Damato Carpet

Carpet Selection

In selecting your color, take the time to look at large samples in your home, both by daylight and lamplight in the evening. The color you choose will look different under different lighting conditions.

Light colored carpets will show more soil and require more maintenance than dark colors. Darker colors of carpeting are more effective in high traffic areas. Multi-colors and patterned carpets are especially effective in hiding soil.

The performance and quality of a carpet is directly related to the amount and quality of fiber that goes into the pile. The better the fiber and the denser it is packed, the better the carpet will perform. Thin, less dense carpet will lose its surface appearance faster. It is best to buy the highest quality you can afford.

Stain Removal

Treatment of the affected area should begin immediately upon discovery. The more time that elapses before treatment, the more difficult a stain will be to remove.

First scrape food spill gently with a spoon or dull knife, removing as much as possible.

Always work from outer edge of the stain towards the center to avoid spreading. Blot*, do not rub or scrub, as the carpet may fuzz.

When using a mild detergent, use a clear, non-bleach laundry detergent. Do not use cloudy detergents as they can leave a sticky residue. Use only 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water. Follow detergent cleaning with clear water rinsing and then blot dry as much as possible.

For any stain removal, use a white cloth or paper towel for cleanup.

* Find further advice on stain emergencies at 3Ms Stain Database

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.

Preventative 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

Click Here to Choose a Carpet

Carpet Textures

Understanding a few simple basics about carpet construction will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle and budget.

Textured Plush
Most decoratively versatile cut-pile carpet Textured surface helps hide footprints and vacuum marks Adds casual beauty to any room Looks great between vacuuming Preferred style for busy households A great "whole-house" carpet

Saxony
Refined cut-pile surface Luxuriously smooth, soft finish Beautiful with traditional interiors Adds distinctive elegance to any room Ideal for living and dining rooms Shows subtle highlights and accents

Berber Loop-Pile
A wool-like look and rugged loop surface Natural, hand-crafted appearance creates a warm, personal atmosphere Tight loop texture helps hide footprints and vacuum marks Subtle patterns fit a variety of room styles Ideal choice for contemporary to country to cottage furnishings

Berber Cut-Pile
An exciting new berber look with all the wonderful color and interest of traditional loop berbers The great plush "feel" of thick, cut pile carpet Beautifully crafted and colored yarns add personality to any room Very versatile decoratively, ideal for casual rooms, kids' rooms, etc. Subtle color flecks help hide soil that might appear between cleanings

Cut / Loop
Carved definition with cut-and-loop pile Accent colors spice up floor surfaces Multicolor effects hide soil and stains Looks great between vacuuming Choose from soft tonals to bolder color combinations

Commercial / Mainstreet
Versatile styles blend comfortably with any decor Durable long-wearing surface pile engineered for high traffic areas Intriguing color choices suitable for professional and practical installations Textured surfaces provide subtle highlights

Select carpet based on:

Fiber the carpet material itself. Single fibers are spun together to create two, three or four-ply yarn, which is then attached to a woven backing.
Pile the height of the fiber.
Density the amount of fiber tufts per square inch. Carpet weight is measured in ounces per square yard. When using weight to compare carpets, make sure youre comparing like materials (ex: nylon to nylon, not nylon to polyester).
Texture the style in which fibers are looped, twisted or cut provides texture.

Carpet Fibers

Carpet fibers are either natural or synthetic. Wool is the natural fiber used in carpet; cotton and other natural fibers are widely used in rugs. The major synthetic yarns are nylon, olefin, acrylic and polyester.

Wool offers a deep, rich look and feel with excellent resilience and durability. Although its naturally stain resistant, it requires a high level of maintenance, including mothproofing.
Nylon is the most common carpet material. Its the strongest fiber, making it an excellent choice for heavy traffic areas. Its also the most durable of the synthetics, easy to clean and maintain. Nylon is soil- and mildew-resistant, resilient and non-allergenic. Some nylon may pill and be prone to static.
Olefin (Polypropylene) was originally for outdoor carpeting and basements due to its resistance to moisture, mildew, water damage, staining, pilling, shedding and static. Now its more widely used for its durability and wool-like feel and appearance. Olefin is dyed before its made into a fiber and therefore is colorfast. Some olefin can flatten and fade in direct sunlight.
Polyester is not as durable or as nylon, but still quite wear-resistant. Polyester offers a wide selection of textures and colors. While its susceptible to pilling and shedding, its non-allergenic, sheds moisture, resists moths and mildew and cleans easily.
Acrylic is the closest to wool of any of the synthetics. Acrylic is manufactured primarily for commercial use. It offers soil resistance, excellent cleanability and resistance to static, moths and mildew. Acrylic is available in a wide choice of colors, and is less likely to fade in bright sunlight than nylon or polyester.

