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Eventually, we all have to deal with a spill or a spot on our lovely new carpet.   But there is no need to panic.  Here are some tips from the experts at Carpet Wagon for dealing with the occasional spill on your floor. 

- Prompt attention to spots and spills is essential.  No carpet is stain proof, although many are stain resistant, which allows time to act.
- Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.
- Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or cloth towels.
- Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result.  When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the  center of teh spot to avoid spreading the spill.
- Always follow up with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.
- Draw out any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object that will not transfer color, such as a plastic jug of water.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Tile for Your #Home

Here are 8 interesting facts and tips about tiling in your home:

1. Tiles can be made from ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, and stone.
2. Tiles can be as small as ¼ inch or as large as 65 inches. The size is up to you!
3. The phrase “Big rooms need big tiles” is not always true. Analyze your room as a whole, understand what it needs and find the freedom in your array of options.
4. Lengthen a small room by embedding mosaic-tile paths in your high traffic areas. Allow the color of your path to contrast the solid colors on your floor.
5. Tiles are available in unique shapes like basket weave, herringbone, oval and wedge shapes? Make your floors unique by incorporating these different styles.
6. Advantages of tile: design versatility, environmentally-friendly, durability, and ease of maintenance
7. Tile calls to the artist in us: create a unique look by inserting hand-painted medallion pieces into your floor pattern.
8. Tile can bring history into your home. The romantic styling of the Victorian (or even Renaissance) age can be incorporated into your room by flooring with small mosaic tiles.

[ image by tandemracer ]

A Closer Look at Tile: 2 Basic Types

There are two basic types of tile, ceramic and porcelain. They’re actually cousins with very different attributes.  Ceramic tile is defined broadly as a formed and baked clay product, usually finished with a decorative glass glazed surface. The technique has been in use for thousands of years. Porcelain tiles are a modernized version, typically made from different, denser clay materials and baked at very high temperatures and lower water absorption rates than traditional ceramic tile, making them tougher and generally frost resistant, though not always. There also are some non-porcelain tiles that can be used in freeze-thaw environments. There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. Some people favor glazed versions, stating that they are a tad easier to clean. Others say porcelain tiles may be more slip resistant.

Much of today’s ceramic and porcelain tile offerings are designed with the look and feel of natural stone in mind, and along with that color and textures which further expand your design-ability with tile. As you explore “your look,” check the tile to see what the shade variation is. It can be a consistent color yet with shade and texture variations from low to very high.

If you're looking for green options...tile can fit the bill, and in the way YOU define it. First, most ceramic tile is made of natural materials, like clay and silica for the glass glazing. It is easy to clean and keep healthy, making tile a longstanding choice in medical facilities. And top name manufacturers are adding increasing amounts of recycled content to their ceramic and glass tile products.

Excerpted from Fabulous Floors Magazine, Winter 2011.

[image by dlkinney]

Flooring Q & A: Best Flooring Choices for a New Home

Question:

I am having a house built, and trying to find out what is more economical and durable, carpet, tile or wood flooring?  Do you recommend any brand over another?

Answer:

There are many great brands and types of flooring.  If you are going strictly for price – then carpet is probably your best choice, as it tends to be the most economical.  However, you’ll get more durability from tile and hardwood flooring.

You say you’re building a new home… you may want to consider a combination of at least two or three different types of flooring, depending upon the floor plan and the functions of the rooms.  We’ve all heard the phrase “Wall-to-Wall Carpeting”, but in reality – do you really want carpet in your bathrooms or entryway where the constant moisture or heavy traffic can permanently damage carpet?   As a general rule, carpet is more desirable in bedrooms, and often family rooms as well, while tile, stone or hardwoods do better in heavily used areas such as the kitchen, dining and entryway areas.   Also something to consider: the more formal the room the more you may want to consider the timeless elegance of hardwood flooring.

Some of the best brands to look for in flooring are Mohawk, Mannington, Bruce, Armstrong, Pergo, Milliken, and just to name a few.  Carpet Wagon carries all these brands plus many more.

[photo by Nancy Hugo]

Expert Advice: How to Remove Glue from Your Floor

Question:
How do I remove glue from vinyl flooring? I have recently had new vinyl linoleum flooring put down in my kitchen. They secured the flooring using glue, but I’m not sure what type of glue.  Unfortunately, some of the glue has been walked onto the flooring. We have been advised not to use chemicals or abrasives on the flooring. We have tried normal soap and water to no avail.   Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Answer:
Good question!  Glue on the floor is really annoying, but there are lots of things you can try to remove the glue.

To remove adhesive from your vinyl flooring, you may want to try simple cooking oil.  This is the same concept as removing chewing gum from a little one’s hair using peanut butter.  Bar Keepers Friend is also worth a try.  It’s non abrasive, but make sure you try it in a small corner area with a soft cloth.   As a last resort you could try mineral spirits (used in turpentine and paint thinner).  However, please make sure you don’t pour this directly onto your vinyl floor.   Simply pour a bit on a cloth and test in small area as well. I’ve seen installers remove excess adhesive from hardwood with mineral spirits without damaging the floor at all.

[photo by LittleRedCera]

Let Your Creativity Play with an Area Rug #Home#Wardrobe

A gorgeous area rug provides a new and do-it-yourself makeovers, instantly! Area rugs are as diverse as they are versatile: knotted, woven, hooked or braided, machine-made or hand-tufted, synthetic or natural fibers, with looks and designs running from traditional to contemporary to modern, Oriental to abstract to floral and subtle to bold.

As with today’s rule that things don’t have to match, neither do rugs. Rugs let you be creative, personally contemporary, by mixing elements of your décor and the elements of the rug and thus create custom, individual looks.

Or even better, you can think of rugs as part of your home’s “wardrobe.”  Some can be changed seasonally. Some rolled out for special occasions or switched to other rooms. Others can be keepsakes to share with the family and to hand down.  What’s important to remember about rugs, new or old, using your creativity always presents a new opportunity for your rug to play a new role as you begin your home makeover.

Excerpted from Fabulous Floors Magazine, Winter 2011.

[image by psyberartist]

Flooring Q & A: Old Floors, New Solutions

Question:
I own a house that was built in 1912 and it still has the original hardwood floors in it.  We often throw parties and have lots of children over to play with our kids, and in the last few years I’ve noticed that the clear finish has flaked off in quite a few places.  What would be the best way to clean this old floor?   Another thing: I’ve got pets, so I’m concerned about finding a floor cleaner that is non toxic and safe for animals and humans. 

Answer:
It sounds like you’ve got a couple of issues to going on here.  First, finding a quality and non-toxic cleaning solution for your hard worn floors, and second, dealing with your worn finishes.

One cleaning agent I recommend is “Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner”.  Bona is an excellent choice as it is non toxic and inexpensive.   A simple vinegar and water solution also remains a good option.  Simply mix half a cup of white vinegar to one gallon of warm water.    Make sure never to saturate the wood floor with water, a slightly damp mop is all that is needed.

The other issue is that of your worn finish.   To be honest, having original floors built in 1912, you're not likely to see a significant improvement in the appearance even with vigorous cleaning.   I would recommend that you look into getting your floor refinished.  You can hire a professional or do it yourself.   Refinishing requires sanding down all the remaining varnish and the worn out top top layer of wood, and re-staining or varnishing the wood.  It’s a messy job, but can be done with the right equipment and enough time.

Feel free to contact us at Carpet Wagon for further tips and recommendations for refinishing floors!

[photo by: A.K. Photography]