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About Carpets

A carpet is any loom-woven, felted textile or grass floor covering. The term was also used for table and wall coverings, as carpets were not commonly used on the floor in European interiors until the 18th century. The hand-knotted pile carpet probably originated in [Central Asia] between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. Carpet-making was introduced to Spain in 10th century by the Moors. The Crusades brought [Turkish carpets] to all of Europe, where they were primarily hung on walls or used on tables. Only with the opening of trade routes in the 17th century were significant numbers of [Persian rug]s introduced to Western Europe.

Some use the words carpet and rug interchangeably. Historically, however, some have distinguished between carpet and rug based on size (the former being larger) or use (carpets on floors, rugs on beds or on the hearth). For the sake of clarity, some textile scholars also differentiate between carpets and carpeting. In this usage, the latter are wall-to-wall and are often woven or tufted as "roll goods", most often in 12 foot widths but sometimes in up to 15 foot widths. In the real estate and home improvement industries a distinction is made between carpet (or carpeting) and rug. The former indicates a covering that is affixed to a floor and the latter a floor covering that is loose-laid, most often for decorative purposes.

Carpet types The global carpet market for domestic and industrial end use is dominated by three manufacturing processes:

Woven: The carpet is produced on a loom similar to woven cloth and is a cut pile. Normally many coloured yarns are used and this process is capable of producing intricate patterns from pre-determined designs. These carpets are normally the most expensive.

Tufted: The carpet is produced on a tufting machine using a single-colored or sometimes non-colored yarn. If non-colored yarn is used the carpet will later be dyed or printed with a design. Tufted carpets can be either cut pile, loop pile or a combination of both. Tufting machines produce many more metres of carpet per hour than weaving does, and tufted carpets are usually low- to medium-priced.

Modern tufting technology allows basic geometric patterns to be produced in addition to solid color. The fibers used to create the patterns are twisted into yarns and then "tufted" into carpet. Because tufting machines work like enormous sewing machines with multiple needles, tufted carpet can be produced quickly. For this reason, most of the carpet manufactured today is tufted rather than woven.

A ColorTEC carpet is manufactured on a tufting machine but is capable of producing a design that is close to that of a woven carpet. ColorTec carpet can have a design up to 20 yards (18m) in length and allows the whole floorscape to be produced rather than small patterns being repeated.

Needlefelt: These carpets are more technologically advanced. Needlefelts are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual synthetic fibers forming an extremely durable carpet. These carpets are normally found in the contract market such as hotels etc. where there is a lot of traffic.

A flatweave carpet is created by interlocking [Warp (weaving)] (vertical) and [weft] (horizontal) threads. Types of oriental flatwoven carpet include [kilim], [soumak], [plain weave], and [tapestry weave]. Types of European flatwoven carpets include Venetian, Dutch, [damask], list, [haircloth], and [ingrain] (aka double cloth, two-ply, triple cloth, or three-ply).

A hooked rug is a simple type of rug handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as wool or cotton through the meshes of a sturdy fabric such as burlap. This type of rug is now generally made as a [handicraft].

On a knotted pile carpet (formally, a supplementary weft cut-loop pile carpet), the structural weft threads alternate with a supplementary weft that rises at right angles to the surface of the weave. This supplementary weft is attached to the warp by one of three knot types (see below) to form the pile or nap of the carpet.

In the late 19th century moquette came to mean [wall-to-wall] carpeting. However, historically it meant a supplementary warp-cut or uncut loop pile made on a [draw loom] (aka Velour d'Utrecht, Brussels, Wilton, bouclé, and Frisé). These textiles have a low pile and are thinner than hand knotted pile carpets. This form of carpeting, made as early as the 16th century, is constructed on a mechanized loom like [velvet]: the supplementary warps loop under the weft and are attached without forming a knot. Because of the loom structure only five colors can be used to create the design. Moquette is woven in relatively narrow panels (usually 27" or 36"). Larger works are composed of several stripes sewn together. Moquette carpets have been used on floors and tables, and as furniture upholstery and wall coverings. Production was improved with the application of the Jacquard mechanism (see [Jacquard loom]) in 1812 in France and c. 1825 in England, and by the introduction of steam power in the mid-19th century.

