in apartments as well
as semi-detached homes.

Surface
Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any
existing damage to the floor and also hide any
other problems such as warped floors. The thicker
density the carpet is, the more problems it will
be able to hide.

Easy to care for
The carpets of today are more stain resistant
than they have ever been in the past, which makes
cleaning even the worst possible spills easier
than ever. No matter type of spill it may be,
there is always a way to clean it up.

Clean air
Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve
the quality of air by trapping allergy causing
dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and
maintained.

Variety of use
Carpets aren't only for floors anymore, which is
a really great thing. You can easily add carpet
to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non
level surfaces, without having to worry about it
slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility
Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any
room. Because it is available in a variety of
different colors and textures, it helps to
create an unlimited number of possibilities for
decorating. From the neutral tones to rich
solids, carpet is the first step you can take
to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost
Carpet doesn't cost a lot of money, as it offers
an economical alternative to the other types of
expensive flooring. Even with professional
installation, you won't pay near as much as you
would for hard surfaces. Unlike hard surfaces,
carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide
to lay down on it.

Life span
The carpets of today are very durable and can
outlast most other types of flooring available on
the market. All you have to do is select a
type of carpet that has a life span of 5 - 30
years or more, which is very common now days.

Warranty
With most manufacturers, you can get great
warranties with your carpet purchase. This way,
you'll be protected when you install your new
carpet. Once installed, all you have to do is
enjoy it - as the warranty will ensure that you
are very well protected.

How often you need to repair your carpet depends on
you. There are instances such as burns, crushing,
fading, furniture, bleeding, sprouting, and carpet
beetles where you'll want to take action. Most of
the time, you can finish a repair job without needing
a professional, although there will be times when
you will need professional assistance.

Burns
Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes
in contact with the carpet. If the burn is small,
the burnt fibers of the carpet can be cut out with
scissors. If the burn is large, you'll need to
replace the area with a new piece of carpet. You
can do this yourself if you know how, or have an
installer do it.

Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges
of the carpet. To fix this, simply cut the fibers
that are sticking out.

Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being
left on the carpet. To get rid of these nasty
marks, you should sprinkle your carpet with some
club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron
it. Do this a couple of times and you will see
your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Shading, crushing, and matting
A lot of traffic on the surface of the carpet will
cause it to flatten, which may give some types of
carpet a shaded appearance. If this happens, you
should brush and vacuum the area. If you can't
fix the problem, you may need to hire a professional,
as this can sometimes be very tricky.

Shedding and snagging
Shedding is a problem of usage, as the fibers will
surface on the carpet. This isn't a defect in
manufacturing, but a normal problem. To fix it,
you'll need to vacuum the area. The snags on
the other hand are tufts that have pulled out of
the surface of the carpet. They will occur more
often with loop pile than cut pile carpets. You
should never pull them off, but instead cut them
off neatly with a pair of scissors.

Sprouting
A carpet is known to have sprouts only when there
are tufts on it, which are longer than the rest.
As pulling on them will only damage the carpet
more, you should trim them off with scissors and
level them down to the rest of the pile.

Static electricity
This depends on the carpet material, construction,
and padding. Humidity will play an important role
as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the
carpet fibers. A humidifier will help to retain
moisture, and you can also spray the surface of
the carpet with an anti static agent.

Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with
a strong vacuum suction. You should always avoid
spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean
of food. The carpet beetles are quite annoying,
as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain,
seeds, and flour. If the carpet is infested bad,
you professional cleaner is the way to go.

Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer
of the color from one section to another. Good
underlayments can help to prevent bleeding to
a certain degree. Crocking on the other hand is
the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed.
To avoid this, simply avoid getting your carpet
wet.

A carpet installation job that is one right can
help you reduce your repair worries to quite
an amazing degree. You can always call a pro as
well, as their services will often end up being
much cheaper than if you were to go ahead and
replace the entire carpet.

When it comes to carpet for your home, you may want
carpet that you install yourself. There are ways
that you can carpet a room very cheaply, without
having to spend a lot of money. Carpet can get very
expensive in a hurry, which is why saving money is
so very important to those on a tight budget.