Carpet Treatments

Carpet is available with stain-resistant fibers and finishes, welcome news to homes with children and pets. The most effective treatments are added as part of the manufacturing process. Finishes "applied" later are not as long-lasting. Heat setting is a manufacturing process that reinforces the twists of the yarn plies to add durability.

Carpet Pile

Cut Pile carpets fiber ends are cut on a level face.

Saxony is a popular carpet of dense, level-cut pile with loops clipped to about 1/2" high. The closely packed yarns give a soft smooth surface which is perfect in formal settings. A smooth- finished saxony is sometimes referred to as plush.

Textured is also a cut pile, but isnt as densely tufted as a saxony. Two-toned yarn and an uneven surface gives it a casual look suited for any room. Its tight-twist construction helps resist soil, so its often a good choice for family rooms and kitchens.

Frieze carpets have a short, durable, twisted pile fiber well suited for busy areas.

Loop Pile yarns are looped and fastened to the backing.

Berber features large, uncut loops of natural-tone fibers, usually of olefin. Berber is very durable and a good choice for high-traffic areas.
Level loop refers to tufted, uncut loops of equal height. Its durable, and a great carpet for high traffic areas and informal rooms.

Cut & Loop offers a combination of the above, allowing more textures and patterns. Cut and loop achieves a sculptured pattern with varied levels of uncut low loops and sheared top loops. The pattern looks as if it has been cut into the carpet and usually features several tones from the same color family. The change in color helps disguise wear and soiling.

Carpet Padding

Padding is just as important as the carpet itself in some ways even more so. Although its not visible, the cushioning layer is critical to a quality carpet installation. Installing the proper backing cushions the foot, insulates from cold and noise and increases the life of the carpet. Always use a quality backing but remember that thicker is not always better. A floor thats too soft can be dangerous, especially to those whose steps may be a bit unstable at times. When foot testing a carpet in the showroom, test it with a padding sample underneath.

Another Option

Area Rugs are also a popular floorcovering alternative. A variety of materials, sizes, shapes, and colors are available to complement your new (or old) floor

Caring for Your Carpet

Your carpet is a major investment, and like anything else, it will last longer with the proper care. Even with today's high performance fibers, you will want to do everything you can to prevent stains and to treat them carefully and immediately when they occur. With a little extra time and attention, you'll keep your carpets looking newer longer.

It's a good idea to keep a swatch of your carpet, the sales receipt, warranty and installation information in case you need to refer to it later. To keep your carpet in the best shape possible, you'll need to follow a simple maintenance routine to protect your investment.

Vacuum your carpet regularly, especially in high traffic areas. 80 percent of soil in carpet is dry and can be removed with the vacuum cleaner.
Use a vacuum with a beater bar and brush, and be sure it's set to the correct height for your carpet pile. If the setting is too high for your carpet, you may not be cleaning it effectively. If it's too low, your carpet will get unnecessary wear and tear from the vacuum cleaner. Changing the direction of the cleaner frequently will make vacuuming more effective. This regular maintenance will improve the overall appearance of the carpet.
Change the bag often to maximize the effectiveness of your vacuum cleaner.
You'll need to deep clean your carpet about every two years. With today's advanced fibers, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. You can choose professional or do-it-yourself steam or dry cleaning. If you choose professional cleaning, be sure to use a reputable service and get them to perform a visual inspection of the carpet before giving you a quote.
High traffic areas will need to be cleaned more frequently by spot cleaning or with a steam cleaner. (There are excellent household steam cleaners on the market that are the size of a vacuum cleaner and are ideal for frequent cleaning).
If you choose a self-cleaning method, be sure follow the instructions provided with the steamer or self-cleaning product.

Spot Cleaning

Mishaps and stains are inevitable. Your best bet may be to choose a stain-resistant carpet that resists soil and cleans easily. If your carpet is stain treated with a product like Scotchgard, you will need to follow that manufacturer's instructions for cleaning to avoid voiding the stain warranty.

Familiarize yourself with how to treat stains before they occur. You'll have the most success if you treat them immediately. Always blot the area to be cleaned. One of the best agents to use on water based spills is club soda. Keep a bottle handy at room temperature for emergencies. After blotting to remove a spill, dribble it on, let it set for a moment, then blot again to remove the stain.

If the stain persists, locate it on the chart below and follow the appropriate cleaning steps outlined.