Unlike woven carpets, [embroidery] carpets are not formed on a loom. Their pattern is established by the application of [stitch]es to a [cloth] (often [linen]) base. The tent stitch and the cross stitch are two of the most common. Embroidered carpets were traditionally made by royal and aristocratic women in the home, but there has been some commercial manufacture since steel needles were introduced (earlier needles were made of bone) and linen weaving improved in the 16th century. [Mary Stewart] Queen of Scots is known to have been an avid embroiderer. 16th century designs usually involve scrolling vines and regional flowers (for example, the [Bradford carpet]). They often incorporate animal heraldry and the [coat of arms] of the maker. Production continued through the 19th century. [Victorian era] embroidered carpet compositions include highly illusionistic, 3-dimensional flowers. Patterns for tiled carpets made of a number of squares, called [Berlin wool work], were introduced in Germany in 1804, and became extremely popular in England in the 1830s.

Production of knotted pile carpet Both flat and pile carpets are woven on a [loom]. Both vertical and horizontal looms have been used in the production of European and Oriental carpets.

The [warp] threads are set up on the frame of the loom before weaving begins. A number of weavers may work together on the same carpet. A row of knots is completed and cut. The knots are secured with (usually 1 to 4) rows of [weft].

There are several styles of knotting, but the two main types of knot are the symmetrical (also called Turkish or Ghiordes) and asymmetrical (also called Persian or Senna).

Contemporary centers of oriental carpet production are: [Iran], [Pakistan], [India], [Turkey], [Northern Africa], the [Caucasus], [Nepal], [Spain], [Turkmenistan], and [Tibetan rugs].

The importance of carpets in the culture of Turkmenistan is such that [Flag of Turkmenistan] features a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs).

Child labour has often been used in Asia. The [Rugmark] labelling scheme used throughout [Europe] and [North America] assures that child labour has not been used: importers pay for the labels, and the revenue collected is used to monitor centres of production and educate previously exploited children.

Fibers & yarns used in carpet Carpet can be made from many single or blended [nature] and [synthetic fiber]s. Fibers are chosen for durability, appearance, ease of manufacture, and cost. The most important yarn constructions are:

Wool & wool blended with synthetic fibers: [Wool] has excellent durability, can be dyed easily and is fairly abundant. When blended with synthetic fibers such as nylon the durability of wool is increased. Blended wool yarns are extensively used in production of modern carpet. Wool is relatively expensive.

Nylon: This is the most popular synthetic fiber used in carpet production. [Nylon] can be dyed topically or dyed in a molten state (solution dying). [Nylon] can be printed easily and has excellent wear characteristics. In carpets [Nylon] tends to stain easily because it possesses dye sites on the fiber. These dye sites need to be filled in order to give [Nylon] any type of stain resistance. As [nylon] is petroleum-based it varies in price with the price of oil.

[Polypropylene]: This [polymer] is used to produce carpet yarns because it is cheap, although it is difficult to dye and does not wear as well as [wool] or [nylon]. Large looped Berber carpets made from this fiber are usually only suited for light domestic use and tend to mat down quickly. Berber carpets with smaller loops tend to be more resilient and retain their new appearance longer than large looped Berber styles. Commercial grade level-loop carpets have very small loops, and commercial grade cut-pile styles are well constructed. When made with polypropylene (also called Olefin) these styles wear very well, clean easily and are suitable for areas with heavy foot traffic such as offices. Commercial grade carpets can be glued directly to the floor or installed over a 1/4" thick, 8-pound density padding. Outdoor grass carpets are usually made from polypropylene.

