Carpet Stain Warranty

The Carpet Stain Warranty and Soil Warranty

As with other carpet warranties the carpet stain warranty may be for a certain number of years such as 5, 10 or 20 or it may be a “lifetime” warranty for the life of the carpet.

Stain resist products are designed for and generally warranted to resist stains from common food and beverages when installed in owner-occupied residences.
Soil resist products are designed for and generally warranted to resist abnormal color changes from normal foot traffic on carpets that are used for indoor residential use, and the carpet cannot be corrected.

Stain Resist Warranties for olefin and polyester will often be more liberal than those on nylon due to the differences in fiber characteristics.

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Carpet Shading, Footprints, Pooling

By Terry Weinheimer 58 Comments

Why is My New Carpet Turning Different Shades?

There are many types of carpet shading complaints. Carpet shading is a localized alteration in the orientation of the pile. Shading occurs as the result of randomness in pile lay direction. Shading will be seen on both wall to wall carpets and rugs. The physical cause of shading is due to the difference between light reflection from the greater surface area of the side of the bent fibers, which appear lighter in color, compared to the greater light absorption and darker appearance of the more vertically oriented fibers.

As a result of this change in light reflection a carpet will often take on an appearance as if a portion of the carpet has changed in hue. When inspection lighting is applied over the shaded area, no actual change will be seen. Carpet shading can occur as temporary carpet shading, tracking, or pile reversal defined as follows:

Carpet Shading

Carpet shading is a normal characteristic of cut pile carpets, especially those with a smooth pile such as velvets and saxony plush. Carpet shading is considered an aesthetic quality of fine carpet and is not considered a defect. Shading is caused by light reflecting differently off of tufts that bend differently from footprints, vacuuming, etc.

A person that finds carpet shading objectionable should select a carpet with a denser construction, lower pile height, textured yarn. Examples would be textured saxony, frieze, and berber.

Carpet Shading is identified by areas that appear lighter or darker depending upon the direction they are viewed from. Brushing the pile with the hand will result in a change of shade.

Temporary Carpet Shading

A reversible, localized change in orientation of a carpets pile. Temporary shading is often described as a normal characteristic of certain cut pile textile floor covering.

Carpet Tracking

A gradual change in appearance of a carpet from the edge to middle of a narrow band caused by repeated walking over the same area which may result in a localized change in pile orientation and may be irreversible

Carpet Footprints

These are shading marks left by humans and animals walking across the carpet. They may be noticeable for a few minutes or a few days depending upon the texture and resiliency of the fiber. Most deep-pile and smooth pile carpets will show footprints.

Vacuum Cleaner Marks

These are shading marks left by the brush and/or wheels of the vacuum cleaner. They may be noticeable for a few minutes or a few days depending upon the texture and resiliency of the fiber. Most deep-pile and smooth pile carpets will show vacuum cleaner marks

Pile Reversal

Pile Reversal (Watermarking, Pooling)

An irreversible, localized change in orientation of a carpets pile. The phenomenon has different names in different countries
Over time, areas of carpet may look as though someone has spilled water on various sections of the carpet, hence, “water marking.” Other names to describe the phenomenon include “pooling” and “highlighting.

Common Identifying Characteristics: Areas of carpet may look as though someone has spilled water on various sections of the carpet, hence the term water marking. Areas reverse in shade when viewed from opposite directions. Shade will appear to change when brushing with the hand. At the interfaces (edge of perceived change), the pile on either side will be strongly oriented in opposite directions. Conspicuous, irregularly shaped serpentine lines or “interfaces” will generally be located in or immediately adjacent to traffic paths. The traffic pattern may not precisely follow the flow of traffic, but will appear to waver randomly throughout the trafficked pile.

Type of Claim: While water marking may give a highly objectionable appearance it is considered a characteristic and not a defect. Replacing the carpet with a similar carpet of any fiber will likely develop in the same condition within a few months. The causes of this form of pile reversal have not been conclusively determined. Because it occurs almost exclusively in and immediately adjacent to trafficked areas, traffic appears to be a significant contributing factor; however, several environmental factors, e.g. static electricity, electromagnetic fields have also been advanced as possible contributing factors.
The Carpet and Rug Institute in its manual titled Pile Reversal (“Shading”, “Water Marking”), states……the only conclusion which can be drawn is that pile reversal may develop on the surface of some carpet after it is installed, and that pile reversal is not due to the materials which are used to produce the carpet, the manufacturing process, or any combination of these factors.