One very cheap way you can carpet a room is by using
carpet samples. This is actually considered new
carpet, as samples aren't considered to be used.

You can buy samples of carpet for .25 cents a piece
at closeout sales or at your local hardware or carpet
store. Depending on the size of the room you are
looking to carpet, how many samples you'll need
will vary. You'll also need staples as well, which
cost around a dollar or so. Most of the time,
you can expect to pay a dollar or so for each square
of carpet, which is still considered to be cheap
carpet.

Keep in mind that using samples or square is a very
unusual style and you have to think about the resale
value of your home. If you have a trailer or mobile
home, then the style is probably going to be unusual
and cheap to start with. If you have an expensive
or mid priced home, then you may decide to use
cheap carpeting in the basement, playroom, or in
a children's playhouse.

If you are doing a children's playroom, using
multi-colored carpet is perfect. It is very colorful
and if a spill stains one of the squares of carpet,
you can quickly and easily pull it back up and
install a new one. This is a great advantage to
doing a playroom this way.

Installing your cheap carpet
The only things you'll actually need when you
install carpet samples or squares in a room is a
carpet knife and a staple gun. The 5/8" staples
seem to work the best for squares and samples.

All you need to do is put the carpet peice in
place and staple in two or three staples along each
side. Make sure you wiggle the head of the
stapler down deep between the fibers, or between
the border and the fibers, so you can hide the
staples as much as possible.

If you are carpeting a basement floor, you can
use carpet tape instead of staples. With either
case, this is best to do when padding isn't that
important. You can use padding as well if you
don't mind the complications, although without it,
its pure simplicity.

You may also choose to lay out your pieces of
carpet first, then decide where each individual piece
will go. When you reach walls, heating sources, or
other obstacles, you can quickly and easily cut the
pieces to fit. If you happen to make a mistake, it
will cost you around a dollar, instead of costing
you a fortune. When you make a mistake, all you
have to do is start over a new piece of carpet.

Before you begin to put the carpet down, you should
always estimate how many pieces you will need,
and then call around to find a store that has
enough samples for the room.

Although the samples will range in size at different
stores, the average is 18 X 18 inches. If you
use pieces that are the same size, you'll find
things to be much easier. Even though you may be
paying a dollar a piece, it rounds out to less
than .50 cents per square foot to carpet your room
of choice - which is really cheap carpet!

Nylon
The fiber nylon was introduced first by the DuPont
Chemical Company in 1938. Several years later, after
a great deal of development, nylon became the first
synthetic fiber to be used in the entire carpeting
industry.

The first 3 generations of fiber experienced many
problems with the worst being staining. The 4th
generation fiber of nylon had a mill applied coating
that solved a majority of the staining problems. The
ability of the fiber to repel water and oil based
spills as well as soil helped to propel nylon into
the top selling carpet fibers out there.

After several other changes, the DuPont company
introduced the fifth generation nylon fiber. This
stain resistant fiber would repel most dye stains
if treated in a reasonable time. This fiber is
more accurately called an acid dye blocker in that
it doesn't allow acid dyes to penetrate and stain
the fiber.

The protective coating mill is applied and fills the
dye sites with anionic molecules.

Tip
An easy way to test fiber for the presence of a
fluorochemical is to cut a couple of fibers from a
non traffic area and apply a few drops of oil and
water mixture. If it beads up, then there is an
active fluorochemical present.

Whenever testing for the presence of the acid dye
blocker, you should again cut a couple of fibers
from a non traffic area, then immerse the fibers
in a red kool-aid mixture and wait for 5 minutes
or so. Remove the fiber from the liquid and
flush with neutral detergent solution. If the
acid blockers are present and active, there will
be no discoloration.

Polyester
The fiber of polyester was first introduced into
the garment industry around in the 1950s. By the
late 1960s, polyester was introduced into the
carpet industry as a face yarn. In hand, feel,
and appearance it is similar to nylon, although
it doesn't possess that same resiliency.

Polyester doesn't absorb water based spills, isn't
affected by urine or kool-aid, but it will
absorb oil based spills. Polyester is non allergenic
and mildew resistant.

Acrylic/modacrylic
Both of these fibers were first used as carpet
yarns around the late 1940s. They disappeared
around 1988 due to the competition from other fibers.
In was reintroduced to the market around 1990
in Berber styling.