Polyester: [Polyester] Also known as "2GT" or "PET" is used in carpet manufacturing in both spun and filament constructions. After the price of raw materials for many types of carpet rose in the early 2000s, polyester became more competitive. Polyester has good physical properties and is inherently stain-resistant because it is hydrophobic, and, unlike nylon, does not have dye sites. Color is infused in a molten state (solution dyeing). [Polyester] has the disadvantage that it tends to crush or mat down easily. It is typically used in mid- to low-priced carpeting

PTT: PTT [polymer], also called Sorona (Dupont)or Corterra (Shell), is a variant of [Polyester]. Lurgi Zimmer PTT was first patented in 1941, but it was not produced until the 1990s, when Shell Chemicals developed the low-cost method of producing high-quality 1,3 propanediol (PDO), the starting raw material for PTT Corterra Polymers. PTT is similar to [Polyester], but its molecules have a "kink", similar to a spring, that makes the fiber more crush resistant, resilient, and easy to clean. PTT also does not have dye sites, and is inherently stain resistant because color is infused in a molten state. Carpets made with PTT dry quickly and are resistant to mold.

The binding in woven carpet is usually cotton. and the weft is jute.

Carpet binding Carpet binding is a term used for any material being applied to the edge of a carpet to make a rug. Carpet binding is usually cotton or nylon, but also comes in many other materials, such as leather. Natural binding, in other words, binding not made from synthetic material is frequently used with bamboo, grass, and wool rugs, but is often used with carpet made from other materials.

Early carpets The hand-knotted pile carpet probably originated in southern [Central Asia] between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC.

The earliest surviving pile carpet in the world is called the "Pazyryk Carpet", dating from the 5th-4th century [BCE]. It was excavated by [Sergei Ivanovich Rudenko] in 1949 from a Siberian burial ground where it had been preserved in ice in the valley of [Pazyryk]. The origin of this carpet is attributed to either the Iranian [Scythians] or the [Persian Empire] [Achaemenid]s. This carpet is 200 x 183 cm (6'6" x 6'0") and has 360,000 knots/m².

The earliest group of surviving knotted pile carpets was produced under [Seljuk Turks] rule in the first half of the 13th century on the [Anatolia]n peninsula. The eighteen extant works are often referred to as the Konya Carpets. The central field of these large carpets is a repeated geometrical pattern. The borders are ornamented with a large-scale, stylized, angular calligraphy called [Kufic], pseudo-Kufic, or Kufesque.

Turkish carpets Carpets, whether knotted or flat woven (kilim) are among the best known art forms produced by the Turks from time immemorial. There are environmental, sociological, economic, and religious reasons for the widespread art of carpet weaving among the Turkish people from Central Asia to Turkey.

The geographical regions where Turks have lived throughout the centuries lie in the temperate zone. Temperature fluctuations between day and night, summer and winter may vary greatly. Turks-nomadicor pastoral, agrarian or town-dwellers, living in tents or in sumptuous houses in large cities-have protected themselves from the extremes of the cold weather by covering the floors, and sometimes walls and doorways, with carpets. The carpets are always hand made of wool or sometimes cotton, with occasional additions of silk. These carpets are natural barriers against the cold. The flat woven kilims which are frequently embroidered are used as blankets, curtains, and covers over sofas or as cushion covers.

In general, Turks take their shoes off upon entering a house. Thus, the dust and dirt of the outdoors are not tracked inside.The floor coverings remain clean, and the inhabitants of the house, if need be, can comfortably rest on the floor. In the traditional households, women and girls take up carpet and kilim weaving as a hobby as well as a means of earning money. Even technological advances which promoted factory-made carpets could not hamper the production of rug weaving at cottage-industry level. Although synthetic dyes have been in use for the last 150 years, hand made carpets are still considered far superior to industrial carpeting.

