|
|
Vacuuming your carpet
One of the most important things when keeping your carpet clean is
vacuuming
 Vacuum
thoroughly and frequently, especially in high-traffic areas. Bear in
mind that walking on soiled carpet permits the soil particles to work
their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more
difficult to remove and can damage the fibers. Frequent vacuuming
removes these particles from the surface before this happens.
Vacuuming Tips
For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes twice weekly and
the entire area once weekly. Those areas with heavier traffic require
that the traffic lanes be vacuumed daily and the entire area twice
weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light
soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled
areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the
pile upright and reduce matting.
What type of vacuum should you buy?
A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your
carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt but will not
effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the pile.
We recommend the use of vacuums with a rotating brush or combination
beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and mechanically loosens
soil for removal by the vacuum. Note that carpet with thick loop pile
construction, particularly wool and wool-blend styles, may be sensitive
to brushing or rubbing of the pile surface and may become fuzzy. For
these products, we recommend the use of a suction-only vacuum or a
vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet so it does
not agitate the pile. A vacuum with a beater/brush bar can be tested in
an inconspicuous location and used if no excessive fuzzing occurs.
Replaceable paper vacuum bags do a better job of trapping the small
particles that pass through cloth bags back into the room. High
efficiency vacuum bags, also called micro filtration bags, trap even
smaller microscopic particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust
mite byproducts, often found to be a source of allergies. This type of
bag is sold under several brands, such as the "MICRO-LINED" bag
available at most vacuum specialty shops, or the "MICRO-CLEAN" bag
available at some department and discount stores, and "MICRO FILTRATION"
and "MICRO LINER" brands available at Sears stores. These bags are
available under other brand names; verify that these bags trap particles
smaller than two (2) microns. All vacuum bags should be checked often
and replaced when half full.
Make sure the belt is in good condition and that the brush or beater bar
rotates when in contact with the carpet. To adjust the vacuum to the
correct height setting for the carpet, raise the beater/brush bar to the
highest setting and then lower it until it contacts the pile enough to
slightly vibrate the carpet several inches away from the machine, but
not low enough to cause significant slowing of the motor.
Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile
upright and help reduce matting.
Some do's and don'ts when vacuuming
Don't use the sprinkle on carpet
powders in your machine. Not a proven fact, but we've done many
expensive repairs over the years that could have been caused by this.
Here's an even better reason NOT to use it:
1.Ever wonder why you smell it when you vacuum it up? Here's why: The
powder is so fine it blows through the vacuum bag and through your
machine and back into the air where you are breathing it - that's why
you can smell it. Do you really want to be breathing that stuff?
2.Also, the cause of odors in vacuum cleaners is from bacteria growing
in the bags. Bags should be changed at least once a month, and more
often is better. All of the bags we sell are treated with a chemical
that helps destroy the bacteria and odors in bags.
Don't ever pick up drywall soot or clean out the fireplace with
your vacuum.
Most of the same things that apply to carpet powder applies to this
statement. Let me just say I've seen a lot of expensive repairs due to
people unknowingly doing this. A better solution - if you really need to
use a vac to clean up large amounts of drywall, or to clean out the
fireplace, pick up a cheap $10 vacuum at a yard sale, and use it for
that purpose. That way you can have a disposable vac for cleaning up
that stuff, and you won't be damaging your good vacuum and facing major
repairs.
Don't run your machine on any surface that isn't completely dry.
We all know about shock hazards...I'm talking about vacuuming over a
slightly damp carpet. Be especially careful after shampooing the
carpets, and be careful around the doorways where snow and rain can be
tracked into your home. Running your vacuum cleaner on these surfaces
pulls small amounts of moisture into your machine. This can allow some
of the parts to corrode and/or rust, causing your repair problems in the
future.
Change your bag AT LEAST once a month.
We've already talked about the odor and bacteria problems associated
with bags. How long do you keep your garbage sitting around? That bag is
one of the dirtiest places in your home, full of germs and bacteria -
change it often.
Also, cleaning performance is based largely on that bag. A clogged bag
also causes your machine to run hotter and puts more strain on your
motor. The few cents you save in bags is lost on the dollars that you'll
spend for machine repairs.
Never let your vacuum bag get over half full.
Change your belt about every three months.
Belts are DESIGNED to stretch and wear out, the same as fan belts on
cars. Just because they belt hasn't broken doesn't mean that it's not
stretched so badly that the beater bar is no longer turning at full
speed. If it's been more than three months, change your belt. Again,
much of your cleaning performance is linked to this
Helpful carpet cleaning information:
Browse our
resource of related websites:
carpets,
oriental rugs,
persian rugs,
braided rugs,
cleaners,
instillation,
home-repair,
rug padding,
cleaning products,
flooring,
floor tiles,
vinyl floors,
air purifiers,
home design,
maid services,
furniture repair,
carpet manufacturers,
furnishings,
furniture repair,
vacuum cleaners,
|
