No matter how hard you try, carpet stains are bound to happen. Even if you take every precaution there is, accidents out of our control do occur. Whether they are from kids, pets, or a coffee spill, they are unexpected and need to be handled swiftly. Before you jump to the nearest rag and scrub the heck out of the spill, let us explain how to execute proper carpet stain removal. 

Properly removing carpet stains is not as easy as many people think. They can’t simply be wiped up with a rag like spills on hard surfaces can. Trying to scrub it away with a rag will only push the stain deeper into the fibers. There is an art form to this, people.

To arm you with the knowledge you need to remove carpet stains correctly, we will cover the top 5 most common carpet stains and how to remove them below:

Note: Some methods below include cleaning with white vinegar and other chemicals. Make sure to consult your carpet manufacturer before you do any stain removal on your own, as your carpet dealer is not responsible for any accidental damage you do to your carpeting.

1.) Kool-Aid – If you have small children, this may be the most common carpet stain you face. Before you do anything, take a dry towel and blot at the spill. Make a mixture of white vinegar, dawn dish soap, and water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the area and let it soak for about five to ten minutes, then blot at it again. This should remove the carpet stain.

2.) Blood – If you need to treat a blood stain, always use cold water instead of hot water. Blood coagulates with heat, so cold water will keep it from permeating deeper into the fibers. Create a spray solution of a grease-fighting detergent and some cold water and spray it on the stain. After the spot has been dampened enough, begin the blotting process. Rinse and repeat if need be.

3.) Pet Stains – For all you pet lovers out there, we are positive that you have had to pick or wipe up a “special delivery” your furry friend left behind. If your carpeting is looking a little yellow, use the same blot method to start. If the spot has already dried, it will need to be moistened. After the spot has been blotted, use a little white vinegar and water to neutralize the odor and blot the area again.

4.) Ink – An ink stain can cause some major damage to the fibers of your carpeting. Dampen a clean towel with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol and begin the blotting process. Let it sit for a little bit and then vacuum it up with a liquid friendly vacuum. You may have to treat the spot with the alcohol a couple times before it is completely removed. Nail polish also may be of use in this situation.

5.) Coffee – Spilling the morning brew on new carpet is never fun, but we are sure it has happened to you. If you ever tip your cup of liquid gold onto the floor, start off with the blotting process. Depending on the amount of coffee that was spilled, you may have to use more than one rag. Make a spray of white vinegar, water, and a gentle detergent (without bleach), and generously spray it on the spot. Blot the area after spraying until the stain is removed.

Even though getting a stain on your carpeting is almost inevitable, there are ways to treat them. Remember, the most important factor in removing stains is timing, so be as quick as you can to begin blotting if you have a spill. Prevention is key, so set up rules where no food, drink, or animals are allowed in your carpeted rooms. If these methods don’t seem to work for you, there is always the option of getting a professional carpet cleaning done. Manufacturers recommend it every 12 to 18 months, so pursue this option if need be.

 

Luxury vinyl plank flooring has been finding its place in homes all across America. The benefits that LVP has to offer to active households is something that natural wood just can’t provide.

Since many people are searching for the best luxury vinyl plank flooring products on the market, we decided to put them together in a list for your viewing pleasure.

Take a look.

Best Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors

There are a ton of LVP products on the market, but it’s difficult to make a vinyl plank that can be considered the best in the business. There are three luxury vinyl plank products that take the cake:

COREtec by U.S. Floors Encore by Sierra Tahoe Edelisa Rigid Core Waterproof LVP

Keep in mind that this isn’t about the best vinyl plank flooring brands, but the products themselves.

COREtec Vinyl Plank

COREtec vinyl flooring by U.S. Floors is currently the highest demanded flooring product on the market. If you desire a high-class wood floor without the extreme price points of natural wood, COREtec luxury vinyl plank in your answer.

With COREtec flooring in your home, you get a wood floor that is not only strikingly beautiful but durable and long-lasting as well. This LVP is 100% waterproof, scratch and wear-resistant, and mimics the real look and feel of natural wood perfectly.

It also comes in a large variety of colors and styles suited to match any design scheme you can come up with.

Encore Luxury Vinyl

Created by Sierra Tahoe, Encore luxury vinyl plank is another LVP product that will make a great fit for any home. While the color palette is not as large as other products out there, it does come in your more popular color including the traditional browns and ever-popular grays.

While many see the small number of colors a disadvantage, Encore makes it up with its 100% waterproof guarantee. It’s also slip-resistant and mimics natural wood flooring with a precise look and feel. Along with a stain and burn resistant warranty on the side, Encore LVP will make a great addition to your home.

Edelisa Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl

Edelisa LVP is a beautiful vinyl plank product that will fit in any room of the home. With a whopping thirty-year limited residential wear warranty, you’re guaranteed a floor that will last for a long time.

Edelisa LVP is 100% waterproof, FloorScore certified, and slip-resistant. trust us when we say, you’ll love having Edelisa in your home.

