It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Simple Do’s and Don’ts For Hardwood Floors

Spring is only a day away, although it certainly hasn’t felt like it for the past several weeks! So is your spring cleaning checklist ready to go? Don’t forget  also to give your hardwood floors some extra TLC this time of year. Below are some simple Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind this spring:

Do’s

• Establish simple cleaning rituals – vacuuming regularly, or wiping down your hardwood floors with a damp cloth or dry mop, will take away the dirt and debris and keep scratches to a minimum. And with more outside dirt entering the house this time of year, regular cleaning is more important than ever.
• Use soft brushes – if you haven’t already, invest in a new soft-bristle broom or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
• Consider an area rug – using area rugs or mats is a great way to protect floors that are in the line of heavy traffic during spring and summer months (when the kiddos are constantly running in and out of the house to play!).
• Remember your sunscreen – over time, ultraviolet rays from excessive sunlight will change the color of a hardwood floor. If a certain floor area is exposed to heavy sun in the spring and summer, be sure to close window blinds or shades for protection – especially during the brightest time of day.
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations – if you’re unsure of the manufacturer’s guidelines for your floor, give us a call and we’ll gladly assist.

Don’ts

• Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar – this can scratch the floor during the cleaning process.
• Don’t clean with soap or harsh ammonia cleaners – this will dull your floor finish and cause possible discoloration. Reserve those hard cleaners for your other spring-cleaning tasks.
• Don’t use water – applying water directly to your hardwood floors is a big NO; always use a damp cloth with a wood floor cleaner. Keep the spring showers outside!
• Don’t over-wax – waxing once or twice a year is recommended. If you over-wax your wood floor and it dulls, use a buffer to regain the shine.
• Don’t drag your furniture – during your big spring cleaning blitz, never drag furniture across your hardwood floors. Be sure to lift the furniture or use protective pads underneath the legs to prevent scratches.

Happy Spring Cleaning! And if you need to take a break from all those chores, visit our website at www.flooring-professionals.com for some flooring (and more) inspiration!

Decorating with Area Rugs

Shown: Tiburon in Rusted Rose from Colonial Mills, Inc.

Area rugs make a wonderful addition to nearly every type of room in your home. Regardless of the type of flooring or carpet you have, the addition of an area rug can spice up the décor as an accent feature or become the focal point of a room. Area rugs come in many shapes, styles and colors to match nearly any decorator’s taste.

Aside from being a great decorating tool, area rugs have quite a few benefits you may not have considered. One of the best features is that an area rug can protect high traffic areas of the home. Placing an area rug on a hardwood or laminate floor can help prevent wear and tear and protect the floor’s surface from scratches and gouges that may happen due to chair legs scraping the surface under normal circumstances.

Large rooms can be a challenge to decorate, especially rooms in the home designed to serve multiple purposes. Many people love open floor plans which can include living rooms with sitting rooms or sunrooms attached: but a real challenge is found with laying out furniture in these types of rooms. With a lack of wall space comes the difficulty of blending one room into the next. An area rug can easily divide a large room into functional parts by drawing attention to the rug itself, with furniture placed strategically around the rug. This set-up can make furniture in the room without a wall appear to be in place, rather than out of place.

In contrast, area rugs can do the opposite of dividing a room if multiple sizes of the same patterned rug are used throughout the home. For example, a living room with a dining room attached can feel like a cohesive space with the use of matching rugs in both rooms.

Tips for Choosing a Rug Size:

• Leave 18 to 24 inches of border between the rug and wall on all sides in rooms used as living or family rooms

• Leave 2 to 4 inches between the walls and the rug in hallways. Hallway rugs should also be roughly two feet shorter than the hallway.

Is It Time to Re-Carpet?

Homeowners, landlords and even business owners will face this dilemma at some point – Do I re-carpet or just have the existing carpet professionally cleaned? Most carpets on the market today are designed to last anywhere from 10-20 years. If you experience any of the issues below, it’s probably time to invest in new carpet.

