Trouble Shooting
- Burns
- Burn damage can be remedied only by reweaving, re-tufting, or resectioning the damaged
- area. However, in some cases, the appearance of an area of charred carpet can be
- improved by carefully clipping off blackened ends of tufts using small, sharp scissors.
- Trim surrounding tufts to minimize indention. Remember, clipping blackened ends of tufts is permanent.
- Crushing
- Crushing is the loss of pile thickness due to foot traffic. It is not a manufacturing defect
- unless specifically cited in manufacturer’s warranty. Regular vacuuming can help reduce crushing. Manufacturers’ definitions of crushing may vary.
- Depressions
- The weight of heavy pieces of furniture can put indentions in carpet. Use furniture glides
- or cups under the legs of heavy pieces or occasionally move your furniture a few inches
- backward or sideways so that the weight is not concentrated in one place. If depressions
- do occur, apply water to the indentions with a spray bottle. Hold a hair dryer, set on medium, a few inches above the indention. As the spot is drying use your fingers to gently work the pile upright and in the opposite direction.
- Fading or Color Loss
- Protect carpet from direct sunlight to minimize fading or color loss. Fading can be
- caused by emissions from heating fuels or chemicals, such as pesticides, household
- cleaning agents, and other household items.
- Filtration Soiling
- Filtration soiling may appear as dark or grayish lines on carpet along walls, stairways,
- around vents, and under doors. It is caused by airflow over and through the carpet that
- allows fine, airborne soils to settle on the carpet surface. This type of soiling, while
- sometimes permanent, requires special treatments for effective removal. Contact a carpet
- cleaning professional for assistance.
- Fluffing or Shedding
- The balls of fluff found on carpet or in the vacuum cleaner bag are merely loose bits of
- fiber left in the carpet from the manufacturing process. The removal of loose fibers does
- not affect the carpet life or quality. With proper vacuuming, using a quality vacuum
- cleaner, most shedding gradually disappears within the first year after installation.
- Matting
- Matting, the untwisting of the fiber and intermingling of the yarn tips, is usually the result
- of concentrated foot traffic and possibly inadequate maintenance. But other factors,
- including improperly specified cushion or cushion failure, can also be the cause. Matting
- is not considered a manufacturing defect unless specifically cited in the manufacturer’s
- warranty. Manufacturers’ definitions of matting may vary.
- Shading, Pile Reversal, “Watermarking,” or “Pooling”
- Shading is not a change in color, but a change in pile direction that sometimes randomly
- appears in a carpet or rug. It may look darker or lighter from different directions.
- Shading may be more prevalent in a solid color cut pile carpet than in patterned and
- textured styles. This is not considered a manufacturing defect and is usually permanent
- and has no known cause.
- Soiling
- The secret to maintaining the beauty of your carpet is to vacuum often and clean it
- regularly before it becomes excessively soiled. Dulling is caused by the deposits of all
- types of soil that abrade the carpet’s fibers. Still, the original color is not lost, but is
- present under the soil film. If the soil is allowed to remain, the carpet is much more
- difficult to clean. Frequent cleanings are important to avoid excessive soiling.
- Sprouting
- Occasionally a yarn tuft will rise above the pile surface of a carpet.
- Do not pull them out Just snip these tufts off level with the carpet. If a long run has occurred, consult your dealer, installer, or professional cleaner promptly. It is frequently possible for the yarn to be re-tufted (reburled) or glued back into place.
- Static
- The static electricity generated by some carpets is aggravated by low humidity. That is
- why it is most bothersome in colder weather when the relative humidity is low. The use
- of a humidifier can help by reducing the buildup of static and reducing annoying shocks.
- Be cautious about using anti-static treatment on carpets, as some can cause the carpet to
- soil very readily. For the same reason, never use fabric softeners made for home laundry,
- as they may leave sticky residues that will cause rapid soiling.