Use and Care Manual

USE AND CARE
Preventive Maintenance
• Keep the dirt, soil, and debris off carpet
• Vacuums & Cleaning Products: Make sure your vacuum and cleaning products are certified through the Carpet and Rug
Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval. Visit www.carpet-rug.org for details and listings.
• Professionally clean with a hot water extraction method every 12-18 months
• Use appropriate HUD Carpet pad. Carpet pad must meet FHA HUD requirements. Visit www.carpet-rug.org for details.
Recommended Cleaning Solutions
• Detergent: Mix 1/4 teaspoon clear, hand dishwashing detergent with 1-cup warm, not hot, water. Use a clear, non-bleach
liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory
• Hydrogen Peroxide/Ammonia: Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% solution available in drug stores) with one teaspoon
undiluted, unscented, clear (non-sudsy) household ammonia.
• Vinegar: 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water
• Ammonia: one-tablespoon ammonia to one-cup water.
• Solvent: Liquid, non-oily, non-caustic type sold for spot removal from garments. Use products for grease, oil, and tar removal
such as Carbona and Afta. Do not apply directly to carpet to prevent carpet damage
General Stain Removal Instructions
• Remove as much food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.
• Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or cloth towels.
• Always blot; do not rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, always work from the outside of stain in
towards the center of the spot to prevent spreading the spill.
• Always follow up with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.
• Remove remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object
that will not transfer color (ex. a plastic jug of water).
Spot Cleaning Guide
Spot cleaning is for recent spills in small areas and not a part of regular carpet maintenance.
• Use a clean, white cloth to first blot a wet stain dry. A white cloth should be used to ensure there’s no transfer of color to your
carpet from cloth during spot removal.
• Pick a cleaning agent from the recommended solutions listed above that best suits the type of stain you’re trying to remove.
• Test your cleaning agent first in an inconspicuous area of the room to ensure it doesn’t have colorfastness issues – where the
carpet color is removed and appears on the cloth after you test. If the carpet maintains its appearance and no dye appears on
the white cloth after the test, then use on the affected spot to clean.
• Apply a modest amount of cleaning agent to your white cloth and dab the spot stain. Do not scrub, press hard, or rub
vigorously.
• After dabbing, blot the carpet with a clean, damp white cloth to soak up any remaining cleaning agent.
• Afterward ensure the area dries completely; run a fan or carpet dryer to speed up the drying process.