Page 64 - KHovanian Homes - Pathway to Homeownership

Section 9 | Home Care & Maintenance Shedding New carpeting, especially pile, sheds bits of fiber for a period of time. Eventually these loose fibers are removed by vacuuming. Shedding usually occurs more with wool carpeting than with nylon or other synthetics. Snags Sharp-edged objects can grab or snag the carpet fiber. When this occurs cut the snag off. If the snag is especially large call a professional. Sprouting Occasionally you may find small tufts of fiber sprouting above the carpet surface. Simply use scissors to cut the sprout off. Do not attempt to pull it as the other fibers will come out in the process. Maintenance Guidelines • Your children, pets, and lifestyle will determine how often you’ll need to vacuum. However, you cannot over-vacuum your carpet. At a minimum you should vacuum your carpet at least one to two times a week. While normal vacuuming will remove loose fibers from carpet, an occasional tuft may be lifted above the surface. Do not pull out the tuft; just snip it off to the length of the other tufts using scissors. • Remove spots quickly so they do not become permanent stains. For details on stain removal refer to your manufacturer’s brochure or call the manufacturer directly for advice and tips on how to remove spots. • Some manufacturers recommend yearly professional cleaning of carpets while others do not. Again, it is best to contact your carpet manufacturer directly and ask for its recommendation. • The following substances are just a few that may cause permanent damage to your carpet. Be careful when using them around your home. Toilet bowl cleaners Chlorine bleaches Insecticides Plant foods Drain cleaners Oven cleaners Topical medicines • Sunlight can fade carpet. Therefore, keeping window shades drawn during the day will help preserve your carpet’s color. . Floors - Resilient (Vinyl) Flooring Like carpet, resilient floor coverings come in 6-foot wide rolls or 12-foot wide rolls, and are installed in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas. Resilient flooring - or vinyl flooring - that may be used in your home is a no-wax covering. And like carpeting it will last a long time if cared for properly. Maintenance Guidelines • Wipe up any spills immediately as liquid left on your floor can stain and also cause the vinyl to split at the seams and bubble if the liquid gets under the surface. • Sweep or mop your vinyl floors frequently as sand and grit will dull the surface. If left on the floor, sand and grit will grind into the flooring causing cuts and pockmarks. If you mop your floor use a small amount of water and make sure that the surface is completely dry when you are finished as water seeping through the seams and under the baseboard trim can cause seam separation and lifting. A silicone caulk, available at hardware stores, is recommended for use at tub and floor joints to minimize the problem. Do not use cleaning products containing turpentine, alcohol, or kerosene, as they will permanently damage the surface. A small amount of warm water should take care of most dirt or spills. • From time to time you will need to mop your vinyl floors. Use care when cleaning and do not scrub your floors excessively. Frequent mopping, scrubbing or use of electric buffers can create a wear problem. • Do not flood your floors or allow water to remain on the floor; it will seep into the joints and deteriorate the sub-flooring and glued seams. • Sharp edges on furniture legs, high heels and other sharp surfaces will damage resilient flooring permanently. • Attach furniture protectors to the bottom of furniture legs to protect the resilient flooring from scuffing and surface damage. Also, take care when moving items that are located on vinyl floors. We recommend that you use casters or some other material that will protect the vinyl surface. 46 | Edition July 2019