While self-installing laminate flooring is relatively simple, navigating areas such as staircases can be tricky. Thankfully, when it comes to how to lay laminate flooring on stairs, there are a few tips and tricks that make the job easier. Here at Discount Flooring Depot, we’ve created a handy step-by-step guide for you to follow and ensure you’re left with a great end result. 

The Steps to Install Laminate on Stairs

Step 1: Remove Existing Flooring and Underlay

Before you start laying your laminate flooring, the first step is to ensure your staircase is prepped and ready. If you haven’t already, start by removing any existing flooring from your stairs, along with the existing underlay. Once you have a bare staircase, ensure you remove any paint and adhesive and hammer down any protruding nails. Next, give your stairs a thorough brush down to create a clean and even surface to start from.

Step 2: Remove any Overhang

You may find your stairs have an overhang from existing nosing (the protruding edge of the stair). You’ll need to remove this before you can install your laminate and your own nosing (we’ll get to that bit later). To remove the overhang, you can cut it away using a jigsaw, or nail a piece of plywood to the riser to fill in the space underneath.

Step 3: Lay Your Underlay

Underlay shouldn’t be considered an optional extra; as it can help muffle sound, improve acoustics and create a more comfortable feel underfoot, it’s particularly important for areas of high traffic such as stairs. Ensure you choose the right underlay for your laminate, before securing it to your stairway, ready to install your flooring.

Step 4: Cut Your Laminate to Size

For each step, you’ll need three pieces of  laminate: 

• The tread piece, which sits on top of the step
• The riser piece, which sits vertically on the front of the step
• And the stair nosing (or trim), which hangs over the front of the step.

To measure the length you’ll need for your tread pieces, lay your laminate plank across the top of the step, ensuring it fits as snuggly as possible on either side. You may need to trim your board down to size to do this. If a single laminate plank is not thick enough to cover the entirety of your step, cut a second plank to size and glue this tongue-to-groove next to your first plank, leaving some room to accommodate the nosing.

Similarly, when it comes to the riser pieces, ensure these are level with the riser on your stairs and that they sit snugly on top of the tread piece. You may also need to cut these down to size to fit your stair length.

When it comes to your nosing, this simply needs to be the same length as your tread and riser. 

Step 5: Lay the Tread

As laminate needs time to dry before you can walk on it, start your installation at the top of the stairs and work downwards to avoid getting stuck upstairs! Using wood adhesive, glue your tread to your first step, ensuring it lies tightly against the back of the step with the tongue facing outwards.

Step 6: Fit the Riser

Next, glue your riser piece of laminate to the vertical front of the step and hold this in place while it sets. If necessary, you can also nail the very top of the riser in place, as this will be covered by your nosing. 

Step 7: Add the Nosing

Once you’ve secured your riser and tread, the next step is to add your nosing, which acts as an edge trim on each step. Unless you’re using a self-adhesive nosing edge, glue it in place with the tapered end over the thread. 

Step 8: Leave for 12 Hours 

Finally, once you’ve completed your entire staircase, leave your laminate to set overnight and avoid walking on it for around 12 hours.

Now you know how to lay laminate flooring on stairs like a pro, you can ensure yours is fitted to perfection and enjoy the complete transformation of your new staircase. 

Remember, if you’re not confident in your ability to self-install, it’s always recommended to seek the help of a professional.

This post appeared first on https://www.discountflooringdepot.co.uk

There are several ways to fix an old floor that squeaks.  Need to know how to fix your squeaky floor? Here are the best tips from The Carpet Guys.

Unfinished Space Below the Squeaky Floor

If your space is unfinished, you have several options for fixing the squeaky floor.  *Before beginning any flooring remodeling project, be sure to check with your flooring manufacturer’s warranty to make sure you don’t void your warranty.

