General Care and Maintenance Information
for Your Floor Coverings:

Carpet | Vinyl | Ceramic Tile | Marble and Stone Flooring | Wood Flooring

CARPET

It is recommended that your carpet be vacuumed frequently. A vacuum cleaner or attachment with a rotating brush or “beater bar” is more effective than one that relies on suction only.

All carpet is susceptible to soiling. To help reduce outside dirt from being tracked in wipe-off mats should be placed at entrances.

REMOVE SPILLS IMMEDIATELY. Even though most carpets today are treated with a stain resistant finish, many spilled materials will stain or discolor carpet if not removed promptly. The stain resistance helps to hinder the absorption of materials but does not make a carpet stain-proof.

Professional carpet cleaning of the entire carpet should be done periodically. Always refer to the manufacturer’s care brochure for proper stain removal and cleaning methods.

After your carpet is installed you may notice some characteristics that might concern you. The following are normal characteristics and are not considered defects in the manufacturing or installation process:

• Footprints: Most deep cut pile carpets will show foot or shoe prints.
• Fuzzing: Fuzzing is caused by embedded dirt and grit cutting fibers but leaving them still bound at one end. This condition is an indication that more frequent vacuuming is needed.
• Matting: Matting may occur in areas with heavy traffic. It can also be the result of heavy soiling. Again, a vacuum with a “beater bar” is important in preventing this. Using small rugs and rearranging furniture on a regular basis can help prevent this condition.
• Pile crushing: This is caused by heavy traffic and can be reduced by maintaining the carpet with a “beater bar” vacuum cleaner.
• Pile reversal (pooling, shading, water marking): These are terms used to describe a change in the surface appearance of the carpet in a certain area, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. This can give the appearance of color change where none actually exists.
• Shedding: Shedding is normal and usually subsides within a short time following installation with frequent vacuuming.
• Sprouting: Sprouting occurs when the small tufts of cut pile carpet extend beyond the surface. This is common and can be removed by clipping the extended yarns with scissors. Do not pull the yarns.

Back to top

VINYL

CLEAN YOUR VINYL REGULARLY. Dirt and grit will scratch your vinyl and cause the floor to lose its shine. To prevent this, dust lightly or vacuum with an electric broom regularly. Do not use the “beater bar” vacuum cleaner on vinyl as it may damage it. Do not use abrasive cleaners, solvents or bleach on your vinyl. Please refer to your manufacturer’s care brochure for the recommended cleaning procedure.

PROTECT AGAINST DAMAGE. Furniture and appliances should be equipped with large, hard, plastic (not rubber) surface casters.

Placing area rugs at entrances can help prevent damage caused by tracked-in dirt and grime. Note: Rubber backed mats may cause permanent staining to your floor.

Extreme exposure to sunlight should be avoided. Closing of window coverings during peak sunlight hours can help prevent this.

Heavy furniture and appliances should be moved with care.

Back to top

CERAMIC TILE

Ceramic tile is a clay product. The finish is achieved through a baked-on glazing process. Color, shade, and finish variations may exist from one production run to the next due to inherent characteristics of fired clay products. Due to these factors, no two pieces of ceramic tile will be exactly alike. Ceramic is a hard, brittle product and it can be chipped or broken when objects are dropped on it.

The following cleaning instructions were provided by the Ceramic Tile Institute:

FOR NEWLY INSTALLED SURFACES OF CERAMIC TILE

Using warm water and bar soap (Fels Naphtha, Ivory or other) wash new surface. Rinse and polish with a terry towel. Repeat this step every 2-3 days for the first month. After the first month, simply wash tile with damp cloth or sponge for daily upkeep.

FOUR-STEP METHOD FOR SPOTLESS CLEANING OF CERAMIC TILE

1. With a soft cloth or brush, coat entire surface generously and thoroughly with undiluted neutral soap. Allow coated surface to dry and stand for several hours (overnight for neglected surface).
2. Mix neutral soap with warm water at same strength as normally used. With this warm solution, wet down tile surface.
3. While surface is wet, sprinkle small amount of scouring powder over tiles and grout joints. Then scrub with a stiff brush.
4. With sponge, squeegee, or cloth, wash down tile surface to remove soapy solution. With Turkish towel rags, polish surface dry for sparkle.
   Note: For surfaces which have been badly neglected, repeat this Four Step Cleaning Method.

MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR CERAMIC TILE

• Clean daily with damp cloth or sponge and polish dry with tea towel or terry towel.
• Schedule thorough cleaning at weekly or monthly intervals (See 4-step cleaning method).
• Waxes are not necessary for tile and are not recommended. They make cleaning more difficult. Sealers are not recommended either.
• Bottled liquid cleaners are not needed and are not recommended. Most contain harmful acids which may etch the tile glaze and eat into the grout.

Back to top

MARBLE AND STONE FLOORING

Stone and marble tiles are cut from natural stone and vary from piece to piece. The beauty of marble and stone is that no two pieces are the same. These are durable long-lasting tiles that require little maintenance. However, periodic upkeep is necessary to keep your stone looking its best.

STAIN PREVENTION
Most stones are porous and readily absorb liquids and moisture. In areas where stains are likely to occur, preventive measures should be taken. The use of a sealer will help prevent staining in most situations. Attached you will find a list of professional marble sealers who perform this service. Even a sealed stone can be stained if the substance is left for a long period of time. Therefore, all spills should be wiped up immediately and the surface should be cleaned with a mild ph balanced soap diluted with water.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Keep your floor dust free by using a soft, non-oily cloth or cloth mop. Damp mop your floor regularly with warm clean water. For a more thorough cleaning, use a mild, nonabrasive, clear, pH balanced soap diluted with water. For slate, a stone soap cleaner is recommended. NEVER USE VINEGAR OR ANYTHING ACIDIC TO CLEAN YOUR STONE FLOORING. Dry the floor with a soft, absorbent, lint-free cloth to avoid streaking and mineral deposits. NEVER APPLY WAX OR ACRYLICS.

Back to top

WOOD FLOORING

Proper maintenance is extremely important with hardwood floors. Preventive maintenance is the most important requirement to the long term performance and beauty of the floor.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

• Never wet mop a hardwood floor. Water causes wood to expand, damaging the floor. Never use products such as Murphy’s soap; they contain elements that break down the urethane.
• Use walk-off mats at the exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from being tracked onto the floor.
• Install proper floor protectors on furniture. Clean the protectors on a regular basis to remove any grit that may have become embedded.
• Sweep on a daily basis, but do not use a household dust treatment (i.e. Endust, Pledge) as this may cause the floor to become slick or dull the finish.
• Spike or stiletto heels, especially those in poor repair can cause denting due to the extremely high compressive force they generate. Heels that have lost their protective cap, thus exposing the fastening nail, will exert over 8,000 lbs per square inch of pressure on a floor. This is enough to damage even hardened concrete.
• Do not use rubber, foam back or plastic mats on your wood floor, as they may discolor the floor.
• Food and drink spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible.
• Waxing is not necessary or recommended.
  Refer to the manufacturer’s care brochure for the recommended cleaning methods for your wood floor.

This information is a supplement to the manufacturer’s care guides and is not intended to take the place of the manufacturers recommended care procedures.

Residential Design Services warrants the flooring installation for a period of one (1) year. The material manufacturers also have their own warranty on the material we install.

Proper care and maintenance of your floors from the day they are installed will insure enjoyment for years to come.

If you have any further questions regarding your flooring, need warranty service, or would like to order the recommended cleaners for your floors, please call our customer service department at 714-701-4200 Ext. 126 or Ext. 251.