It’s official! Shaw Floors has announced a brand new color palette of the year for the first time in history!

The 2019 color of the year award goes to Whisper, a palette of five hushed neutral shades. This color is attributed to both hard surface and soft surface flooring, and we promise you, it’s a trend that you don’t want to miss out on.

Shaw Floors Official Color of 2019: Whisper

The Whisper palette embodies five different colors:

Glacier Ice Mist Blush Clay Dusty Lilac

These five colors will be at the top of their selling list and will be utilized in many upcoming Shaw carpet and flooring products.

If you look at the colors carefully, you’ll notice that each shade is a creamy pastel with a somewhat dusty softness. These subtle undertones allow each color to be utilized in many home design schemes on their own or put together.

Pam Rainey, Shaw’s vice president of product design, had this to say about Whisper, ” With Whisper, we’ve moved away from our obsession with grays and are embracing colors that inject a calm, inviting serenity into the home. The palette conveys an ethereal, dreamlike environment where we can find peace and relaxation.”

With Whisper, selecting the right carpet color is a breeze.

Glacier Ice

You’d think a color based off ice would be cold, but Glacier Ice is anything but chilly. Shaw Glacier Ice is a light and calming pastel blue that will go great with any color scheme you whip up for your home.

Mist

Shaw Mist embodies the softness and shade of a fog that licks the dew-covered grass in the early hours of the morning. You’ll love the way this silky color enhances the look and feel of your rooms.

Blush

Remember how rosy pink your cheeks were when you got your first kiss? That’s exactly what Shaw Blush captures within its hue. This is one shade of pink we guarantee is here to stay.

Clay

Shaw Clay sports a soft earthy shade that looks like you’ve brought the most beautiful aspects of our planet straight into your home. Bring a new sense of underfoot comfort into your home with the new Clay color.

Dusty Lilac

We’re all about the serenity of flower gardens, and Shaw Dusty Lilac brings a calming stillness into a room that we have yet to see from any other color on the market. Make your rooms feel like a serene lilac field with this beautiful Whisper shade.

The Whisper palette is very easy to work with, so get creative. We promise you’ll love how your rooms look and feel with these calming shades of tranquility.

We believe that an in-home estimate is the best way to shop for new flooring, and for good reason. Showrooms are great, but they don’t service the consumer as an in-home estimate does.

Free Carpet Estimate vs. Showroom Visitation

In an earlier post, we talked about how shopping at home and getting a free estimate can save you more money and time.

Setting up a showroom visitation can take much longer than an estimate will. It also makes it trickier for the company to identify your exact needs.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to see a showroom, the benefits between the two options are much different. Booking a free in-home estimate provides you with the following:

Precise measurements of the rooms you’re renovating are taken Products are seen under your home’s lighting Pricing and discounts are discussed privately Complimentary and accurate decorating advice is given Installation dates are set up the day of your estimate Get The Carpet Guys Experience

Our design consultants are professional and easy to work with. They won’t rush you to make a decision, so take the time you need to decide.

During no-obligation carpet estimates, expect the following:

On the date of your estimate, one of our expert design consultants will come out to your home with a wide variety of samples Each measurement is taken accurately for every room you plan on renovating They will sit down with you and help you select the type of flooring that best fits your home Once you make a selection, they will get you the best price available and schedule an install date

As a family-owned company in Michigan, we believe that the finances spent in this state should stay here. That’s why we provide you with the best carpet installation service possible. The national chains and big box stores are fine, but there is more to gain with local Michigan businesses.

We move your furniture for free Remove the old flooring and place it outside by the curb Provide complimentary decorating advice Next-day installation may be available for your project

Don’t wait any longer to get your flooring replaced. Why wait when you can get it done right now?

Book your free estimate with us today. We look forward to servicing you soon.

To tip or not to tip your carpet installer. A question homeowners wonder about so often when having flooring installed. So, how do you know what is “proper etiquette” when it comes to tipping your flooring installer?

You do not have to tip your carpet installers, but they truly appreciate it when they do get tipped. Majority of them are contractors and their fees are built into their prices. And then, there are installers who work on a flat hourly rate each time they take on a job.

Regardless, if you feel the installers have done a great job and gone above and beyond, it’s up to you. You can give them a tip, or reward them with refreshments and snacks.

Moving furniture out of rooms (regardless of bulk or how heavy it is) Tearing out old carpeting and pad, bundling it up neatly, and placing it outside to await trash removal. Prepping the floor before proceeding with carpet installation. Once carpet is installed, the installer does a walk-through, making sure the job is completed perfectly. After the inspection, the room(s) is cleared of all fragments and the furniture is put back.

With all that said, and keep in mind, efficiency isn’t in how long it takes to do the project, but how well it is completed. Our installers are productive and always take extra measures to assure accuracy.

Anytime great service is provided, there is nothing wrong with rewarding that individual. Especially when they have labored extensively in providing you with excellent service. It’s always much appreciated and it makes them feel good about what they do.