1. Insert screws into the subfloor, between the joists if the squeak is coming from between the subfloor and your flooring surface.  This will tie the space between the two together eliminating the noise.
2. If you can see a gap between the joist and the subfloor, insert screws at an angle into the joist and through the subfloor.  The screw will tighten that gap and get rid of any creaking.
3. If the sound is coming from missed nails that are rubbing on the joists, cut those with bolt cutters.  This will be a higher-pitched squeak on the floor than if it is a gap between two wooden surfaces.
4. Use a 2” x 4” nailed to the subfloor and then to the joist to offer more stability and close any gaps that may have occurred.
5. Use construction adhesive on a shim and spread between the two wooden surfaces.  Once dried, it will also provide more stability to that open space.  Be sure not to use too much adhesive or it will cause other problems.

• 

• 

Finished Space Below the Squeaky Floor

1. Use WD-40 and spread between the cracks of your hard surface floor.  This will help lubricate the spaces between and eliminate a squeaking floor.  After you have allowed the lubricant to penetrate the cracks, use a dry towel to wipe up the excess.  Then, use a wood floor cleaner to clean up the WD-40 from the surface of the wood.
2. Use graphite or talc powder between the boards.  Sprinkle between the cracks in the noisy area. Cover with a piece of paper so you don’t spread the powder around the room. Step on the area to force the powder into the spaces.  When finished, vacuum the remaining powder off the floor.
3. Use a tool called “Squeeeek No More” and drive the special “breakaway” screws into the surface of your flooring.  The screw will break off just below the surface of your squeaky floor, so you don’t have screw heads showing.  Use wood filler or wax to fill the holes left behind if it is a hard surface flooring. Holes will not show on carpeted surfaces.

Replace Your Old Flooring

If putting holes in your floors or smelling WD-40 every time you step is not an option, then let The Carpet Guys replace your old, squeaky floors for new fresh flooring.  Our expert installers can install carpet, vinyl, laminate or hardwood. Not only will you have a quieter floor, but a beautiful new floor to enhance your life.  Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form and one of our friendly sales support staff will give you a call.

The post How to Fix Squeaky Floors appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Want to save money on your heating bills this winter? Consider upgrading floors to carpet!

As the weather gets colder, many of us start to think about better ways to warm our homes. With energy bills increasing, relying on heating alone can be an expensive option. Insulating your home better can cut bills and keep you warm and cosy through the colder months. It’s also better for the environment and can improve the long-term value of your home. So how much could a new carpet save you?

New research shows that you could save up to £50 per year from fitting a new carpet & underlay- almost 15 times more than regular fibreglass floor insulation. By trapping air within the fibres, this is by far the most effective form of insulation for your floor. This equals an amazing £500 in a decade- all from just upgrading to a carpet & underlay. By combining the two you create a strong barrier to heat that not only reduces heating costs but provides a comfortable, warm surface on which to walk, even for bare feet.

When shopping for carpet, always pay attention to the ‘thermal overall grade’- or tog- of the product. This is the universal grade for insulation properties in clothes, bedding and floors. Consider your tog rating as a guide to how well your floor will insulate heat and help warm your home. By ensuring you’re using a higher tog rating, you can expect to improve insulation on your floors.

Of course, thick carpets aren’t perfect for every room. High traffic areas and areas prone to spills and mess aren’t always suitable. But bedrooms, living rooms and upstairs hallways and landings can all benefit from the warming effects of carpet & underlay.

To view our wide range of carpet & underlay products, visit out showroom in Sheffield today, or speak to our team for more information.

The post How much could I save by upgrading my carpet? appeared first on Pyramid Carpets – News.

Have you ever wondered why carpet is as thick and plush as it is? It isn’t by accident.

Imagine a carpet with a few scraggly fibers sticking up. You wouldn’t want that in your home. When you purchase new carpet, you expect a certain quality. That’s why, over time, rules and regulations started filtering into the carpet industry to protect you when you finalize your purchase.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) establishes regulations about carpet weight and density, to require manufacturers to create products that meet certain requirements. They’ve created two categories: one for single or multiple family dwellings, and one for elderly or care facilities.