This was done so that people could take advantage
of the wool like appearance, hand feel, and the
fact that its more spot resistant, much easier to
clean, and not damaged in the ways that wool is.

Olefin
Olefin is the latest of the synthetic fibers to
be adopted to carpets. Once only available in
continous filament, it is now produced in staple
form as well. Olefin has a wide variety of uses
that include primary and secondary backing of
tufted carpets, warp yarns, and other uses as well.

Everyone hears about Berber carpet, and just how great
it can be. The carpet was named after a hand made
bulky wool that was textured and used by a tribe in
North Africa, the Berber tribe. The Berber carpet
that is used even today follows the same tradition
of the tribe by using flecked bulky yarns to create
a beautiful carpet.

Below, you'll find several reasons why you should
choice Berber carpet over all others.

The carpet is unique
The flecked looped yarns that are used to make Berber
carpets provide a very unique yet stylish carpet
that makes Berber easily to identify.

Choice in loop sizes
There are several loop sizes with Berber carpets,
so there is always going to be a size for any room
or decoration, from the large knobby loops to the
small and tight loops. There are several choices
as well, that include cut and loop designs, multiple
level loops, and even level loops.

Hypo allergenic
Berber is the ideal choice for anyone who has
allergis or younger children. The carpet is made
from wool so it's non toxic and non allergenic, and
it will stop bacterial growth on the spot.

Very comfortable
The manufacturing process that created the loops
of wool have millions of air pockets in them so
the carpet has a nice and cushioned feel when you
walk across it. It also offers an insulation factor
due to the weaving which helps to regulate the
temperature of the room as well.

Durability
Berber carpet is one of the most durable types and
also one of the easiest to clean. The stains are
easily lifted from the carpet and it takes a lot
of miles on the carpet before it will even begin to
show any signs of wear.

Berber is also well known for longevity, as it
always seems to look like it was installed yesterday.
It rarely ever shows footprints, and it doesn't
even show the lines from vacuuming. The only
thing you have to watch out for is snagging, as
you don't want to snag the loops and damage the
carpet.

Affordable
This is actually a mystery, as Berber is pure wool
and still cheaper than nylon, olefin, or any other
type of man made carpet, even though it outlasts
the rest and maintains a newer look over a longer
period of time. Berber is one of the most
affordable choices you can make and it still looks
richer than any other available choices.

Choices of colors
The color choices with Berber carpet are varied and
include earthen or neutral colors, dark colors,
and pastel colors as well. There are plenty of
colors to choose from as well as patterns. Berber
carpet offers more choices than any other carpet
type.

Hiding the sub floor
Because the density of Berber carpet is so thick,
you can easily hide anything wrong in the sub
floor without having to spend a lot of money having
the sub floor repaired of replaced. This helps
to make Berber carpet very cost efficient in
older homes that need to have the carpet redone.

Grade variety
Just like with other carpets, you can choose from
a variety of grades that will determine just how
plush the carpet is. Berber is available in
several different grades, even a product grade
that is designed to go on over top of concrete.

Besides the fact that Berber is one of the most
economical carpets to buy, it is also one of the
most economical to install. The carpet is easy
to lay, which will save you time and effort, making
it a truly excellent choice when it comes to
carpet for your home.

There are many different products available on the
market that will help you to remove almost all types
of stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally
removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills
and dirt the moment they crop up. Cleaning them up
won't even require you to leave your home just to
rush out and buy the expensive types of cleaning
products.

There are several ways to clean up stains simply by
using products already available in your home which
you use on a regular basis, such as detergents,
rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Its
simply a matter of knowing how to use these common
household products and the procedures involved to
clean up stains. Below, you'll find some tips on
how to clean up pet stains and some other types of
common carpet stains.

Pet stain
For your first option you can use one teaspoon of
clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of
cold water. You can use this solution in a spray
bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. It is
very important not to wet the carpets backing when
you apply the solution. After you have applied
the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow
it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution
made of hand soap or dish soap. The combination
is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart
of water. You should always make sure the soap
doesn't contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it
can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. Most
types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a
steam cleaner. Once you have finished, be sure
to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.

