Carpet: comfort, beauty, warmth. No other household purchase better communicates the style and tone of your home.

Carpet is an investment that will last a long time. Proper installation and regular maintenance are essential in enhancing your carpet's performance. The Carpet and Rug Institute has compiled the following useful information to help you preserve your carpet investment.

Installation: A quality installation is critical to the performance of your carpet and will protect your indoor air quality.

Before Installation: Have a clear understanding of the services the retailer will provide and be aware of those that you must handle. For example, while most installers will usually move your furniture, there may be an additional charge. Discuss with the retailer who will remove the existing carpet and cushion and who will be responsible for disposal. Placement of seams is important. Ask that seams be placed in less visible areas. Request that the installer follow the instructions from the carpet manufacturer and/or those set forth in the "Residential Installation Standard, CRI 105," the accepted industry standards.

Before the installers arrive, complete other remodeling projects intended in the room, such as painting and wallpapering. Vacuum the old carpet to avoid the possibility of airborne dust and dirt. After the carpet and cushion are removed, vacuum the sub-floor.

During Installation: Upon delivery, inspect the new carpet for proper color, texture, and style, and ensure that it is free of visible defects before it is installed. Carpet should be power stretched to minimize wrinkles and ripples. New, thicker carpet may prevent doors from swinging clear and free. The installer will remove the doors and re-hang them if possible. If the doors do not clear, arrange to have them trimmed.

It is your responsibility during installation to provide an adequate supply of fresh air, as with other renovation projects. Open windows and doors, use an exhaust fan, or operate the fan of your heating system or air conditioning system.

After Installation: Vacuum your carpet after installation to remove loose fibers. You may notice a slight new carpet smell, which should dissipate quickly. Ventilate the area for 48 to 72 hours. If you are unusually sensitive to odors or allergy prone, you may want to avoid the installation area during this period. If you have any questions about this, contact your retailer.

In the Next Few Months...: In the months following installation, you may notice some of the following common carpet characteristics. These are all normal and will not affect the carpet's life or beauty in any way.

• Shedding (loose fibers) - This is normal and subsides within a short time with vacumming.
  
• Sprouting - A single tuft extending beyond the carpet surface, usually along walls or at seams. Simply cut it off - do not pull.
  
• Pile reversal and shading - Describes what seems to be a color change in various parts of the carpet. The same area may appear light when viewed from one direction and dark from another. This is caused by light being reflected in different ways as pile fibers are bent in various directions. This is not a product defect, but rather a characteristic of plush carpet.
  
• Buckling and wrinkling - May sometimes occur in wall to wall carpet installations. If the ripples persist, call your retailer, as it may be necessary to professionally re-stretch the carpet.

Maintenance: Proper maintenance of your carpet will extend its lifespan and keep its fresh appearance. You should vacuum properly, remove spills, and provide long-term care and deep cleaning.

Regular Cleaning: It is essential that you vacuum regularly with a strong, well-functioning vacuum cleaner. A good vacuum cleaner features a strong motor or dual motors; a powerful airflow; a high-efficiency filtration and internally housed vacuum bag; and correct brush height adjustment.

Protecting Against Stains: Most of today's carpet is treated with special finishes to resist soil and stains. However, no carpet is entirely stain-proof. Many fiber manufacturers provide toll-free help for cleaning assistance (consult your warranty).

Stain-resstant finishes hold the spill on the fiber's surface, giving you some time to absorb the liquid and use spot removal techniques before the spill has a chance to penetrate the fibers. The longer you leave the spill unattended, the more difficult it will be to remove.

See the chart following to select a cleaning agent for emergency stain removals for different substances and follow each step. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area to ensure that the solution will not damage the carpet or its dyes. With a clean, white, absorbent cloth or paper towel, gently work in the cleaning agent from the edges of the spot to the center. Blot thoroughly and repeat until the spot no longer transfers to the cleaning cloth. Use clean water to remove any remaining cleaner residue and absorb remaining moisture with paper towel layers. When completely dry, brush or vacuum the pile to restore texture.

Find the spot source in the first column and read across that row for the correct spot removal method to try. Continue using the first method until there is no longer a transfer of stain to the cleaning cloth. Try the first method suggested, then the second, and third, etc. until the spot is successfully removed.

Key to Cleaning Methods

1. Dry Cleaning Fluid - A nonflammable spot removal liquid available in grocery and hardware stores.
2. Nail Polish Remover - Amyl Acetate - Often has a banana fragrance.
3. Detergent Solution - Mix 1 cup water and 1.5 teaspoons mild liquid detergent (no lanolin, non-bleach).
4. Warm Water - Lukewarm tap water.
5. Vinegar Solution - One cup WHITE vineger to two cups water.
6. Ammonia Solution - Two tablespoons household ammonia to one cup water.
7. Spot Removal Kit - Available from retail carpet stores or professional cleaners.
8. Call a Professional - If you cannot completely remove the spot.
9. Vacuum clean

This information provided by The Carpet and Rug Institute.