Love your Carpet

Want your carpet to last and look like new? Sure you do. Carpet can wear out or appear to ugly out if not maintained properly. Dirt detracts from the beauty of the carpet and it can also scratch, distort and abrasively deteriorate the carpet fibers. Foot traffic deposits soil and causes the yarns to flex, embedding into the face fibers and causing cuts. The carpet then begins to lose density and resilience. This soiling process has to be eliminated and a maintenance plan in place. Certain facts need to be considered when formulating a plan for your carpet: 1) Carpet tends to localize the soil and spills where they occur instead of allowing them to spread quickly; 2) heavy traffic areas will require the most maintenance; and 3) the areas surrounding the carpet in your home (i.e. driveways, walkways, wet areas). Four Steps to a Proper Maintenance Plan 1. Walk-off mats -- these will help control the loose soil 2. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum 3. Spot and spill removal as soon as possible 4. Periodic cleaning (Carpet & Rug Institute recommends hot water extraction every 12 to 18 months) NOTE: A maintenance plan for your carpet is no less important than your initial selection and installation. For more information, visit our website at www.duganpaints.com

Loss of Glossy Gloss

If you have hardwood in high traffic areas and around chairs that are frequently moved, your flooring will suffer a natural gloss reduction. The finish will begin to appear a little dull in these areas over time. Keeping the floor clean from dust will help prevent those particles from being ground into the surface and advancing the gloss reduction process. DO NOT clean your hardwood with water. Water can cause damage to the wood and further dull the topcoat finish. When cleaning, be sure to use an alcohol-based cleaning product this is manufacturer compliant and it will help keep your floor clean and free from buildup. Also, be careful placing furniture with rollers or casters on them because they will cause premature wear to your glossy finish. For more information, be sure to visit our website at www.duganpaints.com

The Science of Carpet

Will your carpet fade over time? Science has yet to develop a dye system that will not fade over a period of time. All carpets slowly lose some of their color due to the natural and artificial forces in the environment. Here are a few things that YOU can do to help delay that natural process: 1) Frequent vacuuming to remove dirt from the fiber; 2) Regularly changing your air filters in the heating and air conditioning systems in your home; 3) Keeping humidity and temperature levels from getting too high; and 4) Reducing the sunlight exposure with window coverings or some sort of sunlight filtering material. Periodic cleaning of your carpet will also help maintain the carpet fibers. The Carpet & Rug Institute recommends a professional cleaning with hot water extraction every 12 to 18 months. Just a few simple things can help reduce the natural fading of your carpet. For more information on carpet cleaning, be sure to visit our website at www.duganpaints.com