Ink stains
1. You can purchase isopropyl rubbing
alcohol at your local department or grocery store.
2. You can apply it by pouring some onto a
clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper
towels as well, as long as they are white.
3. Blot the stain as much as possible
until it is removed.
4. Make sure you be careful, because if the
stain is small, you need to blot in one direction
only so you don't spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains
1. Mix a solution with one part white
vinegar and one part water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain using a
spray bottle to saturate.
3. You should allow the stain to sit around
ten to fifteen minutes.
4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing
motion.
5. Rinse the area with warm water.
6. Brush the carpet pile back into the
natural direction it has.
7. By using layers of white paper towels,
place paper towels on top of the area, then something
with weight on the paper towels. Allow everything
time to sit like this until the area has dried.

How often you need to repair your carpet depends on
you. There are instances such as burns, crushing,
fading, furniture, bleeding, sprouting, and carpet
beetles where you'll want to take action. Most of
the time, you can finish a repair job without needing
a professional, although there will be times when
you will need professional assistance.

Burns
Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes
in contact with the carpet. If the burn is small,
the burnt fibers of the carpet can be cut out with
scissors. If the burn is large, you'll need to
replace the area with a new piece of carpet. You
can do this yourself if you know how, or have an
installer do it.

Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges
of the carpet. To fix this, simply cut the fibers
that are sticking out.

Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being
left on the carpet. To get rid of these nasty
marks, you should sprinkle your carpet with some
club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron
it. Do this a couple of times and you will see
your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Shading, crushing, and matting
A lot of traffic on the surface of the carpet will
cause it to flatten, which may give some types of
carpet a shaded appearance. If this happens, you
should brush and vacuum the area. If you can't
fix the problem, you may need to hire a professional,
as this can sometimes be very tricky.

Shedding and snagging
Shedding is a problem of usage, as the fibers will
surface on the carpet. This isn't a defect in
manufacturing, but a normal problem. To fix it,
you'll need to vacuum the area. The snags on
the other hand are tufts that have pulled out of
the surface of the carpet. They will occur more
often with loop pile than cut pile carpets. You
should never pull them off, but instead cut them
off neatly with a pair of scissors.

Sprouting
A carpet is known to have sprouts only when there
are tufts on it, which are longer than the rest.
As pulling on them will only damage the carpet
more, you should trim them off with scissors and
level them down to the rest of the pile.

Static electricity
This depends on the carpet material, construction,
and padding. Humidity will play an important role
as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the
carpet fibers. A humidifier will help to retain
moisture, and you can also spray the surface of
the carpet with an anti static agent.

Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with
a strong vacuum suction. You should always avoid
spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean
of food. The carpet beetles are quite annoying,
as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain,
seeds, and flour. If the carpet is infested bad,
you professional cleaner is the way to go.

Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer
of the color from one section to another. Good
underlayments can help to prevent bleeding to
a certain degree. Crocking on the other hand is
the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed.
To avoid this, simply avoid getting your carpet
wet.

A carpet installation job that is one right can
help you reduce your repair worries to quite
an amazing degree. You can always call a pro as
well, as their services will often end up being
much cheaper than if you were to go ahead and
replace the entire carpet.

The dry foam procedure is mostly rather than dry as
the name infers, although the content of moisture
is so low that it can actually be referred to as dry
foam (90% air - 10% liquid). The dry foam machine
is equipped with a pressure tank, which you will
pour a solution of water and shampoo into.

A compressor will work to convert the solution into
foam which is then dispensed all over the carpet
using a revolving cylindrical brush. The brush will
work to comb the foam through the piles of the
carpet so that each individual fiber of the carpet
is cleaned.

To achieve success, you must make sure that the
bubbles being produced are of uniformed size so the
foam can complete the cleaning process before it
is dispersed. Once it has dried, the carpet is
then thoroughly vacuumed to remove the dried crystals
of dirt that have been left behind.

Below, are the steps to the dry foam procedure:
1. First of all, vacuum the carpet and
remove all the stains that you possibly can.
2. Mix the dry foam solution according to
the directions of the manufacturer.
3. Shampoo the carpet then once it has dried,
vacuum the carpet.
4. Depending on the type of carpet you
have, groom the pile to speed the drying process.
5. Complete the work by using a furniture
leg pad or block to eliminate furniture stains
or rust.