Buying new carpet isn’t an easy endeavor. When you upgrade your carpet, you hope for a long life. If you get anything but the best, it’ll start to fail quicker, and you’ll be more convinced you made a costly mistake.

If you want to make a wise choice about the carpet you have installed, get past the color or pattern and dig deep down to the carpet grade. Your carpet’s specifications are the only way to know you’re installing the right product for the foot traffic you have in your home. The wrong grade will wear out faster, and will show the wear sooner rather than later.

Carpet Weight

Face weight is the weight of the fiber used in the manufacturing of the carpet pile. Face weight refers to the total ounces each square yard of fiber is. This does not include the weight of the carpet backing – that’s included in the total weight.

In general, you’ll find carpet across a full spectrum of face weight, somewhere from 20 to 100 ounces. For residential use, most carpet weight settles in between 35 and 60 ounces. A higher face weight does not equal a better grade of carpet. Higher face weights will not mean you’re selecting a more durable product.

Carpet Density

The FHA also requires fibers in carpeting to meet minimum density requirements, as well. Density refers to how close each fiber strand is at the base of the carpet. It also is determined by how many strands of fiber the carpet contains altogether.

Higher density numbers mean the carpet will have less matting and show less evidence of foot traffic through normal activity. You’ll often find higher density carpet used near doorways or main thoroughfares, where the carpet will get more use.

Keep in mind that once again, carpet density by itself will not tell you about quality any more than carpet weight; it’s all context. Think of it more as a starting point to learn more about quality.

Carpet Height

If you’re trying to find the best carpet for your situation, we have one more measurement you should consider. Carpet height refers to how long the fiber is from base to tip. The longer the carpet height, the more fragile the fibers will be. For high traffic areas, including stairs, pile height is a major determinant.

Calculating Carpet Density

To calculate carpet density, it’s a simple calculation of carpet face weight x 36/ carpet pile height. If you take the carpet face weight number in ounces and multiply that by 36, then divide that number by carpet height, you’ll get the density. Here’s a simple example:

Carpet with a 60 ounce face weight and a .75 inch pile height would be calculated as follows:

60×36/.75 = 2880

This would be a density of 2,880 ounces per cubic yard.

What does this number tell you? It can show you the best placement for the carpet, depending on the final number.

The Carpet and Rug Institute provides specific standards for the carpet and rug industry on carpet installation. When purchasing a carpet for most residential situations, you’ll want to install a carpet with at least a 3,600 density. Of course, higher is always better. Higher values signal a thicker, denser carpet that will handle better under pressure before it begins to show wear. If you’re installing in a commercial location, it’s recommended that you look for density of 5,000 or higher to ensure a long life.

How Carpet Density Impacts Daily Living

If you decide to install a carpet with higher density, it will impact wearability. Denser carpet lasts longer because it withstands impact better. It also makes it more difficult for dirt and stains to penetrate away from the surface and migrate down to the backing. When it’s easier to clean, which means you’ll have better looking carpet, longer.

However, there’s another carpet term to familiarize yourself with that impacts durability even more.

Carpet twist is the number of times a strand of fiber is twisted per inch. Higher twist level of four or more will be less likely to unravel over time, which makes them more durable overall.

Once again, the two are not interchangeable. A carpet doesn’t have to have high density to be durable; if the twist count is high, it might hold up well over time. The opposite can also be true.

Yet as you start to build a picture of the overall quality of a carpet, you can start seeing all of these things work together.

Carpet Padding

When selecting a carpet to install in your home, a lot of emphasis is placed on the carpet itself without mentioning the carpet padding. If you purchase carpet from a less-than-scrupulous source, they may play down the importance of padding, pushing you towards carpet that brings in more revenue. But we’ll tell you the two work closely together, and you should focus on the quality of each.

Carpet padding is what helps stabilize the carpet onto the subfloor. If you purchase the wrong padding for your situation, it can adversely impact the wear of your carpet.

