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TIPS FOR MAINTAINING THE BEAUTY AND EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR CARPET
AND FABRICS
Entrance
Mats - Using entrance mats inside and outside of doorways
will reduce the amount of soil brought onto your carpet. As much
as 75% of the dirt and grime in your carpet is tracked-in soil.
Vacuuming
- Nothing is more important for maintaining beautiful, long lasting
carpet than vacuuming. Dry soil is abrasive and can actually damage
carpet fibers, causing accelerated wear. In addition to creating
a dingy, poor appearance, it will also diminish the effectiveness
of your stain-resistant protective coating. A vacuum with a beater
bar will give the best results. Professional
Cleaning - Periodically, have your carpet and upholstery
professionally cleaned, Most carpet manufacturers recommend hot
water extraction as the best method for cleaning carpet, and many
require periodic hot water extraction cleaning as a warranty requirement.
Do not use do-it-yourself wet shampooing or dry cleaning methods
on carpets. They can leave a residue which actually attracts and
holds dirt. Clean
Up Spills Immediately - The quicker you attend to a spill,
the easier it is to remove. Always blot the spill. Use a clean,
white absorbent cloth. Never rub or use a brush. Rubbing can actually
make the stain worse and permanently alter the look of the carpet
fiber or fabric. Spot
Removal - Spot Remover Kits are ideal for removing all
types of spots and stains. When removing spots, always pre-test
the spot remover on a hidden area of your carpet or fabric. Apply
a small amount and blot it with a clean white cloth. If any color
appears on your cloth or you see any color change, do not use the
spot remover. After testing, apply the spot remover to your cloth,
and then blot it onto the spot. Repeat until the spot is gone. Next,
rinse by wetting the cloth with water and blotting it onto the area.
Then, with a clean dry cloth, blot dry. Carpet
and Fabric Protection - Protectants are the perfect solution
for protecting your carpets and upholstery from soil and stains.
It also helps to extend the life of your carpets and upholstery
by making the removal of dirt easier, and by helping restore stain
blocking performance for easier food and spot removal.
Types of non-resilient hard flooring are Terrazzo, Ceramic Tile, Concrete, Marble, Brick, Slate , Cork and Wood.With proper maintenance hard floors provide years of service. Care must be used in cleaning such floors. An improper or a too strong solution can damage floors permanently. Some hard floors, such as terrazzo and concrete, require special sealers to prevent water and stain penetration.
ROUTINE CERAMIC TILE CARE AND MAINTENANCE Ceramic Tile- Tile and floor covering stores sell cleaning products developed specifically for cleaning ceramic tile and stone. These specialized cleaning products generally outperform products available in supermarkets or hardware stores. Remove soil with a broom, non-oily dust mop or vacuum Damp mop or spot clean as necessary, using floor cleaner or a pH neutral tile cleaner. Thoroughly rinse all areas with clean, warm water. Ceramic tile floors, like other types of smooth floors, can become slippery when wet. Allow time for floor to dry after washing. Immediately wipe up wet areas from spills, foreign substances or wet feet. We recommend protecting your floor against abrasive dirt at entrances to buildings with dirt catching floor mats. Tile floors have often been described as “bullet proof” because of their ability to withstand the harshest of treatment. With a simple cleaning routine, your tile floor can look brand new for a very long time. Tile floors should be washed on a regular basis using a detergent solution recommended for cleaning tile floors. This should be followed with a rinsing of the floor with warm water to avoid detergent build-up. Never use an ammonia-based cleaner on a tile floor. Common spills can usually be cleaned using an all-purpose detergent hard floor cleaner. A grout sealer (non-epoxy) should also be applied twice a year to protect the grout from staining. Please note that ceramic tile floors should never be waxed. Vinyl tile, asphalt tile, rubber, linoleum and synthetic resin poured floors are considered “resilient” type floors. There are five essential steps to resilient floor maintenance, stripping, sealing, finishing, finish enhancers and cleaning.
ROUTINE VINYL TILE CARE AND MAINTENANCE Linoleum / Vinyl Floors- Bare floors made of linoleum or vinyl are considered to be the most practical bare floor. A vinyl floor tends to be more forgiving than wood or tile. The ease of cleaning spills on a vinyl floor also makes this a very appealing floor covering. Beyond vacuuming/dusting your vinyl floor once a day, you should also wash your floor once a week using a a hard floor cleaner specifically made for vinyl floors. Polish can be used to restore the shine of your vinyl or linoleum floor, but be sure to use a polish recommended for your floor type. Spills should never be left on vinyl floors, but should be cleaned-up immediately to avoid staining. If necessary, clean the area with warm (not hot) water and ammonia. Help is just a phone call away: (631) 893 0862 A-1 Maintenance,PO Box 438, West Islip, Long Island, New York 11795 Vinny Iacopelli - email: postmaster@a-1maintenance.2itb.com - Telephone 1-631-767-5600 All design, artwork, custom photographs (non-stock), html and other coding sequences property of A-1 Maintenance, Copyright 2002/2003/2004. Do not reproduce without permission. Web Site Design and Maintenance: Webcontractor.org |