Resources Rugs & Flooring Topics

Should You Clean Your Carpet Yourself or Hire Pros?
The Carpet and Rug Institute says that if you properly maintain your quality carpeting, it should last 10 to 15 years. So it makes a lot of sense to get it cleaned with some frequency. Also, dirty carpeting is an eyesore. You can hire a professional cleaning service, but they are not cheap. They have to bring in a machine, move your furniture, pre-spot, and all that. In any case, you're responsible for doing a lot of work like removing small furniture and items. The article estimates that you can realize a cost savings of more than 50 percent by doing it yourself. If you choose to do it yourself, you can rent a rug-cleaning machine for perhaps $45 a day, plus the cost of the cleaning solution. The machine is easy to use. It's recommended to use several fans and a dehumidifier or air conditioner to expedite the drying time (which you'd need to do in hiring a professional service, as well).

Four Steps For Proper Carpet Care
Modern carpet fibers are designed to hide dirt and grime as much as possible. This can be a blessing for a homeowner, but it can also end up shortening the lifespan of the carpet since the area rug or carpet may not get cleaned as often as it should be. Soil can damage the fibres of a carpet if allowed to stay in the carpet too long. Regular cleaning, even if the carpet does not appear soiled, can extend the life of the carpet or area rug considerably and improve the appearance immeasurably. The first step is to vacuum high traffic areas often and regularly. Removing lose soil from the surface of your carpet or area rug prevents the razor-sharp particles of soil from working their way into the carpet or area rug's fibers and doing permanent damage. Remember that briaded rugs, like Capel braided rugs, may require a slower vacuuming motion to get out ground-in dirt. The careful and regular cleaning of carpets is the best thing you can do to extend not only their life but their original beauty as well.

Bathroom Flooring Options
According to LoveToKnow Home Improvement, if you're planning on new flooring for your bathroom, you've got a choice of many materials, from carpet and hardwood flooring to laminate and tile. The choices have never been greater. If you do decide to choose carpet for your bathroom flooring, make sure that you either lay a border of vinyl around the bath, toilet and basin which can receive the most of the splattering or invest in a few good bathmats to protect your carpet from wet feet and soap and toothpaste. Solid hardwood can also be damaged by moisture, but it looks beautiful when installed correctly—make sure you have it installed professionally, and that it gets many coats of waterproof sealant to protect it. Laminate bathroom flooring has always had wet floor limitations, but depending on the type of installation and the type, it can be used in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and conservatories. Best bet in selecting laminate is to make sure the flooring you choose is warranted for the bathroom. Stone is an option with almost no moisture problems. Granite, marble and limestone are popular for bathroom. You want textured stone so it's not slippery when wet. The main complaint with stone is it can get cold, though you can install an electric heating grid underneath it. Ceramic tiles are also waterproof and fairly inexpensive, and come in many different styles. But like stone, it can be slippery and cold.