Stain Type	Cleaning Method	Stain Type	Cleaning Method
Asphalt	D	Iodine	A, E
Beer	A	Kool-Aid	A
Beet Juice	B	Latex Paint	A
Blood	A	Lipstick	D
Cherry Cola	A	Medicine (FD & C Colors)	A
Chocolate	D	Mouthwashes	A
Coffee	D	Motor Oil (Used)	D
Cola	A	Mustard	A
Cooking Oil	D	Nail Polish	G
Cough Syrup	A	Oil Paint	D
Cranberry Juice	B	Orange Juice	A
Crayon	D	Orange Soda	A
Dirt	F	Pet Feces	C
Egg	A	Pet Urine	C
Felt Marker	D,E	Prune Juice	B
Furniture Polish	E	Red Clay Soil	F
Furniture Stain	D	Rouge	D
Gelatins	A	Rust	A
Grape Juice	B	Shoe Polish	D
Grape Soda	A	Slime (Toy)	H
Grease	D	Tea	D
Hawaiian Punch	A	Vomit (Human & Pet)	C
Ink (Water Soluble)	A	Water Colors	A
Ink (Ball Point, Permanent)	D	Wine	B

A	Blot excess stain or liquid. Soak with lukewarm water one minute and blot with sponge or paper towel. Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge. If stain persists, use 1/2 teaspoon liquid hand/dish detergent without lanolin, mixed with 1 pint water and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear, lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry. If stain persists, add water again, fold paper towel and place over stain with weight. Check towel every five minutes, or until it is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains). Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.
B	Blot excess stain or liquid. Soak with lukewarm water one minute and blot. Apply hydrogen peroxide, immediately follow with household ammonia and blot. ** Rinse with water and blot. If stain persists, follow guidelines 4-6 of Method A.
C	Blot or scrape off excess stain or liquid. Vacuum particles and soften stain with alcohol or dry cleaning solvent and blot immediately. If stain persists, follow guidelines 4-6 of Method A.
D	Blot excess stain or liquid. Wet stain with alcohol or dry cleaning solvent and blot dry immediately. Repeat 2 times. If stain persists, follow guidelines 4-6 of Method A.
E	Blot to remove excess stain or liquid. Rinse with clear, lukewarm water and blot dry. If cleaning method fails to remove stain, have affected area replaced (plugged) by professionals.
F	Allow area to dry and vacuum excess. Soak with lukewarm water for one minute and blot with sponge or paper towel. Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge. If stain persists, follow guidelines 4-6 of Method A.
G	Blot excess. Apply nail polish remover and blot immediately. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.
H	Scrape off excess. Soften stain with vinegar and blot with lukewarm water. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter. If stain persists, follow guidelines 4-6 of Method A.

**Cleaning Method B suggests the application of hydrogen peroxide followed by household ammonia. The use of hydrogen peroxide alone for food dye stains is often sufficient. By immediately adding ammonia, you raise the pH of hydrogen peroxide, which dramatically accelerates the bleaching process. Hydrogen peroxide contains approximately 0.001% phosphoric acid for the very purpose of slowing down the bleaching process. Finally, hydrogen peroxide in itself ages very rapidly (which explains the need for the brown bottle) Shelf life for spot cleaning purposes is only 3 to 6 months. It is suggested that you use a hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution only on white and off white colors.

Information used by permission from Beaulieu®United.

Common Carpet Problems and Solutions

Crushing is caused by both furniture and foot traffic. The weight of furniture crushes a carpet's pile. Furniture glides or protectors help to distribute the weight of the furniture from pointed "feet" that may dig into the carpet. Changing traffic patterns in a room by rearranging the furniture can help reduce crushing caused by heavy traffic patterns. Frequent vacuuming helps to raise the pile.

Static occurs with cool temperatures and low humidity. Choosing carpet with anti-static protection or using a humidifier will help the problem.

Shedding is most common in wool carpets. New, cut pile carpet will also shed for awhile until the loose fibers are eventually removed with the vacuum cleaner.

Pilling is a condition, usually caused by traffic in certain areas, where small balls of fiber appear on the carpet's surface. If the pilling is minimal, just clip it to reduce the appearance. If it's extensive, call a professional.

Snagging occurs when sharp-edged objects such as furniture, toys or pet claws snag the carpet fiber. Simply clip off the snag if the affected area is small.

Sprouting is a condition where small tufts of fiber stick out above the carpet surface. Clip the individual sprouts level with the carpet. Never pull them or you may pull other fibers in the process and further the damage.

Fuzzing makes the carpet appear "hairy" and is generally caused by slack yarn twist or fibers breaking out of the yarn during wet cleaning or servicing. If this occurs, it needs to be sheared by a professional cleaner.