1. Matted Appearance – when certain areas of your carpet (typically high-traffic areas) look flat and matted down, this means that the carpet fibers have lost their resiliency. Chances are a professional carpet cleaning will not greatly help the fibers go back to their upright position, especially with carpets that are made from polyester fibers. Carpets made from Nylon or Sorona® have a better chance of bouncing back, at least a little bit, after cleaning.
2. Stains That Won’t Go Away – anti-stain treatments such as Scotchgard™ are only applied to the carpet surface and will eventually wash or wear off. Over time, stains will become difficult or impossible to remove – especially stains like tea, wine, or blood.
3. Ripples – a worn carpet will start to show signs of rippling and wrinkling, especially in main walkways and on steps. This is the result of typical wear and tear from years of foot traffic. If ripples or wrinkles happen to appear after a new carpet installation, however, contact your installer right away.
4. Mold or Mildew – stains like mold and mildew can be the result of water damage, humidity, or pet stains (such as urine or feces). Carpets that show signs of mold and mildew should be replaced immediately to avoid potential health hazards.

Another instance when it may be worth the investment to re-carpet your floors is if you’re getting ready to sell your home or business. Research shows that not only do sellers typically recover the carpeting cost, but they often make a profit from it. Remember, a buyer will usually choose a property that’s in move-in condition, not the one that needs updates like new carpet or paint.

So is it time for you to re-carpet? If so, visit our website to get some helpful carpet buying tips.

 

Cork Flooring and More…

When shopping for new flooring, consider cork flooring. Known for its durability and sound absorbing ability, cork floors are a great option for anyone looking for comfort and affordability in their home. Cork is not only warm and cushiony beneath your feet, but it also has a distinct surface that prevents dust from being absorbed into it. When compared to laminate, hardwood, carpet, or tile, cork flooring has an unbeatable value.

Our Featured Manufacturer – Wicanders – Showing Parquet in Raw Umber.

When considering which type of cork flooring to place in your home, you have two main options – plank or tile flooring.  Cork floor planks come in varying lengths and click and lock together at the edges, creating a floating floor above your subfloor or pre-existing floor. On the other hand, cork floor tiles can be glued down onto concrete flooring, or even used as wall tiles and then painted to add a unique look to your room.

Once you’ve decided between plank or tile flooring, you have to determine which composition of cork flooring you would prefer:

• Solid cork flooring – this flooring is made out of a ground-up cork mixture, and is usually one that is glued to a concrete floor or plywood subfloor.
• Engineered cork flooring – this flooring is made by bonding a layer of compressed cork to a layer of uncompressed cork, forming a floating floor. This is best installed over damaged floors that you do not want to have to remove.
• Mosaic cork flooring – a mosaic cork flooring is made of recycled wine corks, and consist of circular disks that are glued to paper backing. This type of flooring is best suitable for use in wet areas like showers, saunas, and even indoor pool spaces due to its waterproof properties found in the grout used.

Finally, when choosing the perfect cork flooring for your home, it’s necessary that you look into the different textures of cork floors, each with their own unique appearance. To help find the look you want, cork floors usually come in textures including:

• Small granules
• Medium granules
• Large granules
• Peeled cork
• Burled cork flooring

Incorporating cork flooring into your home is a unique and interesting way to add a durable, warm flooring to your home that is sure to complement any style.

Join Us At the Home Show

Join us at the Suburban Pennsylvania Spring Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show being held at the Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA  17603.

Click here for directions.

ADMISSION IS FREE

Show Hours:
Friday, February 8, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 9, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 10, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Whether you are a new homeowner or someone who has lived in your home for years, anyone with an interest in updating, enhancing or creating a new look or amenity for their home will enjoy the Home Show.

And, our staff will be on hand to offer years of real-world flooring experience and knowledge. We want to help you make the right flooring and installation decisions for your home and ensure your satisfaction for years to come. Click here to visit our website.

MORE REASONS TO ATTEND:
Get inspired and excited about your home and the countless possibilities
Meet face-to-face with our flooring experts
Get expert advice and tips
Be wowed by the possibilities!

