Carpet Facts

Carpet can help you breathe easier.
Carpet and Allergens - Answers to Common Misconceptions

Allergens

Some biopollutants, such as animal dander, house dust mites, and mold, have been linked to allergies and asthma, and many of these substances are commonly found in the average home.  It is important to understand that the mere presence of allergens does not in itself pose a hazard.  The allergen must be inhaled for exposure to occur, and in order for inhalation to occur, the allergen must be airborne.

Carpet acts as a trap for allergens

Carpet is capable of holding significant quantities of soil, dust, etc., without appearing very dirty.  It has been demonstrated that carpet is quite efficient at keeping allergen and other small particles such as pollen out of the air.  In fact, data from a Swedish government study indicates that when use of carpet declined, the number of people reporting allergy problems increased.

Regular vacuuming with a vacuum using a high-efficiency filter and periodic cleaning using hot-water extraction ("steam cleaning") removes the majority of allergen from carpet as well as significantly reducing mite populations.

Research has clearly shown that there is no correlation between allergen contained in carpet and allergen in the air in the carpeted room.

Save Energy

No other flooring warms and insulates a room like carpet.

The warm comfort that carpet provides is not just your imagination. Unlike other types of flooring‚ carpet is a natural insulator‚ providing additional warmth in cold seasons.The use of carpet in a wall–to–wall application actually increases the R–value‚ or insulation level‚ of the carpet area‚ potentially saving homeowners like you utility costs while reducing energy use. The R value (thermal resistance) measures how much a material resists the movement of heat through a ceiling‚ wall or floor in a building. The higher the number‚ the more effective the insulation.Recently‚ tests carried out at the Johns Manville Technical Center Thermal Labs‚ one of the most sophisticated laboratories of its kind in the world‚ confirm carpet and pad significantly increase R–value compared to other flooring materials.Results varied according to the carpet’s construction‚ with heavier products generally providing higher R–value. Carpets were tested with and without cushion‚ and the combination maximized the R–value. Carpet really is warmer. Test results from the different carpet constructions were compared to three hard surface products – ceramic tile‚ laminate‚ and engineered hardwood – and the differences were dramatic:

• Carpet vs. engineered hardwood: (From 3 to 7 times the R–value.)
• Carpet vs. laminate: (From 4 to 8 times the R–value.)
• Carpet vs. ceramic tile: (From 8 to 17 times the R–value.)

Carpet with cushion represents a clear advantage in insulation capability over hard surface flooring. Of course‚ potential energy cost savings by using carpet and cushion in lieu of hard surfaces will vary widely. The type of floor construction, local energy costs‚ climate‚ and carpet/cushion type all affect how significant these savings could be. Obviously‚ savings would be greater in colder regions of the country.

Dr. Alan Hedge‚ professor of Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University‚ also cites thermal comfort as another of carpet's advantages. "Carpet feels warmer to the touch than other floor coverings because the air at room temperature is trapped by the carpet fibers which acts as an insulator‚ and carpet has a low thermal diffusivity compared to other floor materials that have higher thermal diffusivity and that conduct heat away from the body more rapidly‚ resulting in a lower skin temperature‚ cooler sensation‚ and greater thermal discomfort‚" Hedge reports.

Carpet Care & Cleaning Tips

FOUR SIMPLE TIPS:
1. USE ENTRANCE MATS
Place walk-off mats inside and outside entrances to your
home to trap soil before it can be tracked in. Be sure to clean
mats weekly to ensure they don’t become soil sources. (Avoid
latex-backed runners which may yellow the carpet).
2. VACUUM REGULARLY
Regular, thorough vacuuming will remove dust and gritty dirt
particles and reduce the abrasion that can dull and wear
carpet fibres. A rotating brush power-head vacuum raises the
carpet pile while it removes the soil. Change the vacuum bag
often. To reduce matting, change the direction of vacuuming
occasionally. Attention: some vacuums have aggressive
brushes that may damage the pile surface. See CRI for
approved vacuum cleaners (www.carpet-rug.org.) for list and
details.
3. CLEAN UP SPILLS IMMEDIATELY
Prompt attention to spots and spills will make removal easier.
Always blot the area being cleaned, never rub, scrub or brush.
If stain persists, use the cleaning method described in the
Spot Removal Guide.
4. SCHEDULE PROFESSIONAL CLEANINGS
Choose a qualified cleaning service experienced in the latest
techniques for advanced generation fibres and have your
carpet professionally cleaned every 12-18 months (keep all
receipts for proof of cleaning). High traffic areas & lighter
carpet colours may require cleaning more often. Hot water
extraction is the preferred method, using products which are
non-cationic and have a PH level less than 10. Non-approved
cleaning products or treatments will void your warranty.

