Frequently Asked Questions

Carpet Care

I was told if I have my carpet steamed cleaned it will mold?

Carpet that is wet cleaned should be dry within 12 hours. Carpet that is properly extraction cleaned will not be wet long enough to mold.

My retailer told me to never have my carpet cleaned, is this true?

Some carpet retailers used to suggest this to their clients, because poor carpet cleaning workmanship and/or methods would often result in the carpet looking worse after it was cleaned. It is now accepted that cleaning maintenance adds to the life of your carpet. Carpet should always be cleaned the way the manufacturer specifies approximately every 12 to 18 months.

How often should I vacuum?

It’s best to vacuum your carpet at least twice a week, if you can’t vacuum your entire house this often, at least vacuum the high traffic areas at least twice a week.

Mold/Water Damage

What can I do to eliminate the mold on my carpet?

Locate and repair the source of the moisture. It is best to call a professional water restoration cleaner in order to ensure all mold is eliminated.

My carpet was soaked due to a flood, what are my options?

Carpet should be professionally extracted & dryers set up and running within 12 to 24 hours. It’s best to use a professional that is trained in water restoration in order to ensure carpet, pad & sub-floor is completely dried within 12 to 24 hours to prevent mold. If the carpet is contaminated with sewage, it is recommended to properly dispose of carpet and pad.

Does my carpet pad need replacing after being soaked?

Generally yes; although, some newly developed restoration procedures may be able to salvage the cushion. Wet carpet cushion is very difficult to adequately dry quickly.

My sewage drain overflowed and has saturated my carpet, can my Carpet be saved?

We don’t recommend trying to save sewage contaminated carpet. Highly absorbent materials such as carpet and pad cannot be washed in hot (130 degrees F) for at least 10 minutes, which is the minimum requirement. This contaminated material should be properly disposed of by a trained restoration professional.

Is there a fiber that will not mold?

Anything can mold as long as there is moisture or a food source. Carpet, including those made of natural fibers such as wool, that is kept clean and dry shouldn’t have a mold problem.

New Carpet

Will the lingering emissions cause any long term health problems?

If someone in your home is odor sensitive, it may be a short discomfort only. The exposure level is very low and short term; therefore good ventilation and air exchange should take care of the odors.

I have been out shopping for carpet and every store I go to tells me a different story about fibers and what type of carpet to buy. What is the truth, how do I buy durable carpet?

Every fiber has it’s own characteristic (we give each fiber characteristic) and no one single fiber has everything. Regardless of which fiber you choose, the construction of the carpet is what makes carpet durable. For durable, heavy traffic carpet you want to look for a dense construction (you don’t want to be able to easily see, or feel the backing of the carpet through the fiber). Shorter pile heights perform better in heavy traffic areas (like entry ways, stairs, halls, playrooms) so choosing a pile height with a ½ of an inch or less will be more durable. If choosing a cut pile carpet, a tighter twist will be more durable than a looser twist. If choosing a Berber carpet, the smaller tighter loops will be more durable than the larger looser loop.

My carpet has been down for two weeks and still smells causing me to have a stuffy nose, what can I do?

If ventilating and vacuuming doesn’t help try to have a hot water extraction done on the new carpet.

This carpet sample has a black label and not green, is it valid?

Some of the manufactures choose to use a generic label rather than CRI’s green and white label. Both labels mean the same, that the carpet is environmentally friendly as far as chemical emissions are concerned.

I have a new house and my new carpet is causing my nose to be stuffy, is there something wrong with my carpet?

In new construction you have a lot of new materials, with all the odors of a new construction, it’s hard to tell what is specifically causing a reaction. The best way to eliminate all the new odors is to open the windows and ventilate for approximately 48 to 72 hours.

I was told that new carpet will off gas for at least 2 years?

This is erroneous information, most “off-gassing” of new carpet is within the first 24 hours or so. Properly ventilate with good air exchange for approximately 48 to 72 hours. The new carpet smell should dissipate within this time.

I saw a CRI label on the back of this carpet, what does this mean?

The CRI label means that the carpet has been tested for chemical emissions and is a low emitter as for as chemical emissions.

Vacuums

What type of vacuum should I buy?

Use a vacuum that has been through CRI’s IAQ program for a vacuum’s, testing for soil removal, dust containment and carpet appearance retention.

I have wool carpet, should I use a beater bar/brush on my wool carpet?

It is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner that has suction only.

Should the new vacuum cleaner I purchase have a HEPA filter?

Not necessarily. Look for vacuums carrying the CRI vacuum cleaner testing program label. Many units are not HEPA filter units, yet are very effective in dust containment. HEPA filters may add additional cost to the overall operational cost of the vacuum.