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Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

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.

Installing Stair Carpet

October 16, 2009   No Comments

Carpet Tiles

Anytime it involves your floors, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just carpet, but try the newer carpet tiles instead.  Carpet tiles are available in an array of designs and a great choice of materials as well.  Bordered, geometric, contemporary, or bamboo – will give your floors a complete makeover and a great look as well.

When you go out to buy carpet tiles, you’ll need to think about where you plan to install them.  The tiles will vary in density as well as thickness. Carpet tiles with more thickness have a cushion so that it’s soft on the surface, making them ideal for homes.  They will also provide a degree of thermal insulation as well.  The thinner types of tiles are best for offices, gyms, and other high traffic areas.  All carpet tiles are easy to  maintain and will last you for a long time.

The tiles will come in a variety of materials and patterns.  If you choose, you can make your home a greenhouse by using bamboo carpet tiles, or you can choose terracotta carpet tiles that will  give your interior an earthly feel.

You may just want to liven things up a bit or play down your floor, depending on the look you are going for.  Carpet tiles that are made from foam, rubber, linoleum, and vinyl are best for children’s rooms, office spaces, or other high
traffic areas.  The cost for the tiles will depend on their thickness and density, which means that the prices can range from 1$ per square foot up to 40$ per square foot.

Tiles for carpet will offer you several advantages when you compare them to wall to wall carpets. They are easy to install and easy to transport, as you can install them without having to move any furniture!  They are very durable as well, and will last longer than most types of carpet even when they are used in high traffic areas.

You can also unleash your creative side as well with carpet tiles.  You can mix and match different tiles, or use a color for the border and even create a distinctive look using  various patterns.  Unlike wall to wall carpet, you don’t need any professional help in case of tear, wear, or staining.  If they become torn or stained, just replace that tile with a new one.

There are carpet tiles available to fit each and every taste, even budget and furnishings style as well.  As they are less expensive, they will offer you the chance to experiment with your interior.  Pretty much the same with carpets,  the installation of tiles is very important.

They must be installed on hard surfaces, such as stone, cement, or ceramic tile.  The surface has to be smooth and clean, so the adhesives will last and your floor will have a well finished look.  The carpet tiles will normally have cushion or padding already installed, which will reduce the cost and extend the life of the carpet.

October 8, 2009   No Comments

Cheap Carpeting

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!

October 1, 2009   No Comments

Benefits Of Carpet

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.

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May 22, 2009   No Comments

Flooring Care

In order to enjoy the full benefits of a hardwood floor, you have to apply the right maintenance techniques. Since hard wood, no matter how sturdy, is organic, it can be susceptible to wear and decay if you do not take care of it. Thus, if you want it to last for a long time, you must be diligent enough to maintain it with proper cleaning and waxing.

Hardwood floors are somewhat expensive. And because they are an investment, it is but prudent to make sure that you get the maximum value for your money as the years progress. Thus, we face the question. How do we take care of our hardwood floors? Consider the tips below.

- Avoid too much sun exposure

If the room where your hardwood floor is has a large window, protect it from the sun using sheer curtains or blinds. Ultra violet rays are said to have ill effects on hardwood floors.

- Don’t drag your furniture around

This pertains particularly to the large furniture. If you want to move your oak sofa to another location, use a dolly or have people lift it. Never drag it across the floor as it may scar the finish or dig deep into the wood itself. Also, use felt contacts under the furnitures’ legs to prevent their weight from creating scratches and dents on the flooring.

- Clean up spills and stain immediately.

If your hardwood floor has a good and intact finish, then you have nothing to worry about. But if it has already been there for a while, the finishing might already be stripped off and allow the water to seep into the wood. When this happens, sanding and refinishing the part of the floor that got wet is a good idea. If this technique fails, you might have to replace that particular plank with a new one.

- Sweep your hardwood floor regularly

Use a broom with fine exploded bristles as they are most effective in trapping grit and dust from the creases and corners of your flooring. Broom bristles that are too soft might only drag the dust further into your flooring and fill the cracks.

In conclusion, the way you care for your hardwood floor should mirror how you care for things you value. Your hardwood floor not only provides physical beauty to your home but also ushers in a sense of homey comfort that will forever be absent with a concrete floor.

November 9, 2008   No Comments