From the Floors Up

Understanding Your Flooring: Carpet

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As most homeowners already know, not all floors are made equally.  From hardwood to carpet, every flooring option gives you a list of different pros and cons.  While aesthetics is an excellent quality in flooring, understanding which floor is best tailored to your needs is the most important aspect.  You would not want to put a floor in an environment if it is not suited for its traffic and lifestyle. 

With a variety of different flooring options on the market, carpet will always be an excellent option for any home. With so many diverse patterns, textures, styles, and looks, you can tailor any carpet to fit the design theme of your room. Not to mention, carpet is highly desired for its affordability and comfort. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we want to help give you a better understanding of carpet and see if it is best suited for your needs. Let’s take a look!

Generalizing all types of carpet is difficult.  Please note that some carpet will be more durable than others.  Different fibers and pile can all result in your carpet’s performance.  If you are looking for a more durable carpet, ask your flooring sales associate to direct you to one. Their expert knowledge of the product line will help you find one that is suitable for your traffic level and environment.
Your carpet cannot scratch; however, you may be able to tear your carpet with enough force.  Some carpet can also lose its resilience and bounce back which will show traffic patterns.
It is not recommended to install carpet in wet areas.  In doing so, it could lead to unwanted molding.
Carpet is considered one of the most comfortable flooring options available on the market. With the right padding, it is excellent for children in case of falls.  It makes the flooring a more comfortable surface to play on as well.  However, in case of accidents or spills, carpet may not be the best for recovering unwanted stains.
While many carpets are treated with premium stain resistors, carpet is not best for rooms you anticipate frequent spills or mishaps.
Carpet is soft, so this can make for a great play area for kids; however, stains and accidents can happen. If not treated promptly, the liquid can penetrate down to the pad, and this can lead to unwanted lingering odors in your home.
Carpet prices will fluctuate from low to high depending on what quality you invest in for your home.  If you are looking for a quick and affordable option, carpet is your best choice.  However, understand the “cheaper” you go, the less durable and longevity you will get from your carpet.

Remember, carpet can be made of different fibers, thicker pile, and even treated with different chemicals. This is a very general and broad view of carpeting. There are carpet solutions with higher durability, less comfort, and even more water resistance. Make sure to check with your carpet representative to discover which options may be best for you. For more insight on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out the rest of our series!

How to Remove Common Carpet Stains

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Carpet can help cozy up your home and create a more welcoming environment.  Plus, carpets, today, have come a long way and can last longer than ever.  However, nothing is more disheartening than having an accident or stain ruin your new flooring, and unfortunately, not all stains are created equal.  Knowing how to treat common household stains can save you the headache of replacing your carpet or just putting up with the eyesore.  Here are several common residential stains techniques for your carpet:   

Glue 

Not all adhesive are made with the same compounds.  For most glues, scrape up as much to begin the removal process.  Then, you want the glue to harden.  Apply an ice cube to help tighten the glue and break off as much as possible.  You can also apply acetone that has been diluted in water to help remove the remaining glue or use a more natural approach with distilled white vinegar. 

Red Wine 

Time is your enemy with most stains and wine is no exception.  This stain can be quite tricky, so handling it fast is vital.  First, remove as much wine from the surface of the carpet using white paper towels.  Do not rub to clean because this can cause the wine to penetrate the carpet fibers making it much harder to remove.  You can then add small amounts of water to help dilute the red wine.  Continue to pat up this liquid and remove as much as possible.  Next, you will need to create a stain removing paste.  Mix baking soda with water until it forms a paste-like texture then apply the mixture to your stain and allow it to dry.  Use a vacuum to remove the dried paste and apply a manufacturer-recommended carpet stain remover as soon as possible.  These can be one of the toughest stains to remove so prepare for multiple attempts. 

Urine 

Use paper towels to remove as much urine as possible from the carpet.  Create a homogenous blend of water and white vinegar.  Apply it to the stain and continue to use white paper towels to soak up the liquid.  You may want to use a shop vacuum to remove the remaining urine.  It is recommended to steam clean the area as well to help eliminate the odor from lingering and staying embedded in the padding.   

