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Consumer's Guide CANADIAN CARPET INSTITUTE
Besides home fashion and durability, carpet also provides sound reduction, thermal insulation, non-slip safety and comfort underfoot. Because we want to help you maintain your carpet’s fresh, beautiful appearance, the Canadian Carpet Institute has prepared this guide to help answer questions concerning the installation and care of your carpet.
IMPORTANT: Keep records of your carpet and undercushion just as you would any significant purchase in your home or office, for questions or assistance in the future. Make sure the dealer supplies the following information:
Cleaning recommendations from the manufacturer (attach to this document)
Installation Guidelines - It is very important that the carpet be installed by a reputable, reliable (preferably certified) installer, who should follow the installation instructions from the carpet manufacturer or follow the minimum guidelines set forth in the “Residential Installation Standard, CRI 105” (“CRI 104” for commercial installations). Measurement - Carefully measure each room or area to determine the necessary quantity. Particular attention should be paid to doors, closets, unusual angles, and seam placement. Installation Date - Double check the delivery date, the installation date and the estimated time allowance for the installation since your home will be in disarray during installation. Furniture Moving - Discuss furniture moving with your retailer. The installer may move furniture, but there may be an extra charge. Seams - Prior to installation, to minimize the visibility of seams, discuss their location with the person in charge of the installation. Existing Carpet - Discuss removal of existing carpet with your retailer. The following steps are recommended: vacuuming prior to removal; ventilation during removal; and vacuuming the floor after the old carpet and cushion have been removed. Inspection - Prior to installation, inspect the carpet to see that it meets order specifications of colour, texture and style, and that it is free from defects. Power Stretching and good seam sealing are essential for wall-to-wall installations. Excess Carpet - Discuss with your dealer whether you would like to keep any left-over carpet for use as doormats or future repair carpet. Before installation, all other remodeling intended in the room should be completed, such as painting or wallpapering. Check the clearance at the bottom of doors to be sure they will swing freely over the new carpet and cushion. If the doors do not clear, arrange to have them trimmed. Most installers will not be able to do this for you.
Carpet Undercushion: Carpet cushion is a necessary foundation for your carpet. It protects your new carpet investment while making your carpet look better, longer. Quality cushion protects; it offers comfort and makes vacuuming more efficient, while reducing noise levels and insulating against cold. Select the highest-quality cushion you can afford and ask about its performance warranty. Floor Covering Adhesives: Most residential installations do not require a floor covering adhesive. In installations where adhesive is used, such as in basements or on concrete floors, ask for low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesives that are environmentally-friendly. Prior to Installation: A quality installation can help your carpet provide long-lasting performance. Confirm that your installer is using the installation guidelines of the carpet manufacturer. Vacuum the old carpet to remove dust and dirt. Provide fresh air ventilation during removal of the old carpet and undercushion. Vacuum the sub-floor after removal of the old carpet and undercushion to remove remaining dust and dirt. Ventilation During Installation: During installation, open windows and doors for an adequate supply of fresh air, and operate the fan of your heating or air conditioning system. Continue to ventilate with fresh air as much as possible for 48 to 72 hours. Portable fans may also be used. People who are allergy prone or sensitive should consider leaving the area or avoiding the premises while the carpet is being removed and installed. Vacuum immediately after installation to remove installation debris.
After your carpet has been installed, you may notice some characteristics that are common but may need explanation. Fluffing / Shedding occurs when loose fibres are released from the surface of the new carpet. This normally subsides within a short time. Sprouting is the term used when long pile tufts emerge above the normal pile surface. They can be easily removed by clipping the extended yarns with scissors. Never pull the yarns. Pulled Yarn / Fraying / Ravelling may occur occasionally along the walls or at the seams, if seam sealing was incorrectly done during installation. Do not pull the yarns. Call your retailer or the installer. Depressions may be formed by heavy objects pressing down on the pile surface. These depressions may be removed or reduced by steaming and gently rubbing the affected area. Do not touch the carpet with the steam source or hold it too close to the carpet. Pile Crushing or Matting may be caused by the entanglement and compression of pile fibres from heavy traffic or excessive soiling. It can be minimized by maintaining the carpet with a ‘beater-bar" type vacuum cleaner. Shading / Pile Reversal (also known as watermarking or pooling) sometimes occurs in cut pile carpets. This is not a manufacturing defect - it is rather a visual effect caused by the tips of the tufts reflecting light differently than the sides of the tufts. Temporary pile reversal can be caused, for example, by footprints or a vacuum cleaner. This is an aesthetic quality in the design, not a defect. When purchasing a carpet, ask your dealer if the style you prefer will show this condition if it is objectionable to you. Buckling and Wrinkling (Rucking) occur when carpet has not been properly stretched during installation (see Installation" on previous page). The carpet should be re-stretched. Please consult your dealer or installer.