Turkish carpets are among the most sought after household items all over the world. Their rich colors, warm tones, and extraordinary patterns with traditional motifs have contributed to the status that Turkish carpets have maintained since the 13th century. Marco Polo, who traveled through Anatolia in the late 13th century, commented on the beauty and artistry of the carpets. A number of carpets from this period, known as the Seljuk carpets, were discovered in several mosques in central Anatolia. These were under many layers of subsequently placed carpets. The Seljuk carpets are today in the museums in Konya and Istanbul. It is very exciting to imagine that we may be looking at the very same carpets that Marco Polo praised in the year 1272.

Turkish carpets in the 15th and 16th centuries are best known through European paintings. For example, in the works of Lotto (15th century Italian painter) and Holbein (16th century Germanpainter), Turkish carpets are seen under the feet of the Virgin Mary, or in secular paintings, on tables. In the 17th century, when the Netherlands became a powerful mercantile country, Turkish carpets graced many Dutch homes. The Dutch painter Vermeer represented Turkish carpets predominantly to indicate the high economic and social status of the persons in his paintings. Turkey carpets, as they were known, were too valuable to be put on floors, except under the feet of the Holy Mother and royalty.

Anyone who enters a mosque has to take off his/her shoes. The mosque is the common house of a Muslim community, therefore, shoes are cast off before the door. Moreover, the ritual of prayer requires the faithful to kneel and touch the ground with one s forehead in humility before God. There are no chairs or benches in a mosque, only carpets. A Turkish mosque is often covered from wall to wall with several layers of carpets.

The Turkish carpets have exuberant colors, motifs, and patterns. No two carpets are the same; each one is a creation from a new. Because traditionally women have woven the carpets, this is one art form that is rarely appreciated as being the work of a known or a specific artist. Nevertheless, the Turkish women silently continue to create some of the most stunning examples of works of art to be distributed all over Turkey and the world.

Persian and Anatolian carpets The Persian carpet is an essential part of [Iran] (Iranian) art and culture. Carpet-[weaving] is one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to the [Bronze Age].

The earliest surviving corpus of Persian carpets come from the [Safavid] dynasty (1501-1736) in the 16th century. However, painted depictions prove a longer history of production. There is much variety among classical Persian carpets of the 16th and 17th century. Common motifs include scrolling vine networks, [arabesque]s, [palmette]s, [cloud band]s, medallions, and overlapping geometric compartments rather than animals and humans. This is because [Islam], the dominant religion in that part of the world, forbids their depiction. Still, some show figures engaged either in the hunt or feasting scenes. The majority of these carpets are [wool], but several [silk] examples produced in [Kashan] survive.

Pakistani and Indian carpets The art of weaving developed in the region, comprising Pakistan, at a time when few civilizations knew about it. Excavations at Moenjodaro and Harappa - ancient [Hindu] cities of Indus Valley civilization - have established that the people knew the use of spindles and spun a wide variety of weaving materials. In fact, some historians are of the view that it was the Indus Valley civilization that of the first time developed the use of woven textiles.

However, carpet weaving of Pakistan can be traced back to the inception of Mughal Dynasty, when the last successor of Timur, Babar, extended his rule from Kabul to India, to found the Mughal Empire in the early 16th century. However, historians believe that carpet making was first introduced to the region now constituting Pakistan as far back as the 11th Century with the coming of the first Muslim conquerors, the Ghaznavids and the Ghauris from the West. Established Carpet weaving in Indo-Pak Sub-Continent started under the patronage of the Mughals, when Indian craftsmen adopted Persian techniques and designs. The carpets woven in Punjab at that time - often called Lahore carpets - made use of the motifs and the decorative style found in Mughal architecture.

During the Mughal period the carpets made in the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent became so famous that there was a mounting demand for them abroad. These carpets had a distinctive design and boasted a rich knotting density. The carpets made for the Mughal emperors, including Jahangir and Shah Jahan, were of the finest quality. It was during Shah Jahan's reign that Mughal carpet weaving took on a new aesthetic and entered its classical phase.