Carpet Spot Removal Steps

By Terry Weinheimer Leave a Comment

Tips for Carpet Spot Removal

Again we’re faced with spot removal from our new carpet, one of those unexpected accidents of life! As aggravating as these accidents can be at times they are often easier to overcome than we would expect. This is especially true when it comes to spot removal of those dirty spots and spills on our carpet. Sure it is upsetting to install a new wall to wall carpet only to have your child or husband track in mud or spill a beverage. Now you are faced with spot removal to remove those spots that you should not have had in your newly carpeted room in the first place. The good news is that those disturbing spots from mud to milk or even blood are usually easier to clean from the carpet than you think. With only a small amount of effort at spot removal, even stubborn spots and spills can usually be removed. Here are several spot removal tips that will help you keep your carpet looking great. [Read more…]

7 Easy Carpet Care Tips

By Terry Weinheimer 7 Comments

Seven Carpet Care Tips

For house cleaners, here are seven easy care tips that will make your life easier when it comes to caring for your carpet. Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches. Keeping a carpet clean will extend its life while keep it looking new for a longer period of time. A clean carpet will also reduce household allergens and dust helping to protect the health of your family.

Carpet Care Tip 1 Vacuuming

The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet. Since vacuums can become overwhelmed by too much dirt. Regular thorough, deep vacuuming is surely the most important step when it comes to carpet care. While non-traffic areas can be vacuumed quickly major traffic areas should be vacuumed in more than one direction as you run the vacuum slowly giving it time to pick up the deeper soil. Not all vacuum cleaners are equal. The best hardwood floor vacuums will do a better job of cleaning a carpet than even a specialized carpet vacuum, if it is of poor quality. A good quality vacuum is not necessarily the most expensive.

Carpet Care Tip 2 Walk Off Mats

Keep those dry and gritty outdoor soils from being tracked on to your wall to wall carpet. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to use walk off mats and area rugs at entrances. Always use entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter. Where possible also use an area rug or walk off mat inside your door to help trap soil missed by the outside mats. All mats and rugs need to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly so that they are trapping dirt and not placing dirt on to your shoes.

Carpet Care Tip 3 Shoes

Many people prefer that their family and guest go shoeless on their carpet. This can be helpful, especially if you have slippers that are only worn indoors that you slip into upon entering. The oils from oily bare feet will transfer from ones feet to the carpet.

Carpet Care Tip 4 Pets

If you have pets you need to understand that oil does transfer from pet hair to carpet. Placing an area rug in areas where your pets like to lay will provide excellent protection for your carpet.

Carpet Care Tip 5 Spots and Spills

Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Most spots and spills can be easily cleaned by blotting with no more than clean tap water and a towel. If water does not work you will need to use a cleaning product for the specific type of spot you are experiencing problems with.

Carpet Care Tip 6 Deep Cleaning

Have your carpet professionally deep cleaned. A good thorough cleaning for your higher traffic areas should be performed at least every 12 to 18 months.

A well maintained home and clean carpet will not only add value to your home it will also extend the life of your carpet, protect your carpet warranty, reduce household and pet odors, assist you in keeping your family healthy and your friends and other visitors will be impressed at how nice your home looks.

Carpet Care Tip 7 Optical Brighteners

While optical brighteners can make a carpet appear cleaner, they have a harmful effect on carpet fibers. Technical people in the carpet industry have unanimously taken a stand against the use of brightening agents in the cleaning process. But, even with all of the adverse publicity, optical brighteners or color brighteners, as they are often called, are still used in some spot cleaning products, shampoo, dry-foam and extraction detergents.

Optical brighteners are actually dyes, which reflect the light and eventually cause yellowing in carpet fibers. For this reason alone, every legitimate carpet cleaning company should outlaw their use.

Follow these 7 easy Carpet Care tips and your carpet will stay looking new longer.