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Before calling an expensive cleaning service, DIY it with these common household solutions to help wipe out all kinds of tough carpet stains, from red wine to pet urine.

Beer

Getting that coffee or tea stain out of your rug may seem impossible, but you can literally lift it out by pouring a bit of beer right on top. Rub the beer lightly into the material, and the stain should disappear. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to remove all traces of the stain.

Ammonia

Lift out stains from carpeting and upholstery by sponging them with a solution of 1 cup clear ammonia in 1/2 gallon (2 liters) warm water. Let dry thoroughly, and repeat if needed.

Vinegar

Vinegar is the superhero of stain removal. Try these different homemade formulas to remove a variety of common stains:

• Rub light carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons salt dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the solution dry, then vacuum.
• For larger or darker stains, add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture and use in the same way.
• For tough, ground-in dirt and other stains, make a paste of 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and rub it into the stain using a dry cloth. Let it set for two days, then vacuum.
• For spilled paint, use a solution of 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons laundry detergent, and two cups water, sponge away the paint before it sets in and rinse with cold water.
• For fruit and fruit juice stains, mix 1 tablespoon laundry detergent with 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar and combine with two cups of water. Work the solution into the stain and blot.
• For coffee and tea stains, combine equal parts white vinegar and water and blot the stain.

Shaving Cream

Your little one is very sorry for spilling a little juice on the carpet, so make it “all better” with some shaving cream on the spot. Blot the stain, pat it with a wet sponge, squirt some shaving cream on it, and then wipe clean with a damp sponge. Shaving cream also works great on grease and oil stains; simply work the cream into the stain, let dry, and rub off with a damp soft cloth.

Cornstarch

Oh no, ink on the carpet! In this case a little spilt milk might save you from crying. Mix the milk with cornstarch to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ink stain. Allow the homemade concoction to dry on the carpet for a few hours, then brush off the dried residue and vacuum it up. Cornstarch is also great for soaking up grease and oil stains. Sprinkle the spots liberally, let sit for several hours, and vacuum up.

Salt

Don’t panic if you spill red wine on your white carpet. While the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it to dilute the color. Then clean the spot with a sponge and cold water. Sprinkle the area with salt and wait about 10 minutes. Now vacuum up the whole mess. For greasy food stains on carpet, mix up 1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol and rub it hard on the grease stain, being careful to rub in the direction of the rug’s natural nap. Ketchup spill on your carpet? Act fast because once this one dries, it will be nearly impossible to get out. Sprinkle salt over the spill, let sit for a few minutes, and vacuum. Sponge up any residue and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is completely gone.

Borax

Thoroughly dampen the stained area, then rub in some borax. Let the area dry, then vacuum or blot it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and soapy water and let dry. Repeat if necessary. Don’t forget to first test this DIY remover on an inconspicuous corner of the rug or on a carpet scrap before applying it to the stain.

WD-40

Don’t let ink or other stains ruin your fine carpet. Spray the stain with WD-40, wait a minute or two, and then use your regular carpet cleaner or gently cleanse with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Continue until the stain is completely gone.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Can’t tell what that stain is? Still want to remove it? Try this sure-fire homemade remover: Mix a teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a little cream of tartar or a dab of non-gel toothpaste. Rub the paste on the stain with a soft cloth. Rinse. The stain, whatever it was, should be gone.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is your best choice to quickly clean vomit or urine stains from your carpet. Wipe up what you can, then pour baking soda over the affected area and pat with a paper towel. Let the homemade mixture dry completely before vacuuming up the residue. Baking soda will clean, sanitize, and deodorize the messy spot. Baking soda can also be used to lift grease stains when combined with equal parts salt. Sprinkle the mixture over the grease spot, and use a stiff brush to work the powdery concoction into the spot. Let sit for 4 or 5 hours and then vacuum up to completely remove the stain.

Meat Tenderizer

Scraped knees leave blood stains on your carpet? Cover the stain with equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer and let this homemade remover stand for 30 minutes. Sponge off with cold water.

Club Soda

Club soda works wonders on pet urine and other tough stains. Immediately blot up excess urine with paper towels; then soak with club soda; blot again; and scrub with diluted carpet shampoo. Club soda also removes spilled coffee and tea stains; simply pour liberally over the stain and blot to dry.

Baby Wipes

Use baby wipes to blot up spills from your rug or carpet; it absorbs both the liquid and the stain. Wipes can also be effectively deployed as a homemade stain remover when attacking various spills and drips on your clothing and upholstered furniture.