At present, hand-knotted carpets are among Pakistan's leading export products and their manufacture is the second largest cottage and small industry. Pakistani craftsmen have the capacity to produce any type of carpet using all the popular motif gulls, medallions, paisleys, traceries, geometric designs in various combinations.

Oriental carpets in Europe Oriental carpets began to appear in Europe after the [Crusades] in the 11th century. Until the mid-18th century they were mostly used on walls and tables. Except in royal or ecclesiastical settings they were considered too precious to cover the floor. Starting in the 13th century Oriental carpets begin to appear in paintings (notably from Italy, Flanders, England, France, and the Netherlands). Carpets of Indo-Persian design were introduced to Europe via the Dutch, British, and French East India Companies of the 17th and 18th century.

Spanish carpets Although isolated instances of carpet production pre-date the Muslim invasion of Spain, the [Hispano-Moresque] examples are the earliest significant body of European-made carpets. Documentary evidence shows production beginning in Spain as early as the 10th century AD. The earliest extant Spanish carpet, the so-called [Synagogue carpet], is a unique survival dated to the 14th century. The earliest group of Hispano-Moresque carpets, [Admiral carpet]s (also know as [armorial carpet]s), has an all-over geometric, repeat pattern punctuated by blazons of noble, Christian Spanish families. The variety of this design was analyzed most thoroughly by [May Beattie]. Many of the 15th-century, Spanish carpets rely heavily on designs originally developed on the Anatolian Peninsula. Carpet production continued after the [Reconquest] of Spain and eventual expulsion of the Muslim population in the 15th century. 16th-century Renaissance Spanish carpet design is a derivative of silk textile design. Two of the most popular motifs are wreaths and pomegranates.

French carpets In 1608 [Henry IV of France] initiated the French production of "Turkish style" carpets under the direction of [Pierre Dupont]. This production was soon moved to the [Savonnerie] factory in Chaillot just west of Paris. The earliest, well-known group produced by the Savonnerie, then under the direction of [Simon Lourdet], are the carpets that were produced in the early years of [Louis XIV of France]'s reign. They are densely ornamented with flowers, sometimes in vases or baskets, against dark blue or brown grounds in deep borders. The designs are based on Netherlandish and Flemish textiles and paintings. The most famous Savonnerie carpets are the series made for the Grande Galerie and the Galerie d'Apollon in the [Palais du Louvre] between c. 1665-1685. These 105 masterpieces, made under the artistic direction of [Charles Le Brun], were never installed, as Louis XIV moved the court to [Palace of Versailles] in 1688. Their design combines rich [Acanthus (ornament)] leaves, architectural framing, and mythological scenes (inspired by [Cesare Ripa]'s Iconologie) with emblems of Louis XIV's royal power.

[Pierre-Josse Perrot] is the best-known of the mid-eighteenth-century carpet designers. His many surviving works and drawings display graceful rococo s-scrolls, central rosettes, shells, acanthus leaves, and floral swags. The Savonnerie manufactory was moved to the [Gobelins manufactory] in Paris in 1826.

The Beauvais manufactory, better known for their [tapestry], also made knotted pile carpets from 1780 to 1792. Carpet production in small, privately owned workshops in the town of [Aubusson] began in 1743. Carpets produced in France employ the symmetrical knot.

