A Few Quotes Straight From The Manufacturers
Staining versus Soiling “There is often confusion about the difference between soiling and staining carpet. The majority of stain complaints are actually soil related. For example, many sugar-based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. This sticky residue readily attracts soil from ordinary shoe traffic, and the resulting discolored area appears to be a stain.The same thing happens when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed with plain water, leaving a sticky detergent residue. It is important to rinse thoroughly with water and blot dry after removing any spill.”
The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming.
“Vacuum carpet thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Realize that walking on soiled carpet allows 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 carpet fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before problems occur. For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the carpet traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. In areas with heavy traffic, vacuum the carpet traffic lanes 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.”Pay attention to Vacuum bags“Replaceable paper vacuum bags do a better job of trapping small particles than cloth bags. With cloth bags, the particles pass back into the room. High efficiency vacuum bags, also called micro filtration bags, trap even smaller microscopic particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust mite byproducts, which are often found to be a source of allergies. All vacuum bags should be checked often and replaced when half full.”
Overall Cleaning
Vacuuming alone will not protect your carpet.
“Even though vacuuming can remove most soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet on a regular basis to remove the oily, sticky soil that vacuums don’t remove. These soils result from cooking vapors, air pollution, and tracked-in dirt from outside. The particles of oily soil deposited on carpet fibers can cause gradual but significant dulling of colors. The color isn’t lost, but is hidden under the film. If this type of soil is allowed to accumulate, it begins to attract and hold the dry soil. If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months, depending on the number of residents and amount of activity.Choosing the proper cleaning system is important. Some systems may leave residues, which accelerates re-soiling and defeats the whole purpose of cleaning. The recommendations below represent the best current knowledge and should help prolong the time between cleanings.”What cleaning system should you use? Shaw recommends the hot water extraction system.“Research indicates that the hot water extraction system provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as “steam cleaning,” although no steam is actually generated. The process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or by a portable system brought into the home.”“Tipical treatments (including many fungicides, bactericides, biocides, antistatics and stain resists, etc.) May adversely affect the soil resistance; stain resistance and/or other benefits of your carpet. These warranties exclude any claim or liability for defects and damages to your carpet caused by such topical treatments. However, topical soil-resistant fluorochemical treatments, which do not adversely affect the carpet, are acceptable.”
Professional or Do-It-Yourself
“It is to your advantage to use professional carpet cleaners because their experience enables them to do a better job than you can do yourself. Their equipment has more extraction power than the rental units available to individuals, and the carpet should dry more quickly. True professionals also understand the equipment, know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction.”
Q. Why is professional cleaning important?
A. When vacuuming no longer removes all of the soil, or you have not been able to remove stains following the recommended carpet care and cleaning procedures found on pages 18–21 of this booklet, it’s time to have your carpet cleaned by a trained and qualified professional cleaner. A reputable professional cleaner knows the latest information on carpet construction, carpet care products, and safe, effective cleaning methods to help maintain carpet beauty. For this reason, we recommend, and our warranties (except for the Lifetime Anti-Static Limited Warranty) require, professional cleaning every 24 months. See the STAINMASTER® carpet warranties on pages 8–12 for these specific professional cleaning requirements.
Q. How often should my carpet be cleaned?
A. We recommend professional cleaning at least every 12 months. We require professional cleaning every 24 months to be eligible for coverage under many of the limited warranties set forth in this booklet.
Q. Is more frequent cleaning recommended with lighter carpet colors?
A. Lighter carpet shades, combined with the degree of soil build-up and the amount of traffic in the home, may require a more frequent cleaning schedule than just one professional cleaning every 12 months.
Q. Which cleaning method is recommended?
A. Steam or hot water extraction is the recommended method for deep cleaning most carpets. Hot water extraction uses a machine to apply water and a cleaning solution (if necessary) into the carpet pile to attack the soil and greasy build-up on the carpet fibers. A powerful vacuum then extracts the solution almost immediately. Properly performed, hot water extraction will effectively remove accumulated soil from the carpet and refresh the texture of your carpet.
Q. Is do-it-yourself carpet cleaning okay?
A. Professional cleaning is recommended for any carpet and is required every 24 months to maintain coverage under many of these limited warranties. (See limited warranty terms to determine which limited warranties require this periodic cleaning.) It is also required when submitting a claim for stains and soil you cannot remove using recommended cleaning procedures. If you decide to do it yourself during an interim cleaning time period, carefully follow these guidelines:
– Use only cleaning solutions that are acceptable for use on stain and soil resistant carpet. Before using any cleaning solutions, pre-test for colorfastness on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet. Cationic or chemicals with a pH greater than 10 should be avoided as they may void your STAINMASTER® carpet limited warranties.