Carpet Tips  |  Hardwood Tips  |  Linoleum Tips

Caring for your carpet is as easy as one, two, three. Follow these simple steps and your carpet will feel great, look wonderful and last for years.

Vacuum frequently

• Vacuuming removes dirt that dulls appearance

• Select a vacuum with good suction and strong beater bars, which brush the carpet and loosen dirt

• Change vacuum bags and filters regularly

Clean up spills promptly

• Take aim at stains with DuPont Stainmaster's comprehensive Stain Removal Guide
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Hire professional carpet cleaners every 12 months

• Get your carpets professionally cleaned at least every 12 months, even if you clean them yourself in between

• Lighter shade carpet may require cleaning more often

• Professional cleaning methods include steam cleaning (known as hot water extraction), absorbent pad or bonnet cleaning, rotary shampoo, and dry foam powder

• Vacuum Regularly - Small stones, mud, and gritty dirt tracked in from outside can play havoc on the wood floors finish. To help combat this use long bristle welcome mats placed at all outside entrances for people to wipe their feet on before entering onto the floors. Also, vacuum using a soft bristle brush attachment.
   

• Don't Damp Mop - Water and wood floors don't mix! Use only the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products on your hardwood floor.
   

• Don't Use Oil Soaps - There are many over the counter oil soap based or silicone and wax based cleaning products that can damage and dull the finish of your hardwood floor. The best suggestion is to only use the manufacturers recommended cleaning products on your hardwood flooring.
   

• Never Wax a Urethane Floor - If you have a polyurethane finish on your hardwood floors you should never use a wax on them. The wax will cause a sticky film to build up on your floor, allowing any dirt tracked onto it to stick.  This creates black traffic paths on your floor. Because polyurethane will not adhere to any wax it also makes the floor almost impossible to recoat later with a fresh coat of polyurethane.
   

• Use the Proper Chair Glides - Narrow wheels and sharp wooden, or metal furniture legs can scratch and dent hardwood flooring, which can quickly turn a newly refinished floor into an old worn floor. Any furniture that rests directly on top of a hardwood floor should have felt protectors, or furniture coasters, under all it's feet. For extremely heavy objects such as a piano, use rubber cups. Purchasing chair glides is a very cheap insurance policy for your hardwood flooring.
   

• Wipe Spills Immediately - when accidents happen and some liquid gets spilled on your hardwood floor, you should use a slightly damp white cloth, or paper towel to immediately clean up and dry the effected area. For more difficult spots, follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning procedures.
   

• Wipe up spills as soon as possible.
   
• Remove dried spills with New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner on a white cloth.
   
• Wash your floor occasionally with no-rinse floor cleaner.
    
• Don't use detergents, abrasive cleaners or "mop and shine" products - they may leave a dull film on your floor.
   
• Don't use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.
   
• Don't use a beater bar when vacuuming because it can visibly damage the floor surface.
   
• Don't use highly abrasive scrubbing tools.