Try to remove stains as soon as you notice them.  Most stains become worse over time and can penetrate deep into the carpet fibers.  Some manufacturers have created solution-dyed carpets which can be cleaned with bleach, which is another great option.  Make sure your carpet can handle the bleach before applying it by consulting with your manufacturer.

Can People with Asthma & Allergies Own Carpet?

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You may have heard that hardwood floors are the best option for people who suffer from asthma or household allergens. With hardwood floors being a fantastic solution, we are here to dive deeper into the age-old question of “can people with asthma and allergies own carpet?” Let’s found it.  

Can People with Asthma and Allergies Own Carpet?

1. A Clean Carpet = A Happy Home. 

Often times, the fibers within our carpet trap particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander inside of our carpet. Theoretically, this would remove the particles from the air that we are breathing every day; therefore, with a routine vacuum cleaning, you can actually help remove dust and common allergens from your carpet and in essence, from the air, you breathe. In a sense, one could suggest that carpet serves as an “air filter” and just like any other filter, it just needs to be cleaned out to serve a proper purpose. 

2. Indoor Air Quality. 

What if we told you that carpet has actually shown to improve the air quality inside of homes? Well, it is true. In recent studies, experts have found that carpet can have a positive effect on air quality. It is also known to have the lowest volatile organic compound emission out of all of the flooring choices. Homeowners have found that choosing carpet helps to improve their symptoms from asthma and household allergens. 

If you are interested in reading more, please visit one of these sites for their official studies: 

1. Airmid Healthcare of Ireland Study.

2. DAAB Study (German Allergy and Asthma Society).

3. New England Journal of Medicine Inner-City Asthma Study. 

For information on air quality regulations, please visit: 

1. Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality Standard. 

**These official sources were provided by Mohawk Flooring. 

We do recommend that you take into consideration your own lifestyle, health, allergens, and/or asthma before choosing carpet. Results are not 100% certain for every homeowner and they may vary. Consider talking to your physician before moving forward in the purchasing process. 

Trend Spotting: Flat Weave Rugs

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11381999_SBlogs are a wonderful resource for inspiration and spotting the latest trends in design. We’re seeing a trend for flat woven area rugs in magazines and in stores.  Flat woven rugs do not have pile, which is typical of carpet. Flat woven rugs can be plain, but the trend right now is for flat woven rugs in bold patterns.

One of the most popular flat woven rugs is the Kilim rug.  These rugs typically have a graphic pattern in a mutlicolored palette that can range from pastels to earth tones. Versions of the Kilim rug can be found from the Balkans to Persia to Pakistan. Turkey is a source for contemporary Kilims. These graphic rugs can work with a number of styles from contemporary to rustic, traditional to modern.

Along with these traditional flat woven rugs, manufacturers are making flat woven rugs in a number of patterns that include stripes and lattice.  Fretwork pattern, another big design trend, works well in the flat woven rug style.

Flat woven rugs can be found in wool, which is traditional, or cotton. Antique and traditional flat weave rugs like Kilims are often colored with vegetable dyes that have a different look than modern dyes.

Flat woven rugs can work in an entry, bedroom, living room or dining room. The lack of pile gives these rugs a more casual feeling that works really well in modern décor.  The lack of pile also makes these rugs work over wall to wall carpet.

Putting the Family in Family Room

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7596084_SOne of the best ways to create family time is to create a family room that is warm and inviting for the entire family.  Furniture and flooring can go a long way to making the family room a place the entire family will want to hang out.

Starting on the floor, choose flooring that works for your family’s lifestyle.  Super high traffic areas like family rooms mean you’ll want a durable and stain resistant material. Given some activities like gaming and play in the family room mean sitting on the floor, you’ll want flooring that is also comfortable.  Stain-resistant carpet could be a good choice. So could wood floors or laminate flooring with the addition of an area rug in the seating area.  If you have pets, a wood or laminate floor might be the better choice than carpet.

Ample seating for watching movies, the big game or playing games is also key for a family friendly room. A mix of seating options is always a good idea. Sectional sofas or a pair of sofas in an L-shape creates a nice cozy arrangement for conversation and television watching. Portable seating like poufs, ottomans or stools can be moved around the room as needed, or stored out of the way.

Family photos on the walls and good storage to hide clutter are also good additions to a family room. Make the room inviting and you’ll find yourself and your family hanging out there more.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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