 CAUTION
No other household cleaners or other ingredients should be
used other than those recommended specifically for carpet
since they may contain chemicals that could damage your
carpet.
If you are uncertain what type of spot cleaner you should
use, start by gently using a volatile dry cleaning solvent as
described in suggested method “C” on the next page.
If you know what type of stain you are going to treat, please
follow the suggested recommendations.
Never apply these products directly to the spot you are trying
to clean. Instead, apply these types of spot cleaning products
to a clean, white absorbent towel and blot clean.
Use only a small amount of the liquid cleaner to slightly wet
the carpet fibre and not the backing. Avoid over-wetting since
it may transfer the stain to the carpet backing and prolong the
cleaning treatment unnecessarily.

 suggested spot removal guide
           Stain Cleaning method

Asphalt         D
Beer             A
Beet Juice     B
Blood            A
Chewing Gum H
Chocolate      D
Coffee           D
Cola             A
Cooking Oil   D
Cough Syrup A
Cranberry Juice B
Crayon         D
Dirt              F
Egg             A
Felt Marker D, E
Furniture Polish E
Furniture Stain D
Grape Juice   B
Gelatins        A
Grape Soda   A
Grease          D
Ink (ball point) D
Iodine         A, E

Ketchup         A
Kool-Aid      A
Latex Paint  A
Lipstick        D
Liqueur         A
Make-Up       D
Medicine       A
Mouthwash    A
Motor Oil (used) D
Mustard         A
Nail Polish     G
Oil Paint         D
Orange Juice/Pop A
Pet Feces      C
Pet Urine       C
Prune Juice   B
Red Clay Soil F
Rust              A
Shoe Polish   D
Tea               D
Vomit            C
Water Colours A
Wine             B

A. Blot excess stain or liquid. Apply lukewarm water to a clean,
white absorbent towel and blot the stain to moisten the fibre
layer only. After one minute of dwell time, blot with a white
paper towel to transfer the stain. Repeat until no stain is
evident on the towel. If the stain persists, apply the Cleaning
Solution recommended on page 4 to a clean, white absorbent
towel and blot the stain to moisten the fibre layer only.
After one minute of dwell time, blot with a white paper towel
to transfer the stain. Rinse with clear lukewarm water to
remove the Cleaning Solution, blot dry.
If stain still persists, add water again, fold paper towel and
place over stain with weight. Check towel every 5 minutes
until towel is stain free. Repeat steps as needed. Brush up pile
and allow to dry before walking on carpet.
B. Blot excess stain or liquid. Apply lukewarm water to a clean,
white absorbent towel and blot the stain to moisten the fibre
layer only. After one minute of dwell time, blot with a white
paper towel to transfer the stain. Repeat until no stain is evident
on the towel. If the stain persists, apply hydrogen peroxide (3%
strength available in drug stores) to a clean, white absorbent
towel and blot the stain to moisten the fibre layer only,
immediately follow with household ammonia to a clean, white
absorbent towel and blot the stain to moisten the fibre layer
only. After one minute of dwell time, blot with a white paper
to transfer the stain. Rinse with clear lukewarm water to
remove the solution, blot dry. If the stain persists, follow
directions in Method A.
C. Blot or scrape off excess stain or liquid. Vacuum particles,
and to soften the stain, apply alcohol or a dry cleaning solvent
to a clean, white absorbent towel and blot the stain to
moisten the fibre layer only, then blot with a white paper towel
to transfer the stain immediately. If the stain persists, follow
directions in Method A.
D. Blot excess stain or liquid. Apply alcohol or a dry cleaning
solvent to a clean, white absorbent towel and blot the stain
to moisten the fibre layer only, then blot with a white paper
towel to transfer the stain immediately. Repeat two times.
If the stain persists, follow directions in Method A.
E. Blot to remove excess stain or liquid. Rinse with clear,
lukewarm water and blot dry. If stain persists, apply a dry
cleaning solvent with a dampened white cloth and blot dry
immediately, then apply warm water to the stained area
and blot dry with a clean white cloth. Absorb any remaining
moisture with layers of white cloth weighted on top of area.