Toothbrushes

Removing a stain can be a pain, especially one that has soaked deep down into soft fibers. To remove those deep stains, try using a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush, dabbing it gently to work in the stain-removing agent (bleach or vinegar, for example) until the stain is gone.

Ice Cubes

Chewing gum somehow end up stuck to the fibers of your carpet? Freeze the gum first with ice cubes in a plastic bag, then scrape with a butter knife and blot with trichloroethylene, a dry-cleaning fluid.

Dry-Cleaning Fluid

Dry-cleaning fluid is excellent at removing grease, lipstick, butter, and mysterious oily fingerprints. Blot up excess oil with a paper towel, and then work the fluid into the stain, moving from the edges to the center.

Paint Remover

For spilled nail polish, paint, or leaked ink, dab gently with paint remover. If that fails, try dabbing with dry-cleaning fluid.

Information Shared from: reader’s digest

With proper maintenance, the advantages of hardwood floors vs. carpet are abundant and pay off for a lifetime.

Hardwood floors or carpeting? Both types of flooring materials have distinct advantages and disadvantages. While different living and working environments certainly call for different materials, some features of carpeting and hardwoods are consistent across environments.

Carpeting

Quiet and Comfortable

One of carpeting’s essential attributes is its soft, insulating, buffering nature. It naturally absorbs sound. It also maintains heat, which can be quite essential in colder environments. It is also comfortable for people regularly on their feet for extended periods, and it proves priceless in the case of slips, trips and dropped items.

The Good Old 70’s Shag

The bad news is that it’s difficult to catch carpeting at its ideal “peak.” Carpeting always goes out of style, so you may be forced to replace it several times as trends go in and out, and the look and feel of a living environment changes.

New Carpet Smell = Chemical Cartel

New carpeting can be a health hazard. Modern manufacturing uses synthetic materials – what you smell in a newly carpeted room, or carpet shop – which can be hazardous. New carpets will leak for years, and new carpet installation also often uses chemicals which emit fumes. These too, may not be healthy, and may cause sinus or breathing problems for people exposed to them for extensive periods of time. Natural, more eco-friendly carpets do exist, but they drive costs up significantly.

Modern technology has also made it possible to instill some permanence in carpeting, in the form of anti-fade color fastness, near-perfect stain protection, and even fireproofing.

High Maintenance

On the other end of the spectrum, carpet imminently deteriorates, and the more traffic it sees, the worse the effect. Many carpets can look ragged in as little as five years.

Most carpets have loops that can be pulled loose, and because of its woven nature, once a carpet begins unraveling it quickly gets worse, rather than better. It is very difficult to repair carpet. Replacing it completely is often necessary.

Extensive Cleaning, Minimal Results

Carpets require regular intensive cleaning – daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, with extensive, expensive aids, chemicals and equipment. The bad news is that they tend to be a one-way street. Given enough time and traffic, they will always matt and become increasingly difficult to care for.

Even with regular care, particles of all sorts – dirt, dust, grime, grit and the like – sift and sink through the weave and pad and settle near the floor. Dampness from accidents, traffic and even carpet shampooing can actually increase the dampness, rot and growth of mildew and more. Anyone who has ever removed old carpeting can share countless related horror stories.

Allergy Nightmare

In fact, for individuals who suffer allergies, carpets are a living nightmare. They’re a constant source of irritating dander, dust, fluff, fur, mildew, mold and pollen. Dust mites, especially, love carpet.
Hardwood

Safe and Clean

As mentioned above, hardwood doesn’t hide harmful particulate matter, making for a healthier, safer living environment, especially for allergy sufferers.

Generally, hardwood floors cost more than carpeted floors, but they also require less maintenance, last longer and can be “repaired” (instead of replaced).

Especially in older homes, hardwood floors can be draftier and colder. But a well-selected area rug typically remedies this problem.

Low Maintenance

Comparatively, hardwood floors require minimal maintenance – in terms of both effort and equipment. Consider, simply, the difference in price between a mop and vacuum. Hardwood floors are also much more resistant to spills and stains.

Hardwood floors do get scraped, scratched, scuffed, dented and damaged – especially in high traffic areas. However, wood flooring can most often simply be sanded, smoothed and refinished. It is rarely necessary to replace a wood floor.

Sustainable

Since wood is a naturally occurring resource, which can even be reforested, hardwood floors may also be a quality ecological choice. Faster growing types of wood flooring materials – such as bamboo (which is actually grass) make this an even more plausible reality.