Like carpet, pads also have a density rating. In most areas of your home, you should have a pad density rating of at least a 6 or greater. Pay attention to thickness as well, with 3/8 to ½ inch thick a good level for most locations throughout your home. For high traffic areas including your stairs, opt for a slightly thinner and higher density pad to give you more wearability.

Now that you know more about carpet density and how it impacts wearability, stop by today, and find the right carpet for your home.

This post appeared first on https://pro-flooring.com

While a quality, well cared-for carpet can last for years, there’s always the risk of an unforeseen incident moving carpet repair to the top of your to-do list. In instances like the ones covered below, it’s reassuring to know that A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning offers expert repair services to Littleton homeowners.

Water Damage

Not all water damage is a “death sentence” for your carpet. It all depends on the amount of water and the length of time the carpet is exposed to it, but if you’re able to remove the water and get the carpet dried quickly, it could be ok. The make-or-break is whether mildew and/or mold takes hold in the pad beneath the carpet. The faster the carpet and pad are dried, the better your chances of retaining a mildew-free carpet. In fact, our local carpet company utilizes high-power fans to maximize the chances of success. However, if mildew does begin growing, your only option is to replace the carpet.

Loose Carpet

Problems with loose carpet are often the result of poor installation techniques at the time the home was constructed, or when the previous homeowners had the carpet replaced before moving out. It’s also possible for an old carpet to lose its tautness after years of furniture and foot traffic. In all these scenarios, the key evidence for a loose carpet is rippling – small “waves” or bumps popping up in various parts of a room. Depending on the age of the carpet and the extent of the rippling, you may not need to replace carpet. Instead, we can assist with a “power stretching” procedure in which the carpet is restored to its smooth, flat state.

If the carpet is already long in the tooth, then it could be more economical to simply replace the carpet instead of stretching it.

Carpet Burns

Thanks to modern fireplaces and a decrease in cigarette smoking, especially indoors, carpet burns aren’t nearly as common as they once were. But they still happen from time to time, and when they do the result is a burn mark or a hole that you’d like to make go away. The good news is, this is a simple fix for our carpet repair experts, even if the hole is rather large. We cut out the damaged carpet and replace it with either an exact match taken from excess carpet stored in your attic or basement, or from an out-of-the-way place like a closet. Then, we rely on our expertise to install the new piece so that it looks like it’s been there all along.

Split Seams/Carpet Tears

If you own pets, chances are you’ve come across a tear in your carpet or a mass of loose carpet fibers in a corner. These things happen when active pets are about, but they’re easily remedied. In some cases, i.e. a tear in the carpet, we’ll remove the torn area and replace it with a fresh piece. Or, in a situation where one of the carpet’s seams has split, we’ll patch up the seam and then power-stretch the carpet to remove any gaps.

Contact a Local Carpet Repair Company

As much as people like their carpet clean and damage-free, accidents do happen. But there’s no need to stress when professional carpet cleaning services are just a phone call away. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning offers decades of experience in all facets of carpet maintenance, and before you know it your carpet will once again look brand-new. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post Signs That It’s Time For Carpet Repair appeared first on A Personal Touch.

Any home renovations can be costly and time-consuming.  When you’re ready to buy new flooring, The Carpet Guys have an easy ten-step process that will save you money.  In the following blog series, we are going to break down each step so you can see how we do it and what makes us the best.

Click here to see the whole process.  10 Easy Steps to New Flooring

When you call 855-4-MY-GUYS we will set up an appointment
for our Design Consultant to come to your home with our showroom of samples.  Our professional call center is open seven
days a week, 364 days a year.  So, we are
always ready to help you.

First, our friendly sales support team will ask you several
questions over the phone so we can get to know you and your family’s
needs.  Questions like:

• What room(s) are you looking to renovate?
• Do you know what kind of flooring you want in the room (carpet, hardwood, vinyl or laminate)?
• Do you know what color or style you’re interested in (grey, cream, something that doesn’t show dirt, distressed hard surface, waterproof)?
• What kind of flooring do you currently have in the room(s)?
• Do you have pets or children and what are their ages?
• What day and time works best for our Design Consultant to come to your home?

