Facts Hair Fibers: Mohair

February 4th, 2012

Mohair is a natural fiber from the Angora goat, a native of Asia Minor. It is smoother than wool, springy, translucent, lustrous and has a staple. Mohair has a natural resistance to soil due to its tight cuticle scale. Mohair when blended with wool produces plush upholstery fabrics an it is uncommon to find it used in oriental rugs.

Tibetan Rug Facts

February 2nd, 2012

Tibetan rugs have a distinctive knotting technique. A rod, which establishes the length is placed in a front of warp and a continuous yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. When a row is completed the loops are cut to from the pile and the rod is removed.

Romania Rugs

January 28th, 2012

Romania has been weaving hand-knotted rugs for over 300 years. But now these rugs are no loger made. The designs are mostly copies of Persian designs.

Pina - Fruit Fiber

January 25th, 2012

Pina is a fine,crisp fiber from the leaves of the pineapple plant tha is used in making screen and mats. Such as door mats.

Spotting Tip: Perfume

January 21st, 2012

1. Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible.

2.Neutralize with the white vinegar solution (1/3 cup of WHITE vinegar in 2/3 cup of water). Saturate spot with the white vinegar solution, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture.

3.Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.

4. Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.

5. Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.

6. If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.

Important - ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

Acrylic Facts

January 18th, 2012

It’s a synthetic fiber and has been used as a carpet fiber for over 40 years. It has the appearance and texture of wool an is stain resistant. But acrylic rugs do not release soil as easily and are subject to browning.

Silk Rugs

January 14th, 2012

Silk comes silkworm that create a cocoon coated with a protective layer of silk gum. This coating can be white,yellow, brown or beige and is not related to the color of the silk beneath it. Did you know the finest silk rug are from Hereke and Turkey. The fine threads are made from a continuous fibers are used for the foundation and face yarns allowing the knot count to exceed 1,000 knots per square inch.

Carpet Cleaning Tip- MUD

January 11th, 2012
  1. Allow mud to dry completely. Shatter the dried mud with the handle of a knife and vacuum.
  2. Remove as much of the mud as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
  3. Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
  4. Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.
  5. Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
  6. If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.

    Important - ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

What High Traffic Does Your Carpet If Not Protected

January 7th, 2012

Once dirt or particles bonds to the carpet, it acts like sandpaper on your traffic area. Once the traffic area yarns are broken down, there is no way to bring them back to their original state. By applying protector, you will increase the life of your carpet dramatically. When you vacuum your protected carpet the soils will release from the carpet pile much more effectively.

Carpet Term- Resilience

January 3rd, 2012

Resilience -  the ability of carpet pile or cushion to recover its original appearance and thickness after continued use.