Maintain your carpet according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The Best Vacuum Keep in mind that carpet is probably subject to more abuse than any other home furnishing. Different qualities and styles of carpet will perform differently, and the way the carpet is vacuumed and maintained, as well as the condition of the vacuum cleaner, can also affect performance. It is essential to vacuum often (minimum once per week), using a top quality vacuum, to prolong the life of the carpet. Vacuum cleaners with revolving brushes or beater bars and a high filtration internally- housed vacuum bag are recommended for the best overall cleaning. Change the bag regularly and check for worn belts. MAINTENANCE - Dealing with Spills Many carpets available today have been treated with a stain resistant treatment and/or a soil repellent treatment. Most food and beverage spills can be cleaned easily without leaving a permanent stain; however, even carpet with a stain resistant treatment is not "stain proof". The longer the spill or staining material is allowed to remain on the carpet, the more difficult it may be to remove. Change of colour may occur as a result of contact with certain household products. Some, such as acne medicines, will cause a gradual change while others, such as bleaches, strippers or products containing bleaching agents, will cause almost immediate change. This type of change is due to the destruction or severe modification of the carpet dye and cannot be corrected. Staining of carpets can be caused by contact with products such as beverages, mustard, foods, medicines, iodine, hair products, pesticides, vomit, urine, feces and indoor plant fertilizer. In effect, the carpet fibre is dyed by the colourant in the product and many such stains are therefore virtually permanent. For both colour change and staining, prevention is the best cure. Products such as those noted above should be kept away from carpets. Follow these general procedures for emergency stain removal
Act quickly when anything is dropped or spilled. Remove spots before they dry.
Remove any loose material prior to cleaning up the stain. Never scrub - always blot. Do not rub vigorously. Blot liquids with a clean, white, absorbent cloth or paper towel. For semi-solids, scoop up with a rounded spoon. For solids, break up and vacuum out as much as possible. Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to make certain it will not damage the carpet or its dyes. Apply a small amount of the recommended cleaning solution to the cloth. Work in gently. Do not scrub. Work from the edges of the spot to the centre. Blot thoroughly. Repeat until the spot is removed. Follow the steps on the Carpet Spot Removal Chart. After each application, absorb as much as possible before proceeding to the next step. Repeat with clean water, and blot again to remove any remaining cleaner residue. To ensure the cleaned area has been thoroughly neutralized of any cleaning residue, dampen with white vinegar. Absorb remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels, weighted down with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. When completely dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore the texture. If the spot is not completely removed, contact a professional carpet cleaner. MAINTENANCE - Carpet Spot Removal Chart KEY TO CLEANING METHODS
Find the spot source in the first column and read across that row for the correct method to try. Try the first method suggested, then the second, and third, etc., until the spot is successfully removed.
NOTE: Some spills contain chemicals that may discolour or even damage the carpet fibres or dyes. If you have doubts about what caused the spill or how to remove it, contact a professional carpet cleaner.
While vacuuming on a regular basis is essential, consider deep cleaning your carpet at least once every twelve to eighteen months. A certified professional cleaner is recommended. However, you may want to do it yourself. If the choice is to personally clean the carpet, review the manufacturer’s recommendations so that the method used does not void the warranty. Wet Method - either a shampoo cleaning or hot water extraction method.
It is extremely important not to over-wet the carpet. Undercushion should not become wet. Over-wetting can result in wicking of staining material from the backing and even promote the growth of mould and miIdew on the backing or cushion.
Dry Method - either absorbent compound, absorbent pad, or dry foam method
It is necessary to remove furniture or place plastic or aluminum foil under and around the furniture legs to prevent rust or stains. When the carpet is rinsed, the rinse water should contain a good quality “all fibre rinse'' neutralizing agent. For hot water extraction, room temperature should be maintained at normal levels. Increasing temperature will increase humidity and prolong drying time. Let the carpet dry completely before walking on it. Fans and open windows will speed up the drying process. The carpet should be thoroughly dried within 12 to 24 hours in order to avoid the possible growth of mould or mildew. Shampoo cleaning should be either rinsed with the hot water extraction method or thoroughly vacuumed to remove residue. These methods are minimum-moisture systems that may be applicable for certain types of carpet and where high humidity makes it difficult to remove a wet cleaning solution. Professional cleaning can save you time and energy. Ask your retailer if he can recommend a certified professional cleaner. Check references. Or contact a cleaning or floorcovering association, but be sure to obtain a qualified, certified cleaner. You can also contact the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (1-800-835-4624) to obtain the names of member firms in your area. The IICRC has published a standard for carpet cleaning referred to as IICRC S001-1991. You may wish to request that this standard be adhered to by your cleaner. Some professional cleaners have the capability of cleaning area rugs either in your home or in their own facility. IMPORTANT: Be sure that the room is well ventilated with fresh air (open doors and/or windows and use exhaust fans) during and immediately after the cleaning process. All methods - it is essential to fully extract all soil, moisture and cleaning agents from the carpet after each deep cleaning procedure. The carpet, when dry, should then be vacuumed.
We Canadians today spend ninety percent of our time indoors, at home or at work, often in energy-efficient buildings that lack sufficient fresh air ventilation. Various construction materials, surface finishes, interior furnishings, renovating and cleaning agents, play important roles in the quality of indoor air. New carpet may give off a mild scent that dissipates rapidly. We recommend the following common-sense steps to help you ensure that your carpet contributes to a high level of indoor air quality.
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