English carpets Knotted pile carpet weaving technology probably came to England in the early 16th century with [Flemings] [Calvinist]s fleeing religious persecution. Because many of these weavers settled in South-eastern [England] in Norwich the 14 extant 16th and 17th century carpets are sometimes referred to as "Norwich carpets." These works are either adaptations of Anatolian or Indo-Persian designs or employ Elizabethan-Jacobean scrolling vines and blossoms. All but one are dated or bear a coat of arms. Like the French, English weavers used the symmetrical knot. There are documented and surviving examples of carpets from three 18th-century manufactories: Exeter (1756-1761, owned by [Claude Passavant], 3 extant carpets), Moorfields (1752-1806, owned by [Thomas Moore], 5 extant carpets), and Axminster (1755-1835, owned by [Thomas Whitty], numerous extant carpets). Exeter and Moorfields were both staffed with renegade weavers from the French Savonnerie and, therefore, employ the weaving structure of that factory and Perrot-inspired designs. Neoclassical designer [Robert Adam] supplied designs for both Moorfields and Axminster carpets based on Roman floor mosaics and coffered ceilings. Some of the most well-known rugs of his design were made for [Syon House], [Osterley Park House], [Harewood House], [Saltram House], and [Newby Hall]. Six of Axminster carpets are known as the "Lansdowne" group. These have a tripartite design with reeded circles and baskets of flowers in the central panel flanked by diamond lozenges in the side panels. Axminster Rococo designs often have a brown ground and include birds copied from popular, contemporary engravings. Carpets will forever be associated with the town of [Kidderminster] in [Worcestershire], United Kingdom. This was the heart of the UK carpet industry throughout the industrial revolution. Even now, a large percentage of the 55,000 population town still seek employment in this industry.

Scandinavian carpets The traditional Scandinavian and Finnish carpet is the [rya], made from hand-knotted wool. Dating from the 15th century, the first ryas were coarse, long-piled, heavy covers used by fishermen instead of furs. The rugs became lighter and more ornamental. By the 19th century they were often splendid festive tapestries. Now, the rya is a painting in textile, with individual artists identifiable by the colors, patterns and techniques.

Modern carpeting and installation Carpeting is an attached floor covering made of a heavy, thick [Textile], usually woven or felted, often [wool], but also [cotton], [hemp], [straw], or a synthetic counterpart. [Polypropylene], commonly called Olefin, is a very common pile yarn, as is nylon. It is typically knotted or glued to a base weave. It is made in breadths of 12 or 15 feet to be cut, seamed with a seaming iron and seam tape (formerly it was [sewing] together) and affixed to a floor over a cushioned [underlay] (pad) using nails, tack strips (known in the UK as carpet rods or stair rods, when used on stairs), (gripper) or adhesives, thus distinguishing it from a [rug] or [mat] which are loose-laid floor coverings.In the UK carpets are still manufactured for Pubs & Clubs in a narrow width of 27" (0.69m) and is then sewn to size. Carpeting which covers an entire room area is loosely referred to as 'wall-to-wall,' but carpet can be installed over any portion thereof with use of appropriate transition moldings where the carpet meets other types of floor coverings. Carpeting is more than just a single item; it is, in fact, a system comprising the carpet itself, the carpet backing (often made of latex), the cushion, and a method of installation. 'Carpet tiles' are squares of carpet, typically 0.5m square, that is melted into high-density vinyl that can be used to cover a floor. They are usually only used in commercial settings and are affixed using a special pressure sensitive glue, which holds it into place while allowing easy removal.(in an office environment, for example) or to allow rearrangement in order to spread wear.

Modern carpeting is often attached to the floor (or stairways) of a building and, when considered permanently attached, would be part of the [real property] which includes the building.

See also

[Rug making]
[Oriental rugs]
[Tapestry]
[Gabbeh]
[knots per sq cm]
[Afghan carpet]
[floor]
[heatsetting]

References

Aslanapa, Oktay. One Thousand Years of Turkish Carpets. Translated and edited by William A. Edmonds. Istanbul: Eren 1988.
Day, Susan, ed. and trans. Great Carpets of the World. New York: The Vêndome Press, 1996.
Dimand, Maurice Sven and Jean Mailey. Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973.
Pope, Arthur Upham. A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Vol. XI, Carpets, Chapter 55. New York: Oxford University Press, 1938-9.
Sherrill, Sarah B. Carpets and Rugs of Europe and America. New York: Abbeville Press, 1996.
Stone, Peter F. The Oriental Rug Lexicon. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1997.
"The Carpet Primer" The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). Dalton, GA
Fletcher,Alan J. The Complete Carpet Buying Guide. Portland Oregon: AJ Books 2006.