Advantages
The process of dry foam cleaning is capable of
covering a lot of area in a very short amount of
time. There isn't really any danger involved in
saturating the carpet simply because the moisture
content is low. This will also help you to
minimize the problems that are commonly associated
with over wetting.

Disadvantages
The dry foam method is capable of removing average
levels of soil. There is however a possibility of
excessive residue and soil build up if the machine
you are using has inadequate extraction capabilities.

Dry foam is the ideal method of choice if you have
older carpet if you want to get your carpet as clean
as possible. You can rent a machine at your local
department or carpet store if you don't think you'll
use it enough to buy it. They don't cost that
much to rent, which is great for those who just
want to give it a shot and see what happens.

Dry foam carpet cleaning isn't that hard to do,
as you'll be fine even if you have no experience
with these types of machines. The above information
will help you greatly, and if you follow it, you
shouldn't have any problems. Dry foam can make a
carpet look spectacular, as long as you follow
the manufacturers directions on mixing the dry
foam solution. Once you've finished cleaning your
carpet with dry foam, you'll probably find yourself
falling in love with the results.

Although vacuum cleaning can remove a majority of the
dry soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet
on a frequent basis to remove the oily, sticky soil
that builds up in the pile as a result of odors and
dirt that is tracked in from outside.

If you can clean the carpet before it becomes too
bad, the cleaning chore will be easier to do and a
lot more successful. There is a myth that is totally
false, which states that cleaning the carpet before
it is necessary will get it dirtier faster. The
carpet with the typical household should be cleaned
every 12 - 18 months depending on the number of
people living there and the amount of traffic that
walks on the carpet.

The choice of the right vacuum is important as
well. There are some vacuums that will leave
residues behind, which will promote re-soiling and
basically defeat the whole purpose of household
cleaning.

Professional carpet cleaners
It is in your best interest to use professional
cleaners simply because their experience will enable
them to do a much better job than you can do yourself.
The equipment they use has more extraction power
than the units available to you, and the carpet
will dry faster as well. They know the cleaning
agents to use, and they know the differences in
carpet construction and fibers.

Doing it yourself
If you have made the decision to rent a steam
cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you
should check on several systems before you make a
selection. Most of the units available for rent
don't clean well enough and may end up damaging
your carpet. Therefore, you should always consider
the following:
- Several rental companies offer cleaning
equipment that is similar to what the professionals
use. The equipment should have enough vacuum
power to allow the carpet to dry within 12 hours
of cleaning. You should always avoid rental units
found in retail and grocery stores that don't
have the power to extract the cleaning solution
from the carpet fast enough, as it can actually
damage the carpet due to over wetting.
- Make sure you avoid over wetting the
carpet. Any prolonged dampness can lead to mildew
growth and bacteria in the carpet, or cause a
seperation of the backing. A wet carpet that stays
this way for longer than 24 hours can develop
problems. You can control this by using proper
equipment and the right training.
- Carpets that have stain resistant
treatments have to be cleaned with products that
are formulated for this very purpose, or the stain
resistance will be impaired and the warranty will
be voided. Never use cleaning or spotting solutions
that contain bleaches as they can mess up the color
of the carpet.
- Never use any silicone based treatments
on the carpet.
- You can help to reduce the drying time
by using several fans to move the air around the
carpet. You can use a dehumidifier as well, as
it will pull moisture from the air.

Hot water extraction
The hot water extraction system is highly recommended,
as it considered to be one of the best methods
for carpet cleaning. Also known as steam cleaning,
the process consists of spraying a mixture of water
and detergent into the pile and recovering the
water and soil with a powerful vacuum that puts it
into a holding tank. You can use a truck mounted
unit or a portable self contained unit as well. This
method is easily one of the best, and is ideal for
soiled carpets or pet stains that you have yet to
get out of the fibers.

If you walk into any carpeting store, you'll find
yourself amazed at all of the choices that are there
for you to pick from. You'll find textured plush
carpets, saxony carpets, berber carpets, and even
commercial grade carpets. There are carpets that
can be installed wall to wall, and carpets that can
be cut to size with bound edges and carpet squares.

