Care Needed For Long-Life Carpets

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29912, 28 August 1962, Page 2

Care Needed For Long-Life Carpets

Three phases of protection are essential for long life in carpets, says the Home Science Extension in an new leaflet on the choice and care of soft floor coverings.

The right quality carpet must be selected, it must be laid correctly, and it must be properly maintained.

Quality m carpets depends on the type and amount of fibre used. Wool gives the best all-round performance, but because of its high cost, some man-made fibres may be blended with it. Viscose rayon is most often used for this purpose. It is almost as strong as wool, but has less resilience and soils fairly readily. requiring more frequent brushing and cleaning.

A dense close pile gives long wear, not only because of the amount of fibre present, but also because the rows, being close together, support one another and stop the pile from being trodden down. For a long-lasting carpet then, look for a medium pile in well packed rows. The price is related to the amount and kind of fibre present so if a carpet is to last it wfll involve a considerable outlay of cash. Where funds are restricted, it is' wise to buy the best quality one can afford for the rooms which receive most use—family living rooms, balls and stairs, and to put light-duty coverings in less often used rooms. Before Laying The floorboards must be smooth and even, with any cracks or gaps filled or covered with paper felt to prevent soiling of the underside of the carpet. A good quality underlay adds years to the life of a carpet. Newspapers, or the outworn carpet are not an adequate substitute. Underfelte do not last for ever, should be replaced when flattened. Where moths and carpet beetles are prevalent, it will be wise to treat the carpets containing wool with a suitable insecticide, unless this has already been done during manufacture. The floor will need treating too. and also the underlay unless it is of rubber or plastic.

Anti-sorl treatment may also be considered especially for pale or lightly patterned carpets. As yet, this must be done professionally and renewed from time to tone. An inflammable solvent is sometimes used to the treatment and can create a fire hazard until it has evaporated. Cleaning New Carpets. There are two schools of thought on the question of whether or not a new carpet should be vacuum-cleaned when it is new. The Home Science Extension advocates light cleaning right from the first If this is not done, surface litter gets trodden into the pile which soon becomes soiled and dingy. Any spills should be wiped up immediately. After the first few weeks, carpets should be vacuumcleaned thoroughly at least once a week, or more often if the traffic demands it. Work slowly, with even strokes, going backwards and forwards over each area several times in the direction of the pile, so that all dirt and grit is removed. Grit trodden into the pile cuts the threads and is the greatest enemy to carpet life. Other hazards are: crepe soled shoes, stiletto heels, cat and dog claws, furniture with pointed legs or broken castors. Carpets should be turned at regular intervals to equalise wear. With wall-to-wall carpets. this is difficult, and the furniture must be moved instead to change the traffic lanes. Mats or carpet strips can be laid to take the strain at pointe of heavy wear, for instance, at the telephone, or by a favourite chair. An extra half-yard or so of stair carpeting will enable the carpet to be moved regularly to distribute the wear evenly.