They will also ask for your name, address, phone number, and email address.  Once they have all the information and have set the appointment day and time, they will send you an email confirmation.  We have appointments 9am – 7pm weekdays and 9am – 3pm weekends to work around your busy schedule.  In that email, you will receive a coupon to thank you for giving us an opportunity to provide you with a free estimate.

Don’t know the answer to these questions?  That’s ok!  Our Design Consultants can do just that…design!  They will walk you through the process of making a great decision that will fulfill your lifestyle needs.  Our sales team knows what the best flooring for bathrooms or high traffic areas are. They can guide you to pick out the best flooring to match with grey walls.  Rather than doling your hard-earned dollars to an interior designer, we send you your own interior designer during the free in-home estimate.

If you can answer these questions, it allows our Design Consultant to come to your home prepared to show you exactly the flooring you’re looking buy.  They don’t have to waste your valuable time learning all the details and showing you samples of carpet when you’re interested in luxury vinyl plank. By coming to your home, you save money on gas and wear and tear on your vehicle.  It also saves you time, and we all know time is money!  The best part is that you will see the flooring samples in the light and color of your own home.  You will be able to decide if that laminate will match your patterned sofa.

Check back soon for the reasons why each step in your new flooring process is made better by The Carpet Guys.  Have you already made the decision to buy new flooring installed?  Be Wise, call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form.

The post What to Expect When Buying New Flooring appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Here is a guide on ‘How to store wood flooring before installation’. After you have accepted the delivery of your new wooden flooring, it is your responsibility to look after and store it correctly before it is installed.  The planks of wooden flooring need to kept in the correct conditions so that it does not become damaged in any way. Read More

Looking for an eco-friendly flooring? Consider bamboo flooring. According to a new report, the worldwide market is expected to increase over 3.5 percent over the next five years, making bamboo flooring well over a billion-dollar industry.

Why? Because bamboo flooring is perfect for your home.

For many homeowners, they start the process by looking at bamboo as a great alternative to classic hardwood. And we agree – if you’ve always wanted oak or maple hardwood, you’ll love bamboo.

Bamboo offers so much more. We’re convinced that when you discover all the benefits of bamboo, they’ll move up to the top of your wish list. Here’s why.

Bamboo is eco-friendly

That’s what brought you to this article in the first place. Bamboo isn’t wood – it’s grass. Whereas trees can take decades to grow to maturity, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. Bamboo can be harvested every 5 to 7 years, and because it’s a grass, it simply grows back up again. That makes it a superior choice for anyone worried about what we’re doing to the planet.

Because you don’t have to remove the plant and start all over with a seedling, it begins growing again after every harvest. In some cases, bamboo plants can grow up to two feet per day, making it a perfect crop for farmers around the globe. But like everything, there are good and bad ways to approach this crop.

Harvesting bamboo actually makes the stalks healthier. That’s because removing the tallest plants lets the light filter down to those below it, giving them a chance to rise to their full potential.

When planted correctly, bamboo plants also help with land erosion. Bamboo has long root systems. They reach down and spread across like spider webs, helping create a strong base within the planted area. This helps in areas especially vulnerable to erosion, and can improve the surrounding area over time.

Bamboo also can generate as much as 35 percent more oxygen than an equal number of planted trees. This makes it a great crop to plant when trying to improve soil facing degradation from previous mishandling.

Not all bamboo flooring is created equal

If you’ve done your research in hardwood flooring, you know that only certain manufacturers offer sustainable growing practices. The same applies to the bamboo flooring industry. Be sure to do your research to ensure that your final bamboo flooring choice is harvested from well-managed forests.

