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Carpet Maintenance

Vacuum Regularly

Most dirt, and even dust, takes the form of hard particles. When left in the carpet these gritty, sharp particles abrade the pile of the carpet. Regular vacuuming not only prolongs the life of the carpet, but will enhance its appearance as well. Most soiling in carpet is of the dry, particle type which can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.Vacuum high traffic lanes daily, medium to high traffic areas twice weekly, and the entire house at least once a week.Use a vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar. Change the bags often and check the beater bars for burs and gouges so as not to damage the surface of the carpet. Some thick loop pile carpets will fuzz if a rotating brush vacuum is used. In this case we recommend a suction vacuum only.

Preventive Maintenance

The use of mats or runners at all home entrances and on uncarpeted areas adjacent to carpet will reduce soil and moisture in traffic areas. Clean mats and any other rugs placed over carpet regularly.

The use of furniture coasters to distribute the weight of heavy items is also recommended, especially for furniture with wheels. Take care when moving furniture with wheels by putting a protective barrier between the wheels and the carpet.

To extend the beauty of your carpeting, close drapes or blinds during hours of direct sunlight.

Exercise extreme caution with all bleaches, tile cleaners, mildew removers, oven cleaners, drain openers and plant food. They are strong chemicals that can permanently discolor or dissolve carpet fibers.

Cleaning Recommendations

Even with regular vacuuming, soil particles and oily dirt will cling to the carpet fibers. With foot traffic these particles and oily dirt are driven deep into the carpet. We recommend professional hot water extraction every 18 to 24 months. Periodic cleaning, using the hot water extraction method performed by a professional cleaner, will refresh carpet appearance.

The most used areas, such as entrances, doorways, traffic lanes, and in front of chairs will collect dirt faster than other areas. Clean these areas as they begin to show soil. This will stop dirt from spreading, and will extend the time between professional cleaning.

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Emergency Carpet Cleaning:

Water-based Stains
Step 1

• Use a spoon or 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 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. 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 fibers.
• If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
• Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, 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 with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
• Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
• If stain remains, proceed to Step 2.

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 and 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.

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Greasy, Oil-based Stains

• Use a spoon or dull knife to remove solid materials.
• For these stains, use a citrus solvent applied directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.

Step 2

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 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. 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 fibers.
• If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain. Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, 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 with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket. Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
• If stain remains, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3

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 and blot as outlined in Step 1. Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step 4 to neutralize the ammonia solution.

Step 4

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.

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Special Water-based Stains

• 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 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. 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 fibers.
• If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain. Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, 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 with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket. Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
• If stain remains, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.

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Laminate Floor Care

Laminate Flooring is extremely hygienic and easy to keep clean. Here are our recommendations to keep your laminate floor looking beautiful for many years.

• Routine cleaning requires just vacuuming, dusting with a clean, dry cloth, or a damp mop to prevent loose dirt or grit from scratching your floor's finish.

• Use non-staining walk-off mats by the entrance of all outside doorways.

• Use a damp mop to remove footmarks and most stubborn dirt. Always be sure that your mop has been thoroughly wrung out. Never wet mop, or use excessive amounts of water on your the laminate floor.

• Never use scouring substances, abrasive cleaners, paste waxes or any floor polishes on your laminate floor.

• Marks and stubborn stains can easily be removed with Acetone™ nail polish remover or other mild, solvents containing alcohol.

• Felt pads should be affixed to the base of all furniture legs and drip trays should be placed underneath any planted pots. Movable furniture should be fitted with wide, rubber rollers.

• The use of "soap-free" cleaners on a regular basis is all you need to do to keep your floor looking beautiful for many years.

• Hardened glue left over after your floor is installed can be removed with Acetone™ nail polish remover or special glue solvents.

Important Tips Regarding Laminate Flooring:

• Use any non-abrasive, soap-free cleaner on a regular basis. (NEVER USE: Abrasive pads and cleaners, including nylon scouring pads, steel wool, Comet^™, Soft Scrub^™, etc. which may damage the finish.)

