Take care of your carpet floor investment and it will reward you and your home for many, many years to come!

Plus, knowing what’s expected of you regarding carpet floor upkeep can be a determining factor in the type of flooring you purchase.

This section is about the care, considerations, and cautions of maintaining carpet flooring. Read the following advice and learn more about the care of new carpeting. Just locate your stain on one of the charts below and follow the recommended cleaning steps until the stain is removed.

* Freeze and remove solid materials before cleaning.

Step 1

• Use a spoon or a dull knife to remove solid materials.


• For large stains, work from the outside of stain to the center to prevent spreading.


• Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel.


• Mix a solution of ¼ teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing liquid with1 cup of water and stir gently.


• Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.


• Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet.


• If necessary, use your fingertips to gently work the solution to the base of the stain.


• Wet the stained carpet fibers with clean, lukewarm water to rinse.


• Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.


• Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.


• If the stain is gone, place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned and weigh towels down weigh a heavy, colorfast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.


• Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.


• If the stain remains, proceed to Step 2 .

(For coffee, tea or urine skip Step 2 and proceed to Step 3)

Step 2

• Do not use on coffee, tea or urine stains.


• Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.


• Apply ammonia solution, rinse an blot as outlined in Step 1.


• Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step 3 to neutralize the ammonia solution.

Step 3

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.


• Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.


• Most household spills and stains can be removed using this easy method. For best results, always clean spots and spills immediately.


• Follow the cleaning steps until the stain is removed.


• It is not unusual for stains to reappear after spot cleaning. This is referred to as “wicking”. Wicking can occur when a liquid is spilled on the carpet (usually a large quantity.) Cleaning can remove only the stain from the carpet fibers. Liquid still remains in the carpet backing or padding. Through capillary action, the stain can “wick” back up into the carpet fibers. These stains are not permanent and typically can be removed by simply repeating the appropriate step-by-step directions listed here. It is important that you place paper towels weighted down by a heavy object over the area while the carpet is drying to absorb any remaining stain substances.

Regular care and maintenance will keep your carpet looking new for years to come, and will keep your home cozy and fresh for family and friends.

For more maintenance information specific to your carpet flooring, remember to consult the carpet’s manufacturer recommendations.