Your first consideration when purchasing a new carpet
should not be color, even though it is important.
Your first consideration should be how much traffic
you are going to have on the carpet. If you plan
to put carpet in the bedroom, then it won't have as
much traffic as carpet in the living room.

Stain resistance will also be important. This is
something to think about with any carpet, especially
carpet that is going to be used in a dining room
or play room area where there will be a stready
stream of food or possibilities for spills.

You'll also want to inquire about the rating of the
carpet as well. Indoor carpeting is normally rated
on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest
rating. Carpets with a 5 rating are considered the
best for heavy traffic areas. Rating of 4 are
considered outstanding and recommended for heavy
traffic areas of your home.

Ratings of 2.5 to 4 would provide normal durability
for your home. Carpets that rate 2.5 or lower
should only be used with light traffic areas, such
as bedrooms. Choosing carpet based on the type of
traffic it will receive can help you save a lot
of money down the road, although you should buy
carpet suited to your needs and requirements.

The highest quality of carpet you can buy is carpet
made of wool. Wool carpets are very expensive,
although you'll reap the benefits over years of
use as wool will easily out perform any man
made carpet. Two of the best benefits of wool
carpet include its natural soil resistance and
it's ability to retain appearance, meaning it
won't crush or wear down like other carpets.

The downside to wool carpet, is the fact that it
is out of reach for most of us. If you can't
afford to have woold carpet installed throughout
your entire house, then you should instead have
it installed in the room that receives the highest
amount of traffic.

There are several different man made carpets that
you can choose from as well. If you have a high
traffic area, then nylon would be an ideal choice
due to the durability. Nylon is stain resistant
as well, and repels mildew.

Carpets made of olefin is also a great choice for
high traffic areas as it is very strong and easy
to clean. Polyester is another good carpet as
it is easy to clean and repels water based stains.
Polyester is known for the look and feel of wool,
although it is much less expensive.

The color consideration is also important. Light
colored carpets create an effect of a larger
space, although they do tend to show stains more
easily. Dark carpets on the other hand tend to
absorb light, giving a room what many know as
the "cozy feeling".

When you find a carpet that appeals to you, you
should ask to take a piece of it home. Look at
it during natural daylight and at night under
an artificial light to see if the color changes
at all.

A spill on the kitchen carpet can be anything from
a child's cup falling off the table to muddy footprints
around the room. Properly dealing with the kitchen
spill is what seperates the professionals from everyone
else.

With a little bit of common knowledge, many of the
spills that occur can be cleaned up and corrected fast
and easily. Knowing how to react to spills in the
kitchen are what makes things easier than ever.

The first thing to do, is use a bit of common sense.
Its important for you to take very quick action and
be smart about the first steps you take in cleaning
up your kitchen carpet spill. To put it in other
terms - don't let the spill sit.

The longer the spill or product sits on your carpet,
the deeper in it will go. A larger spill that has
time to seep into the carpet and into the padding
and reaches the floor boards is one type of spill
that will need extensive cleaning. Therefore, you'll
need to move quickly and effectively.

You can take different steps to remove spills from
your kitchen carpet. One thing that remains the
same throughout every spill you encounter is that
you shouldn't rub them. Most often, rubbing the
spill will rub them into the fibers of the carpet.
This will make them less likely to come off. Instead
of rubbing, you should consider blotting. Blotting
puts small amounts of pressure on the stain to
allow the cloth or paper towels to soak it up. This
doesn't work the stain deeper into the carpet.

As far as getting the spill out of the carpet, you
can use several methods. First, you should try
and remove as much debris from the floor as possible,
wiping as much as you can up. Then, there are
several routes that you can take.

If you own a carpet cleaner, this will be your
best option. Last, there are several products on
the market that you can use. This will help when
it comes to difficult spills. Unless you have
them on hand, waiting isn't an option. Spills in
the kitchen needs to be handled in a quick and
timely manner.

Since the kitchen spill happens in one of the most
used rooms of the home, you'll need to make sure
that you do a great job in cleaning it up. Because
spills can happen frequently, it is important
that you do a complete cleaning of the carpet on
a regular basis.