• Footprints and dirt easily wipe away with a moist cloth. Just wring cloth well before use. · It is recommended to remove any wet spills immediately to avoid liquid penetration into the seams.

• Use felt protectors or approved nylon pads under furniture and replace all hard plastic or metal rollers on furniture with soft rubber rollers.

• Use caution when moving large appliances such as refrigerator, ranges, etc. · Use protective mats at exterior entrances and in heavy traffic areas.

• Always remove loose dirt by sweeping. Mop using a rinse free or non-sudsy ammonia mixed with water according to the ammonia's instructions for normal cleaning. Use only a slightly damp mop.

• Don't use "mop-and-shine" products. They'll leave a dull film. Never wax or polish your floor.

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Hardwood Floor Care

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Vinyl Floor Care

Whenever possible place a non-staining doormat outside each entrance to your home to prevent dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, and driveway sealer from being tracked onto your floor. Do not use latex-backed, rubber-backed or coco-fiber mats on your vinyl floor.

• Sweep your vinyl floor regularly (at least once a week).
• Vinyl manufacturers recommend the use of latex-based driveway sealers to minimize the potential staining from asphalt sealer tracking.
• To avoid sunlight causing your floor to fade or discolor you should always close your curtains or blinds where extreme sunlight hits the floor.
• Replace all narrow furniture rests with wide-bearing ones. Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. It is recommended that all furniture protectors be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic, and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 3/4" flat surface width or floor protectors are recommended for all moveable furniture. Metal floor protectors are generally not recommended.
• Always use strips of 1/4" plywood or sheets of underlayment as runways to protect the floor if you need to move heavy objects, such as your refrigerator, across your vinyl floor. Runways should always be used even with furniture dollies, or even if the heavy objects are equipped with wheels or rollers.
• Wipe up spills immediately to help prevent stains. The longer a stain sits the tougher it will be to remove from the surface.
• To prevent dirt build up occasionally mop your floor with the manufacturer's recommended floor cleaner. Follow the instructions on the bottle and do not over mix or your cleaning solution may leave a dulling film. Avoid soaps, cleaning powders and detergent products as they will leave a dulling film. Although the no-rinse cleaners do not need rinsing, rinsing will provide the better shine. If you do notice a dulling film after cleaning the floor, try a thorough rinse with warm, clean water.
• To restore the hi-gloss on a urethane vinyl floor most manufacturer's do recommend the use of a polish. Do not use paste wax and do not try to buff a urethane vinyl floor. Be sure the floor is thoroughly clean and completely dry before applying the manufacturer's recommended floor polish. (If all the dirt is not removed prior to applying the polish the dirt will become trapped underneath.)
• Vinyl floors can become slippery when wet. Use extreme caution when walking on a wet floor.
• Some of the newer vinyl floors have a low-gloss finish and the use of a floor polish may make the floor shiny.
• It may be necessary after several applications of polish to strip the entire floor and reapply a new coat of polish. This may also be necessary for excessive dirt and grime build-up. Use the manufacturer's recommended recommend heavy duty floor cleaner and stripper product. Once the floor is thorough cleaned, rinse, dry, and then apply a new coat of polish. High traffic areas may require more than one application of polish. Allow polish to dry "tack-free" between coats.

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Ceramic Tile Care

• Vacuum or sweep regularly to remove any dirt or grit.
• Remove spills promptly using a clean, dry terry Microfiber cloth.
• Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs.
• Use protective mats at all exterior entrances.
• Cleaners should never contain acids or ammonia. Acids can damage the grout and the glazed surface of the tile, and ammonia can discolor the grout.
• For removing grease, soap scum and mildew stains from grout joints see us for a professional strength Grout Cleaner.
• Never use oil soaps or wax to clean your tile floor.
• Protect your floor when using a dolly for moving furniture or appliances. Never slide or roll heavy furniture or appliances across the floor.
• If you need to remove sealers or waxes from your tile floor see us for a Tile Sealer & Adhesive remover.

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