  Floor covering has come a long way in recent years in regard to durability. Still, our floors take a lot of wear and tear from everyday living, and regular care and maintenance is required to keep them in good shape. Let's look at some helpful tips for taking care of two kinds of popular flooring: carpet and vinyl.
When it comes to carpet care, we generally think of vacuuming and the occasional professional cleaning. It’s best to have a vacuum with a brush roll setting to better capture dirt and shedding. Professional cleaning is needed to keep dirt and spills from building up and may be part of your warranty requirements. For more on cleaning specific stains, click here. In addition to regular vacuuming and cleaning, there are other carpet maintenance tasks that help keep it fresh and beautiful. Furniture and heavy objects often cause depressions or indentations from resting on carpet for long periods of time. To remedy this, move your furniture occasionally. Be sure to work the carpet pile that is indented back into place using your fingers or the edge of a spoon. Also use furniture gliders or cups under the legs of heavy furniture. Fluffing and shedding (this is the balls of carpet fluff you see sitting on the surface of your carpet) naturally occurs with newly installed carpet. With regular vacuuming, most shedding will gradually disappear within the first year after installation. When new carpet is installed, there may be an odor caused by installation materials or the removal of old carpet pad. Ventilation with fresh air is recommended, and windows and doors should be opened with the HVAC turned on for 48 to 72 hours. Shifting gears to vinyl, vinyl flooring is very easy to care for, and it stands up to spills and scuffs. A daily sweeping to keep the dirt and grit from accumulating and a weekly mopping are sufficient to keep most vinyl in good condition. For general cleaning, it is recommended that you use the manufacture’s cleaner for your brand of vinyl. For example, Mannington Vinyl Floors have their own Rinse-Free Cleaner. Other helpful tips for vinyl: *Use floor mats at the entrance doors. *Use floor protectors under furniture such as tables and chairs. *Any rugs should not have rubber or latex backing, this can discolor vinyl. With today's durable floor coverings, care and maintenance can be a breeze. Always be sure to follow any specific manufacturer instructions and clean up spills and messes promptly. For more on floor care, be sure to visit our website at shopabbey.com.
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