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Carpet

Five things you can do to keep your carpet beautiful

Use entrance mats
Place mats at entrances to trap soil before it can be tracked into your home.  Soil is the greatest threat to your carpet’s appearance.

Vacuum regularly
The most important thing you can do for your carpet is to vacuum it regularly.  Removing dirt particles will reduce abrasion that can dull carpet fibers.  Use a vacuum with a beater-bar which will raise the pile while it removes soil.  (For natural fibers such as wool please contact Floor Trends)

Blot up spills immediately

Immediate attention to spills and spots will make removal easier.  Always blot the area being cleaned.  Never rub, scrub or brush.  Follow proper stain removal instructions.

Clean Periodically

Clean your carpet using hot water extraction before it shows traffic patterns.  Professional hot water extraction is the preferred method.  Many fiber manufacturers require you to clean your carpets every 18 to 24 month to maintain warranty coverage.

Stain Removal

*Freeze and remove solid materials before using cleaning fluid
Step 1

• Use spoon or dull knife to remove solid material
• For large Stains, work from the outside of stain to center to prevent spreading
• Blot up liquid spills with towel or white paper towel
• Mix a solution of ¼ teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of stir gently
• Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth.  Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth.  Avoid saturating the carpet
• Wipe Gently.  Turn cloth frequently.  Never rub, scrub or use a brush.  This may damage carpet fibers.
• If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
• Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear lukewarm water to rinse.
• Cover the spot with an absorbent towel or white paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
• Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
• If the stain is gone, place an absorbent towel or white paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh towels down with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic bucket.
• Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
• If the stain remains, proceed to step 2.  (For coffee, tea or urine, skip step 2 and proceed to step 3.)

Step 2

• Do not use on coffee, tea or urine stains.
• Mix 2 tablespoons o non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
• Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1
• Do not dry with paper towels.  Proceed to Step 3 to neutralize ammonia solution.

Step 3

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1

If the above process does not remove stain, you may contact us or your fiber manufacturer for further assistance.

            Floor Trends                800-NEW-FLOOR
            Invista (Stainmaster)   800-4-DUPONT
            Solutia (Wear Dated) 800-633-3203
            Scotchgard                  800-433-3296

Vinyl

Immediately after installation do not replace frequently moved furniture or allow heavy traffic for at least 24 hours.  Protect and do not disturb sealed seams for at least 24 hours.

When moving heavy furniture or appliances over vinyl floors, place plywood or hardboard panels on floor and “walk” objects across the panels to avoid scratching or damaging you vinyl floor.  Never slide furniture directly over your floor.

Make sure you use proper rests, glides or casters on your vinyl floor.  Metal domes and furniture with small narrow or worn surfaces should be replaced with wider, smooth, non-staining protective load bearing devices.

As with other household furnishings repeated exposure to direct sunlight may cause bleaching or discoloration.

Area rugs with rubber backing and certain dyes may stain vinyl floors.

Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit that can abrade or scratch your new floor.

Wash you floor with manufacturers cleaner or a suitable mild detergent.

Use non-staining mats at entryways to help prolong the life of your vinyl floor.

Over time loss of gloss in high traffic areas can be restored using manufacturer’s polish.  Contact Floor Trends for appropriate product.

For stubborn stains contact Floor Trends at 800-NEW-FLOOR or your vinyl manufacturer for specific details for removal.  Some manufacturer toll free numbers are:

Armstrong                   800-233-3823              www.armstrong.com
Congoleum                  800-274-3266              www.congoleum.com
Mannington                 800-482-9527              www.mannington.com
Tarkett                         800-367-8275

Hardwood

It is very important that you know what type of finish you have on your floor so you can decide on the proper floor care product.  There are two principal types of finishes on wood-penetrating seals and surface finishes.  Each requires the same care, but when it comes to removing stains or restoring the finish in heavy traffic areas, methods vary.

When in doubt try smudging the finish with a finger or scraping the finish with a fingernail or sharp instrument in a hidden corner of the room.  If the smudge is noticeable or no clear finish material is scrapped up, the floors have likely been waxed and maintenance should follow the guidelines for penetrating sealer with wax.

Vacuum and/or dust mop regularly.  For general cleaning of soiled areas, dip or spray a clean cloth with manufacturer’s recommended cleaner (we recommend Bona products if manufacturer unknown).  The cloth should be slightly moistened, not wet.  As you clean the floor follow by wiping the floor dry.   Do Not apply moisture unnecessarily.  Do Not use any types of waxes or products with wax on polyurethane floors.  In the event you want to renew the finish at a later date, the use of waxes may prevent this requiring you to re-sand the entire floor.

With special care and skill, you may be able to repair polyurethane finishes yourself.  Using a steel wool or fine sandpaper remove layers of finish from the entire length of the affected boards.  If necessary, stain and let dry completely.  Apply the same type polyurethane as the original finish to the entire board, being careful not to build additional finish coats on surrounding strips.  Taping the perimeter of the area with a quality release masking tape is helpful.  If in doubt contact Floor Trends at 800-NEW-FLOOR for additional information or to have one of our professional finisher do the work for you.