Because of the popularity of this product, new fields are being planted around the globe. In some cases, bamboo fields are taking the place of other crops, which can have a negative impact on biodiversity. Bamboo isn’t as regulated as hardwood, so it’s important to do your part and look for quality manufacturers. For the most eco-friendly bamboo flooring, look for products marked with FSC-certification to ensure it meets proper code.

You can also work with flooring dealers that are proud members of the community, have high BBB ratings, and care about the quality of every product they put out to the marketplace. If you have a question about where a flooring choice is sourced, just ask.

Look for strand woven bamboo flooring

If you’ve ever read about bamboo performing poorly once installed, it’s probably because it was one of the first phases of bamboo flooring. Now, manufacturers produce strand woven bamboo flooring, which can be as much as three times harder than hardwood.

The flooring industry uses the Janka Hardness Test to rank the hardness of various types of wood floors. When you select strand woven bamboo, it tops the scale in hardness. It also has high tensile strength, which refers to how much force it takes to pull the material apart. No matter what you dish out, bamboo flooring keeps bouncing back. (Try that with some hardwood, especially the softer woods.)

Versatility

Now that you’ve read this far, it’s easy to see why many homeowners are selecting bamboo flooring over hardwood. Because it’s more versatile in every corner of your home.

With bamboo flooring, you can lay it in places where traditional hardwood isn’t an option. Want to install it in below-grade basements, for example? Or how about on a concrete subfloor? Not a problem. Bamboo flooring will perform well. Have a high traffic area you’re not sure will stand up over time? Bamboo flooring is a great choice.

Durability 

Because of bamboo flooring’s strength, it’s considered to be a highly stable option for your home. It does well in high traffic situations, and can withstand lots of action from kids and pets. If you’ve had hardwood flooring ruined by pets’ nails before, you’re going to love the improvement you’ll see after installing bamboo flooring.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Different manufacturers use different treatment processes. These processes can increase hardness, but they may also increase the brittleness and make the floors weaker by comparison. It pays to do your research and talk with a flooring consultant to ensure you install a high-quality product.

Bamboo flooring is one of the most stylish choices

Bamboo has many of the characteristics you associate with traditional hardwood. That means you can install bamboo and expect classic good looks in much the same way as you’d gain from hardwood. Like a golden oak stained hardwood? There’s a bamboo flooring choice for you. Want something more exotic – dark or light coloring? There’s a choice for you.

Keep in mind that while darker colors in hardwood signal the wood will be stronger and more durable, the opposite is true with bamboo. Bamboo is naturally a light tan color. To turn it dark, it has to go through a process called carbonization, which uses heat and pressure to turn the strands a dark, smoky color. This process weakens the bamboo and lowers the strength and durability.

Yet depending on which manufacturer you go with, there are many different options, a perfect one to suit your personality and match any decor.

Is bamboo flooring right for you?

This post appeared first on https://pro-flooring.com

If you have pets, you may think that hardwood flooring is not an option for your home. Pets and hardwood flooring don’t always mix, but this isn’t always the case. Some hardwood flooring choices are ideal for pet owners. To learn about hardwood flooring and pets, continue on with this blog post.

First, know your woods. Learn which woods are appropriate for pets and which are not. Soft woods are not compatible with pets because they are more prone to scratches and dents. Solid hardwood flooring is more durable and can stand up against the wear and tear provided by pets.

Once you’ve found the perfect solid hardwood for your home, you can now learn how to minimize damage. One way to minimize scratching is to cut your pet’s toenails. If you can hear your pet’s toenails touching the floor as they walk, it’s time for a trim. Your pet’s toenails should be short enough to where they don’t drag on the floor.

Another way to minimize damage is by laying down rugs and runners. A rug can help your home feel cozier, and it can also protect your flooring from scratches, dents, spills, and dirt. If you have a cat, consider putting a rug down by their litter box. Litter can scratch hardwood flooring, but a rug can prevent or reduce damage.

