The 'new' and very popular style shag carpets, comprised of a heavy cable yarn and a thinner frieze yarn, pose a particular challenge to daily maintenance.

First, the carpet is so thick and long it traps and holds particulate soil that can and will fall to the base of the product. Manufacturers' warranties state these carpets must be vacuumed with an upright vacuum cleaner with beater bars and a brush. However, following these instructions will inflict damage on the carpet.

The tips of the cabled yarn can be blossomed by the aggressive action of the vacuum as it grabs, agitates and releases the yarn. This action can also create 'corn-rowing.' The danger here is the warranty states what to do, but doing so damages the carpet, and then the claim is denied for following the warranty. What are you to do?

Common sense will tell you using an aggressive vacuum on this type of carpet will, in fact, cause the tips of the cabled yarn to blossom-nothing new here. Shag carpets, since their inception, have typically been susceptible to the aggressive action of upright vacuums with a beater bar and brush, which can also instigate fuzzing.

To vacuum these carpets effectively and not damage them, a straight vacuum head only should be used with a very powerful vacuum system. These carpets also require more diligent and frequent vacuuming, raking and grooming because they are so long and will trap soil, mat and distort- just like a long-haired dog versus a short-haired.

A vacuum cleaner alone will not lift the nap of these carpets. So you're going to have to understand and resign yourself to the fact these products require the additional process of manually grooming or lifting the nap- and explain this to the customer when selling the product to avoid complaints. You can obtain a groomer from Groom Industries.

Having to explain how to maintain this type of carpet might be a pain, but it is necessary to avoid problems. And make sure you read the warranties on all the products you sell so you know what they say. Oftentimes marketing people make statements the carpet can't keep.

Speaking of carpet changing appearance, the surface of all cut piles will change when subjected to foot or rolling traffic. The denser the surface of the broadloom and the more texturing and coloration it has, the less this condition will show. Solid color carpets that compress and look lighter or shade, particularly in concentrated, unalterable and pivotal traffic areas, will manifest the most change.

This is not a defect but a normal and natural reaction to traffic. Once this condition occurs there is nothing to reverse it. Filing a claim is futile because the only thing that can be said about the concern is the carpet is performing up to its standards and characteristics.

Vertically oriented face yarns will compress when walked on, and the change in the physical positioning of the yarn will also alter the light reflectance values of the carpet, changing the shade of the color. Most often this means the product looks flatter in appearance and lighter in shade in the traffic lanes.

The more you know about the products you sell the fewer problems you'll have. I can assure you you're not going to get this information from the manufacturer, but you will get it from us. So call or e-mail if you have a question, and, to really be informed, attend our next LGM Carpet Seminar July 11 to 13.