|
Use the
right carpet cleaning equipment
Vacuuming
Cleaning carpet doesn't have to be the chore most people
make it, if you would always remember
the most important
step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming. Vacuum
thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic
areas. Bear in mind that walking on soiled carpet permits
the soil particles to work their way below the surface of
the pile where they are far more difficult to remove and
can damage the fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these
particles from the surface before this happens.
Vacuuming
Tips
For rooms with light
traffic, clean your carpet by vacuuming the traffic lanes twice weekly and the
entire area once weekly. Those areas with heavier traffic
require that the traffic lanes be vacuumed daily and the
entire area twice weekly. Up to three passes of the
machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven
passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the
vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile
upright and reduce matting.
Vacuum
cleaner recommendations:
- A good vacuum cleaner
is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your
carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt
but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and
particles embedded in the pile.
- We recommend the use
of vacuums with a rotating brush or combination
beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and
mechanically loosens soil for removal by the vacuum.
Note that carpet with thick loop pile construction,
particularly wool and wool-blend styles, may be
sensitive to brushing or rubbing of the pile surface
and may become fuzzy. For these products, we recommend the use of a suction-only vacuum or a
vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the
carpet so it does not agitate the pile. A vacuum with
a beater/brush bar can be tested in an inconspicuous
location and used if no excessive fuzzing occurs.
- Replaceable paper
vacuum bags do a better job of trapping the small
particles that pass through cloth bags back into the
room. High efficiency vacuum bags, also called
microfiltration bags, trap even smaller microscopic
particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust mite
byproducts, often found to be a source of allergies.
This type of bag is sold under several brands, such as
the "MICRO-LINED" bag available at most
vacuum specialty shops, or the "MICRO-CLEAN"
bag available at some department and discount stores,
and "MICROFILTRATION" and "MICROLINER"
brands available at Sears stores. These bags are
available under other brand names; verify that these
bags trap particles smaller than two (2) microns. All
vacuum bags should be checked often and replaced when
half full.
- Make sure the belt is
in good condition and that the brush or beater bar
rotates when in contact with the carpet. To adjust the
vacuum to the correct height setting for the carpet,
raise the beater/brush bar to the highest setting and
then lower it until it contacts the pile enough to
slightly vibrate the carpet several inches away from
the machine, but not low enough to cause significant
slowing of the motor.
© 2008 FloorBiz, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Carpet
Care:
carpet
maintenance
|
carpet
stain removal |
carpet
cleaning equipment
Flooring |
Flooring Guide |
Flooring Info |
Flooring Forum
| |