Accidents happen, so if you have a puppy or aging animal who has an accident on your flooring, minimize damage by tending to the accident as soon as possible. Clean their accident by blotting with a paper towel and then dropping a small amount of vinegar on the stain for several minutes. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the stain, then wipe dry with paper towels. Ammonia can track your pet back to that area and they may repeat their accident.

Now that you know how to properly pick and care for hardwood flooring as a pet owner, you can shop for hardwood flooring at flooring.org! Visit our website to browse our inventory or give us a call at 800-689-9006.

This post appeared first on http://www.flooring.org

Halloween is fast approaching and with it comes the scariest
time of year for flooring stains! 
Between holiday meals, New Year’s celebrations and Bowl Games, there
seems to be an increase in mishaps on your floors.  Someone drops a glass of wine, spills the
gravy or Fido has eaten something he’s not supposed to and regurgitates it
behind the sofa.  Here is how The Carpet
Guys recommend removing the most common stains from carpet.

How to Remove a Red Wine Stain

A bottle of wine is one of the most common gifts given to a
host or hostess.  If it ends up on your
floor, this is the process we recommend getting that wine stain out (make sure to
try blotting the stain with a clean, dry, white towel, working from the outside
in, and just using warm water first.  If
this doesn’t work, proceed accordingly.):

1. Using paper towels or a white towel, apply pressure to the stain to absorb as much liquid as possible.
2. Mix a solution of ¼ cup clear, liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water.
3. Apply detergent solution directly to a clean, white cloth and dampen stain, avoiding saturation.
4. Use small amounts of detergent solution, blotting frequently with a clean space on the cloth.
5. Do NOT rub or scrub carpet, ever.  It will damage the fibers and could void your warranty [see our previous blog on How to Maintain Your Carpet Warranty]
6. Continue using the solution and blotting until stain is removed.
7. Wet the stain with lukewarm water to rinse.
8. Absorb rinse fluid with a dry, clean, white towel or paper towels.
9. Repeat rinsing until all detergent has been rinsed.
10. If stain remains, try the next stain removal method for greasy, oil-based stains.

How to Remove a Grease or Gravy Stain

Uh-oh!  Little Jimmy
was passing the gravy boat to his uncle and it fell on the floor.  Here is how to get gravy and other types of
greasy, oil-based stains from your carpet:

1. Using a spoon, working from the outside in,
   remove as much of the gravy from the floor as possible.
2. Try the above methods first.  If that doesn’t work, proceed.
3. Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing
   household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
4. Apply ammonia solution in the same manner as
   above, blotting with a clean towel to stain without saturating.
5. To neutralize the ammonia solution, mix ½ cup of
   white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
6. Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot like
   above.

How to Remove a Coffee Stain

I’ll never forget the scene.  Ten years ago, The Carpet Guys were installing new carpet in my basement.  The installers arrived early in the morning and I offered to make them coffee since I hadn’t had my own cup yet.  As I carried the coffee down to them, I tripped on my steps and dumped the coffee on my brand new, not even completely installed, floor!  I could’ve cried!  Fortunately, my installers knew exactly what to do to get this common stain out quickly:

1. DO NOT USE THE AMMONIA SOLUTION ON COFFEE, TEA OR URINE STAINS!!
2. Try the steps for the Wine stain removal and if that doesn’t work, proceed with the following steps.
3. Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
4. Apply the vinegar solution to the stain, blotting with a clean cloth as directed above.
5. Rinse with warm water afterward, also using the above process.

If after trying any/all of these processes, the stain persists or it is a large area, you may need to try professional cleaning.  The steam extraction process is recommended to maintain your warranty.  To find an approved cleaning solution or professional cleaner check out The Carpet and Rug Institute.

Another option if your flooring has too many common stains to remove or is looking worn from all your valiant efforts to maintain it is to have your flooring replaced.  The Carpet Guys can have your home updated and beautiful in time for you to host the next holiday meal or for your Superbowl party!  Just call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate Form and one of our amazing sales support representatives will give you a call.

The post How to Remove Red Wine, Coffee, and Grease Stains appeared first on The Carpet Guys.