External links

History of carpet
Some technical info from The Carpet and Rug Institute
Dalton Carpet Dealers
Carpets, rugs information
Video detailing carpet styles
Islamic carpets
Oriental carpets history
History of carpet cushion

Information Reference: Wikipedia.org

Carpets

Questions and Answers

Carpets ?/?

Q) How please to get the pressure mark from carpets, if furniture have been on carpets for to long. Thank You.

A) rub it with an ice cube dunno how but it works

Seeking advice on cleaning carpets with steam versus shampoo?

Q) I need to clean carpets throughout my house and am considering both hiring or buying a machine. The answers to previous carpet cleaning queries refer to experience with steam cleaners and alternative shampoo cleaners. Does anyone have the experience to tell me which of the two types of machine is best for two different types of carpet, i.e. a thick pile, sculptured carpet and also a flat pile carpet (which is much easier to clean).

A) The best solution for both types is the shampoo machine. This will clean the fibre and ensure the dirt stains are peprmanently removed. It does take longer to do and top dry but the results are better. Steam does work but only removes the surface stain and eventually the stain will re-appear as it works thro the fibr (milk stains are typical of this). No doubt for me the shampoo option is the best.

An embarrassing question about carpets, can you help me?

Q) I do clean but recently I've found what I can only call .... slug trails .... on my carpets. I'm horrified obviously and I've never seen a single one myself but they seem to slither all over my flat and then vanish before I either wake up or get home from work. Is it possible this is happening and what can I do about it? I don't have a carpet in the passage, might this be the way in for them?

A) Slugs in the house are nothing to be embarrassed about, they come through open windows, doors and some times on the soles of your shoes. The short answer for stopping them is to put down slug pellets around your windows and doors. Also check your shoes when you come into the house. Slugs like cool moist dank environments and if in a house they soon dry out and die.

cleaning carpets?

Q) What's the best way to re-vitalise carpets without shampooing them?

A) Chem Dry cleaning them (kind of like dry cleaning for clothes, but for carpets). They can also be re-dyed to look new or change the color. Also you can spray a bunch of Fabreeze on them, or carpet powder that you sprinkle on and then vacuum up but it will only make it smell better for a bit, and does not address the real problem of dirt mildew etc.

king carpets company strategic analysis?

Q) international marketing strategy for King Carpets company analysis

A) You could look at what countries King Carpets sells in, what services they offer, what their annual/quarterly sales volume is, etc., and how they sell their products. Then, compare that data to a large domestic US carpet manufacturer/distributor. You can look at this site for more info about how to construct a strategic analysis: http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/District/6592/index.html

Inspiral Carpets and #23?

Q) I used to have a freind who had some weird facination with the number 23 and Inspiral Carpets... i forgot about it for years... now that the movie with Jim Carey is coming out i started remembering ... but i was kinda in a haze in those days... does anybody know the connection... sorry kinda random question

A) don't know about #23 but went to see the carpets t'other night in leeds. what a gig. i'm 33 y/o but i was in the mosh pit all night jumping round like a teenager! they finished with saturn 5...fan dabby dosey!! MOO!!!

UK fitted carpets syndrome?

Q) I know its becoming less of a habit now, but why did brits have a habit of having fitted carpets in kitchen and bathrooms?

A) It seemed like a good idea at the time!

Steam Cleaner for Carpets - Can anyone recommend a reliable product?

Q) I am looking to purchase a steam cleaner specifically for cleaning my carpets, and would appreciate if anyone could recommend a reliable product that they have purchased and are satisfied with (or dis-satisfied with). I am looking for something that will not fall apart in 12 months time. I was looking at the Polti 1500 (John Lewis) but it does have some bad reviews. Cheers.

