5 Easy Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Carpet

1. Check the Warranty:

Copies of specific warranties on your carpet purchase may be available from your carpet retailer. Stain resist warranties can vary from 5 to 20 years.

ALL STAIN RESIST WARRANTIES REQUIRE REGULAR CLEANING AND IMMEDIATE SPOT REMOVAL.

2. Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!

It is said that the three most important rules for maintaining carpet are vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Vacuum your carpet often. Once or twice a week at least. Vacuuming removes the sharp soil that can cut and slice the fiber causing premature wear.

Much of this soil is not visible to the eye. Remove any loose particles such as loose food, leaves, pieces of crayon, bugs, etc. as these items can cause a spot on the carpet.

3. Have Your Carpet Professionally Cleaned

Professional cleaning by a professional, certified firm should be done at least every 12 months according to 3M and major carpet manufacturers. Heavy traffic areas may need it more often. Manufacturer’s warranties require professional cleaning at least every 11-18 months to retain texture retention warranties.

Rule of thumb: Clean your carpet before it looks visibly soiled.

4. Remove Spots Immediately

Spots that are not immediately removed can turn into permanent stains very easily. Always use a spot cleaner that is recommended by the carpet manufacturer or your trained, certified professional cleaner!

Many “over the counter” spotters leave too much soap residue that leaves a sticky residue behind that will make your spots return!

5. Have Carpet Protector Re-Applied

The soil resistor that is built into stain resistant nylon carpet is removed with regular foot traffic and harsh cleaners. To keep your carpet cleaner longer, have your protector reapplied each time you have your carpet professionally cleaned.

Should you have any questions or would like more information about S. Murphy Carpet Care please visit SMurphyCarpetCare.com

4 Quick & Easy Steps To Remove Spots From Your Carpet

Have you ever tried cleaning a spot on your carpet or rug only to make it worse?

Using the wrong product or the wrong technique can actually damage your carpet or rug. Follow these simple instructions for best results. Please keep in mind that some spots require professional care.

STEP 1: Cover spill with WHITE napkin or paper towels. DO NOT use colored paper! It might transfer onto the carpet. Be sure to use a THICK stack to absorb as much of the spot as possible

STEP 2: Blot by stepping on stack of towels.
REPEAT THIS PROCESS UNTIL NO TRANSFER TAKES PLACE. DO NOT RUB!!!

STEP 3: Apply Spotting Agent. Warning: Do not use over the counter spot removers! They can leave a sticky residue that attracts soil and may discolor your textiles.. Instead, use white vinegar mixed 50/50 or call me to find out what spotters are recommended.

STEP 4: REPEAT Steps 1 and 2. If the spot does not come out, do NOT attempt any further action, as you may set the spot and or damage your textiles. Instead, give me a call.

Do not over-wet the spot. Keep blotting until dry to the touch. You may then repeat all steps.

I hope this short post will help you with your everyday spot cleaning.

For help or advise please feel free to contact me.

Always at your service,

Scott Murphy

www.SmurphyCarpetCare.com

What's Better Carpet Or Hard Surface Floors For Your Families Health And Overall Indoor Air Quality

When I'm in homes cleaning carpets I get asked a lot of questions. One particular question I get asked is:

“What is best for indoor air quality and my families overall health. Carpet or hard surface floors?”

One day going through one of my trade magazines I came across an article from the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute. The industry trade association, is committed to educating people about carpet and to dispel untruths and myths. )

It's a Q&A article that I think will help to answer this question:

”The suggestion that carpet causes indoor air quality problems is a significant issue for the carpet industry to address,” said Werner Braun, president of CRI. “Through research, CRI offers information that is valuable to anyone living with carpet.”

The following myths have been identified as the most persistent misconceptions, according to Mr. Braun. Due to space limitations, we don’t list the full reference studies used in this research. That information can be viewed on the CRI website, listed at the end of this article.

Myth No. 1: “There are health risks associated with carpet.”

Truth: An extensive toxicological assessment of components of carpet concluded that the chemicals in carpet pose no health risks of public concern.

Myth No. 2: “Mold and mildew can grow in carpet.”

Truth: Mold and mildew exist ONLY where there is excess moisture and dirt coupled with poor cleaning and maintenance habits. Mold growth can occur on any surface-from windowpanes to carpet- that is not properly maintained and when moisture is extreme. Eliminating sources of excessive moisture, such as water leaks, and controlling humidity greatly offset the potential for mold to grow.

Myth No. 3: “Carpet is a cause of the asthma and allergy increase.”

Truth: Comparison data from Sweden supports that there is no link between carpet usage and the incidence of asthma or allergies. CRI is not aware of any published scientific research demonstrating a link between carpet and asthma or allergies.

Myth No. 4: “Carpet is a sink for allergy-causing substances.”

Truth: This is true as stated. The critical point, however, is often missed. Carpet holds allergen-causing substances tightly and, as a result, keeps allergens from becoming airborne, minimizing the level of allergens in the breathing zone. This translates to lower exposure potential. The allergens held by carpet’s filter-like effect may be removed by vacuuming, refreshing the filter-like properties of the carpet to allow more material to be removed from the air. Vacuuming mattresses, carpet, and upholstery once or twice a week removed allergens, including dust mite feces-a known source of allergen. It is important to use the proper type of vacuum to minimize re-suspending allergens.