How To Deep Clean Your Carpets

When spot cleaning and vacuuming just aren’t working, it’s likely time to either have your carpets shampooed or rent a carpet cleaner and do it yourself.  Here’s how to give your carpeting a thorough shampoo:

Step 1:  Remove as much furniture from the room as possible. Place plastic under the legs of furniture that cannot be removed.

Step 2:  Vacuum the floor thoroughly.

Step 3:  Test a small area of the carpeting, preferably in a spot under furniture or in a corner, for colorfastness.

Step 4:  Pre-treat any deep stains or discoloration with pre-treat solution that matches the brand of carpet cleaner you purchased.

Step 5:  Fill the carpet cleaning machine reservoir with hot water and mix in a proper amount of cleaning solution.

Step 6:  Follow the instructions on the steam cleaner.  Clean the carpet in even strips. Be certain to run the machine on a “dry sweep” without the water spray after cleaning each portion of the carpet. This will help absorb any excess water from the fibers.

Step 7:  Wipe water or foam from any wood or furniture promptly to avoid damaging the non-carpeted surfaces in your home.  This includes baseboards, chair legs and upholstered furniture.

Step 8:  Allow the carpets to dry completely, typically overnight, before walking on or replacing any furniture.

Spending some extra time and money on deep cleaning can mean extra years of performance for your carpet.  And for tips on buying carpet, click here!

 

Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Carpet

Let’s face it:  Carpet doesn’t stay looking new for very long. Many times, homeowners have purchased a house with sparkling new carpet just to find out that white may not be the best color when you have pets and a house full of kids. Likewise, the brightly colored carpet you picked out when you remodeled your house may simply not look so pretty after a year or two of daily wear and tear. Luckily, deep cleaning your carpet can go a long way to making it look brand new again.

When To Deep Clean Your Carpets

When spot cleaning and vacuuming just isn’t working, it’s likely time to either have your carpets shampooed or to rent a carpet cleaner and do it yourself. You will typically want to deep clean your carpet every 18 to 24 months, but if any of the following apply to your home’s carpet, it is likely time for a thorough shampoo:

• The carpet is no longer the same color as when you moved in or purchased the carpet
• The carpet releases a dust or smell when you vacuum
• The carpet looks matted or has sticky spots
• The carpet has darker patches in high traffic areas or discoloration around furniture

Next week be sure to check back for How to Deep Clean Your Carpets!

And, for tips on buying carpet, click here.

“Featured Product” Shaw Floors/Shaw Carpeting

Shown: Stylish Block Pattern from HGTV collection. Style TV110 in Driftwood color. This pattern offers dramatic, unique visuals with loops and cuts of varying heights.

Dimensional elements in flooring have never been more important than today.  Tactile, textural, subtle gradations, contrasting embroidery:  the surface speaks volumes to the human eye and human touch.  One of our “Featured Products” is carpeting by Shaw Floors/Shaw Carpeting.  There are a variety options which provide the look of a “one of a kind” product with affordable value.  See them in our showroom at 60 N. Ronks Road, Ronks; or visit our website www.heritage-floors.net for more beautiful flooring options.

All Shaw carpet and carpet cushion products have been thoroughly tested by an independent, certified laboratory and meet stringent criteria for low chemical emissions. As a result, they have earned the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus certification.

Beautiful Hardwood Flooring Options

Anderson Hardwood Flooring in Amarretto – Dellamano Collection – Linear Bevel, Engineered Maple

 

Dellmano is one of Anderson’s most distinctive handcrafted floors.  Extra wide planks are hand-scraped and hand-sanded for an elegant and unique appearance.  Square edges and beveled sides create the illusion of boards that run the length of your room.

Visit our website www.heritage-floors.net or our showroom for more Anderson flooring options!

 

Color

Backsplash design, natural slate pinwheel framed with a cast metal rope liner

“Color does not add a pleasant quality to design

– it reinforces it.”

– Pierre Bonnard, French painter and printmaker