Even though kitchen carpet spills are nearly
impossible to prevent, you can protect yourself and
your carpet by knowing what to do. If you keep
your carpet clean, you'll have no problems cleaning
up spills as they occur.

Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet
as often as it is needed. To achieve a clean carpet,
you'll need to have it cleaned by a professional or
you'll need to use a deep cleaning machine. There
are advantages and disadvantages to this method,
although a thorough cleaning is needed every six
months or so.

Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them
in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Simply
using water on a spill will help most of them. If
that doesn't work, simply expand your search. You'll
find several products out there on the market that
can help you get rid of spills quick.

The products range in use and can be helpful when
matching them with the different types of spills.
You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to
help you keep stains out. By taking immediate action
you can prevent spills from becoming stains that
leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care
of very well. You should always take the time to
vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good
job. This means going over the floor in several
directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all
it can. High quality vacuums are the best choice,
as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to
clean off people's shoes and keep most of the
tracked soils off the surface of the carpet. You
should always use entrance mats outside of your
doors and make sure that anyone who enters your
home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off
of their shoes before they enter. You can also
take off your shoes and request that guests do the
same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or
home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils,
and starches. The dry soil types are easily
removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed
on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the
damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than
just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the
life of the carpet. If you have just laid the
carpet, you are already aware of the expenses
involved with doing so.

Even if you haven't had this done, you probably
know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet. A
clean carpet will add value to the home if it is
maintained well. It will also help to keep the
home free from odors as well. Also, it will help
to make a comfortable living area for your friends
and your family.

Whenever you select carpet, you have to consider many
aesthetic as well as technical areas. With well over
a hundred thousands styles and colors being released
every year, selecting the right carpet to match your
needs can be a very challenging task indeed.

Carpet is available in several different textures,
constructions, colors, and designs - which will open
the doors to virtually any interior design that you
can imagine. The combination of texture and color
will complement the look of both formal and casual
environments, while helping to bring continuity to
the overall room designs.

The most important thing to consider when you shop
for carpet is the amount of traffic that will be
on the carpet that is going to be installed as well
as the area you hope to use it in. The construction
and the texture are both key aspects when you
select a carpet for a specified area and use.

Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the mosty widely
used fibers with carpet manufacturing, with each
one displaying qualities that make themselves great
with specific applications and uses. Even though
nylon is the most expensive type of fiber, it is
also the softest and most resilient, which makes
it great for any room in your home, including those
areas that have a high level of traffic.

Polyester fabric is less resilient than nylon,
although it more cost efficient and offers a
high level of resistance to stains, which makes it
a great choice for areas such as bedrooms or dining
rooms that are not subjet to a lot of traffic.

The fiber olefin is solution dyed, which results
in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be
cleaned easily using a water and beach solution -
without any loss to the color.

Unlike the other types of fibers, olefin is fade,
mildew, and mold resistant, which results in a
carpet that performs well indoors and outdoors.
Keep in mind however, that olefin isn't very
resilient and as a result, it should only be
considered with berber construction.

You can get carpets in either plush or berber
construction. The berber type of carpets are well
constructed with a continuous level loop, while
plush carpets are constructed of loops that have
been sheared, which results in the strands standing
upright.

Berber construction carpets don't crush or matt,
due to their high level loops. They are however
harder underfoot, uncomfortable to sit on or lay
down on, and they can easily become damaged by
pets with long nails. Berber carpets are well
suited for high traffic areas, which include walk
ways, living rooms, and entrance areas. They aren't
popular with bedrooms, as their hard texture makes
them a less than attractive option.

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or
lay on and they offer better sound and thermal
insulation. They tend to crush and matt though
when they are subjected to high levels of foot
traffic.

The use of nylon fiber paired with a tight low pile
construction will help to limit the amount of pile
and matt crushing, due to the high resilient nature
of the nylon fiber and the added support that is
gained from tight construction.

The warranties for carpet ranges from 5 - 30 years,
with the general rule being that you don't cover
the stairs. Most carpet warranties will require
the installation of new carpet padding as well at
the time of installation in order for the warranty
to become valid.