Visit CRI’s web site to learn about the Green Label Vacuum Cleaner IAQ Testing Program that approves vacuum cleaner models that are most effective in soil removal and dust containment, while keeping carpet looking good.

Myth No. 5: “Carpet is more expensive and harder to maintain than hard- floor surfaces.”

Truth: Properly maintained carpet only needs vacuuming once or twice weekly and periodic cleaning. The sweeping, mopping, stripping, waxing, and buffing that hard surface floors demand are more laborious and costly.

Myth No. 6: “Latex in carpet produces allergic reactions.”

Truth: The latex that holds the fibers and backing together in broadloom carpet is synthetic. Synthetic latex is not associated with the allergic reactions of natural latex, which are caused by the proteins found in natural latex.

Myth No.7: “Formaldehyde is used in the production of new carpet.”

Truth: Formaldehyde is not used in the carpet manufacturing process. It is not emitted from new carpet.

Contact the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) at 800 882 8846 or visit the web sites at www.carpet-rug.com and www.carpet-schools.com for extensive information about carpet and rugs.


I hope this quick article has helped answer a few of the questions you may have on the difference between having carpet and hard surface floors in your home for the best indoor air quality.

Should you have any further questions or comments please, feel free to contact me.

Always at your service,
Scott Murphy
www.SmurphyCarpetCare.com

Why It's Important To Maintain Your Carpet On A Regular Basis

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says… “Until such a time as the carpet fibers are cleaned, the potential for human exposure and health risk remains high.” “Every time carpets and fabrics are emptied of their pollution build-up through professional cleaning methods, there is a health benefit.”

Imagine a carpeted floor and a hard surface floor in your home, office or work area. Let’s say that you vacuum the carpet daily and sweep the floor daily. Six months later, what would your hard floor look like? Remember, you have only swept the floor, not mopped. You would have a grungy looking hard floor, but the carpet would still look good. The reason for this is that carpet does not magically repel dirt...it hides it! Same dirt on both floors, you just can’t see it on the carpet...yet.

The problem: Carpet by its design, hides dirt. By the time soil becomes apparent, it is no longer a light duty-cleaning chore, it has become a heavy-duty restoration. The ability of the cleaning process to achieve a desirable appearance is affected by the amount of soil and the length of time it has been in the carpet. Without a quality maintenance plan, the carpet is eventually replaced, not because it has “worn out,” but because cleaning no longer improves the appearance. The carpet has “uglied out.” The overall annual cost of owning a carpet can be reduced, if it is properly maintained. You could effectively extend your carpets life by 3 to 5 years.

The solution: Regular maintenance programs are your best protection against the build-up of soils, mold spores, chemicals, dust mites and other pollutants that accumulate in your carpet and upholstery. Protect your family’s health by calling Scott Murphy & S. Murphy Carpet Care and ask about my "Stay Clean" 1/2 Price Maintenance Program Today!

Phone: (260) 403-4023
Website: www.SmurphyCarpetCare.com

3 Simple Steps To Remove Pet Stains From Your Carpet

During the years one of the most asked question my clients ask is how do I remove pet stains from my carpet after my pet has an accident?

Well, my answer to this question is keep it simple! There really is only 3 simple steps you must follow and in this post I will go over these steps and if you follow them you will have great success.

Step # 1

First, thing you must do is have the right cleaners for the job:

1. 32oz. spray bottle
2. Distilled white vinegar
3. Can of scented lysol
4. White terry cloth towels

Take your 32 oz. spray bottle and mix 1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1/2 water. Get a can of scented lysol and some good white terry cloth towels. Put these items in a easy to reach area for quick access.

Step # 2

1) For # 2 (poo,poo) accidents make sure you first pick up the waste with some toilet paper and dispose of it in the toilet. Then go back to the area and apply a couple of sprays of your white vinegar mixture over the spot. Double fold the terry cloth towel and blot by standing upright and using your foot. This will keep you from rubbing the fibers of the carpet and causing them to fray. After doing this spray some scented lysol on the area to help disinfect and deoderize.

2) For # 1 (pee,pee) accidents take your terry cloth towel and blot up the stain as much as possible. Make sure to follow the blotting instructions above. Then simply spray some of your white vinegar solution over the area and turn the terry cloth towel over and repeat the blotting procedures. After doing this spray some scented lysol over the area to again help disinfect and deoderize.


Step # 3

After the areas of the carpet has had a chance to dry simply vacuum over the area to help remove any residue that may have been left behind. And that's it!


In Closing:

Keep it simple! If you follow the steps above you will have great success in removing the spot plus disinfecting and deoderizing the area!

If you have a major accident it may be best to contact your professional and get his advice or have them come out and help with the situation. I know this is sometimes not what you want to do because of the expense but by paying a small service fee can really help you from early carpet replacement.

Always at your service,
Scott Murphy
www.SmurphyCarpetCare.com

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