When floors with penetrating sealers and or wax finishes start to look dull and scuff marks show, buff with a machine or by hand to restore luster and polish out scuffs.  If the shine is not restored apply a thin coat of wax and buff well to restore the luster.  Be sure the wax products you use are designed for floors and are solvent based not water based.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is as close to "maintenance-free" as a floor can get. The high pressure laminate surface makes it virtually impossible for dirt or grime to get a foothold.

It's not quite self-cleaning, but laminate flooring is one of the easiest to care for floors you'll ever own! For everyday cleaning, simply use an electrostatic cleaner. For more general and more challenging cleaning situations, we recommend the following:

Cork

Do not wash for at least 5 days. Vacuum regularly. For deeper cleaning, use a damp mop with a mild wood flooring detergent or white vinegar and water (one part vinegar to four parts water). Avoid using excessive water.

Wax tiles can be treated with a good quality paste wax and buffed with an electric buffing machine with a lambs wool pad. For heavy cleaning, remove old dirt and wax with a purple abrading pad and re-apply wax.

Varnished tiles can be treated with a liquid polish (never wax) and buffed. To refinish, use a buffing machine with 150 grit paper and follow Finish manufacturer's instructions. If you wish to seal a pre-finished floor with additional coats of polyurethane, we suggest a water-based product.

With proper care and maintenance your  Cork Floor should last a lifetime!

-- Additional Urethane Application --

1. Abrading: Sand the floor with a 150-180 grit paper (or purple abrading pad) to achieve a slightly abrasive surface. This allows the urethane to successfully adhere to the tiles. We recommend using a slow buffing machine.

2. Cleaning: Vacuum and wash the floor completely to rid the surface of all dirt and/or dust created during the sanding process.

3. Applying: The surface must be completely dry and the urethane used must be specified for hardwood and/or cork flooring before applying. We recommend two coats of a water-based urethane, however, the number of applications depends upon preference. Follow the instructions of the urethane manufacturer.

-- Recommended Refinishing Instructions --

1. Finish Removal: Sand the floor with a 75-80 grit sandpaper to successfully remove all of the existing finish. Follow up with a 150-180 grit sandpaper. We recommend using a slow buffing machine as opposed to a belt sander.

2. Cleaning: Vacuum and wash the floor completely to rid the surface of all dirt and/or dust created during the sanding process.

Ceramic

Handy Guide to Easy Tile Care

1.) With colored grout, test a small inconspicuous area first or follow grout manufacturer's instructions.
*A note on Semi-Polished Porcelain:  Porcelain tile is virtually impervious to stains and wear.  However, the polishing process opens microscopic pores in the surface of the tile.  Therefore, it is recommended that a penetrating sealer (such as Aqua Mix "Penetrating Sealer", "Sealer's Choice" etc.) be used 2 hours prior to grouting.  Penetrating Sealers need only be applied once, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Remember, prompt clean-up of spills and regular cleaning will keep your ceramic tile surfaces looking their best.

Do's and Dont's of Ceramic Tile Care

Do not combine ammonia and household bleaches.
Do not use harsh cleaning agents (such as steel wool pads) which can scratch or damage the surface of your tile.
Do test scouring pads in a small area first.
Do use a silicone sealer on grout joints if continuous staining is a problem.
Do read and follow label directions for all cleaners.
Do keep this brochure and refer to it when necessary.

Care and Maintenance of Tile and Grout

Grout may present a special cleaning problem because it is susceptible to many staining agents. Apply a silicone sealer to grout joints several times a year for maximum protection.
In addition to keeping the grout clean, be sure to keep grout joints in good repair. Scrape out loose, cracked or powdery joints and refill with a good grout.
One common grouting trouble spot is the joint between the tub and and the wall in your bathroom. As the house or tub settles, the grout may crack and crumble. It's relatively simple to remedy. Remove the old grout with a sharp pointed tool, watching out that you don't scratch tile or tub. Then dry the joint thoroughly and fill with a flexible caulking compound, such as silicone rubber caulking.

A Word about Cleaners

There are many excellent household cleaners on the market today. They should all do a good job for you, so use your favorite. Remember, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommended usage. They will perform as promised, if you use them as directed.
Here is some general information about the cleaners which are mentioned in this brochure.
All-purpose cleaners included such products as Soft Scrub, Scrub Free, Mr. Clean, Top Job, Fantastik, Ajax Liquid, Liquid Comet and Dow Bathroom Cleaner. You can find them at your supermarket.
"Soapless detergents" are also commonly found on supermarket shelves. They include such cleaners as Spic & Span and 409.
Scouring powders which are readily available include Comet, Bon Ami, and Ajax. Nylon scouring pads may also be used (such as Scotch Brite), but steel wool pads are not recommended.
Commercial cleaners such as Aqua Mix or Hilliard's "Assurance", are suitable for heavy duty cleaning in commercial applications. These products are available from your Florida Tile distributor.

Stain Removal Guide