Unsurpassed Beauty and Value

Perhaps the number one reason to consider a hardwood floor is for aesthetic reasons.

Hardwood is one of the oldest flooring materials there is, and it never goes out of style. Because of the large variety of trees and wood types, a world of colors, consistencies, designs, grains and patterns are available.

Whereas many new homeowners will remove carpeting upon purchasing a house, viewing it as an additional expense, hardwood floors definitely increase the value of a house.

So, while hardwood floors may cost more initially, with proper maintenance, they can be a sound investment that pay off for a lifetime.

ref: information shared by:
https://us.bona.com/news/2011/05/carpet-vs-hardwood.html

Gerry brings Armstrong, MOHAWK, FLORSTAR, LAUZON, Engineered Floors product samples to your doorstep for your convenience.

Armstrong offers hundreds of flooring options for you to choose from. Our hardwood floors are available in many popular wood species, from classic oak to exotic tropical hardwoods. Prefer the look of ceramic tile, but don’t like the cold, hard surface? Check out our vinyl sheet and luxury vinyl flooring collections with a variety of tile, stone, slate looks – and a soft, warm feel underfoot. We also offer easy-to-clean vinyl tile floors, and rounding out our offerings, laminate flooring and linoleum floor covering. Browse our products to get flooring ideas, get a flooring price estimate and then find a local flooring store near you to see the floor in person.

Shop Flooring right in the comforts of your home. Gerry brings samples to your home. Measuring and set up appointment all done in the comforts of your home. Tear out and install of all flooring. Guaranteed lowest prices – we cut out the middleman and storefront expenses.

Natural beauty and lasting durability. The enduring appeal of hardwood flooring is in its timeless look and the value it adds to your home. Armstrong offers the most choices in styles, finishes, and installation options to fit your taste, lifestyle, and budget.

But with so many choices, there’s a lot to think about beyond choosing the right color and wood species. Armstrong takes the guesswork out of the selection process by explaining the important considerations you need to know before buying. To learn more, check out our hardwood flooring guide. Your local flooring store can also help in finding the perfect match for you and your home.

Dreaming about remodeling a room in your home? The Design a Room visualizer can get you one step closer to that dream. Try on different floors, paint colors and stains in your own room or one of ours. It’s easy. Watch this short video to learn more or just jump in and get started.

Design a room here.

Innovative Flooring, Designed for You from Mohawk

Ever since we rolled out the first Mohawk carpets in 1878, we’ve built quality into every flooring product we make. We continue that tradition today with revolutionary product innovation, award-winning design, and a talented team dedicated to outstanding service. We’re proud to assemble 100% of our carpet products in the United States—and proud to lead the industry as a trusted brand in flooring.

We take this leadership role seriously: Mohawk invests heavily in environmentally responsible practices, from developing renewably sourced products to keeping our facilities and delivery systems streamlined and efficient. We’re dedicated to running our business in the best way we can, and to making a positive impact in our communities.

It’s all part of our mission to create innovative products that make life better… and to bring you the best floor possible.

Green Products & Practices

At Mohawk, we lead the pack when it comes to eco-friendly flooring. We offer hundreds of beautiful, top-quality products made with recycled and renewable resources, from carpet and carpet cushion to hardwood, laminate, and tile.

But it’s not just what we make. It’s how we make it. Our approach to sustainability covers every point of a product’s life cycle, from raw materials, manufacturing, and distribution to installation methods and end-of-life recycling. So you know your Mohawk flooring is an excellent choice for you… and for the planet.

PureColor Fiber

Part of the secret to our success is our own solution-dyed carpet fiber called PureColor. To understand what makes PureColor superior to traditional piece-dyed fibers, think of the visual difference between a carrot and radish. With PureColor solution-dyed fiber, the color goes all the way through the fiber, like the color of a carrot. Color on traditional carpet fibers sits on the surface of the fiber, like the color of a radish. Making the color literally part of the carpet fiber has several advantages:

• PURECOLOR FIBER COLOR WON’T FADE FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HARSH SUNLIGHT
• PURECOLOR FIBER COLOR WON’T WEAR OFF, EVEN IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS
• PURECOLOR FIBER COLOR WON’T BLEACH OUT FROM SPOT CLEANING – EVEN WITH HOUSEHOLD BLEACH OR CLEANERS
• PURECOLOR FIBER COLOR RESISTS STAINING WHEN PROPERLY CARED FOR, EVEN FROM ITEMS LIKE RED WINE, MUSTARD OR PET URINE