A) I have a Polti Vaperetto and find it excellent for everything from cleaning carpets to cleaning windows, tiles, sink, cooker, walls, in fact practically anything you want to clean :) And no, Im not on a commission :D

How do I dispose of old carpets (in Hertfordshire)?

Q) I checked the council's website, the wasteaware website, etc., etc., and it's all driving me round the bend. There seems to be nowhere to dipose of carpets - all the rubbish tips they list are waste recycling centres. How do I get even a list of tips that take carpets in Herts? I don't want to pay the council to come to collect it when I can take it myself.

A) in our recycling depots they have a skip for general rubish you just dump the carpet in that skip

since getting rid of carpets and going with wood floors everywhere,i feel iv lost the cosiness to my home .?

Q) Iv always been into the cosy feel of home but my home lost somthing when i opted for no carpets which im glad of cause its more hygenic and is better for my asthma,and is always fresh and fragrant now.Even with my little dog and my cockatiels.Iv scattered cushions and got fur (faux)rugs around.But the minimilistic look means i have to compensate the cosiness.Plain walls and fabrics just dont have the same appeal,and i dont have the funds to start over,and i know i can put up flowery prints,cushions,candles,vases of flowers/grasses,but its still not giving me that cosy feel i used to know.Can anyone come up with something to recosy my home please,cause i miss it. I HAVE BIG FLUFFY RUGS ALREADY>I DID SAY!But thanks .

A) Add some warm accents - picture and photo frames in a warm wood, brass, or red/orange/yellow/chocolate enamel; candles and flower/plant arrangements in wood or warm color holders; washable throws/blankets/quilts; washable pillows or cushions; stencils or designs on walls ? washable rugs

Nasty Carpets!!!YUCK!?

Q) okay, we just moved in this house about a month ago. The carpets are just nasty. It is a light color carpet and there are black looking stains all over it. I have tried resolve, bought a carpet cleaner(did not work), scrubbing with mop. Please help! We can't afford to pull out carpet and replace. Any suggestions? Also do the carpet cleaners you rent at stores actually work like advertised?

A) I've got five children who are always spilling thins on my carpets etc and I find the best thing to get stains out is washing powder. Mix one cup washing powder with three cups of hot water and use a scrubing brush to scrub the solution into the carpet (try it on a small area first just to make sure it won't take any dye etc out of your carpets, never has with mine but its best to check).

Since carpets house dust mites, dirt and etc... Am I suposed to keep my baby off the carpet in the ...?

Q) living room? This means she could only play in her room... (almost the whole house has carpet, except the kitchen, her room and the bathroom) But she's in the age when she wants to crawl and explore... I read all kinds of bad things about carpets... Should I be concerned? What can I do? Thanks!

A) I'd shampoo the carpets and rinse them really well first, then make the rule of no shoes allowed on the carpeting. That will cut down on what gets tracked in from inside, and with regular vaccuuming, it'll be fine. Good luck!

What carpet shampooer do yall use on your carpets?

Q) What is a cheap way to shampoo your carpets for steam cleaners?

A) if you mean the machine i use to clean my carpets at home, i would say ive used the little green machine from bissell for quite a few years, its been quite reliable.. It is small and the hand tool really is great at getting out stains. If you need to clean a large area or whole house, I would say just rent one of the ones theyve got at the grocery store. For about 30 bucks you can do it in one afternoon. Its not really worth buying the stand up type carpet cleaners they sell..i looked into it and they are all so cheaply made out of flimsy plastic that they break down easily...and they are big, you have to find somewhere to store them for the 364 days out of the year you dont use them..

Can i clean my carpet from the car in the washer? The portable carpets, can i put them in the washer?

Q) Can i clean my carpet from the car in the washer? The portable carpets, can i put them in the washer?

A) You can, but I would not use your own -- go to a laudramat. It makes a mess in the washer when you are done. Lots of sand/gravel is embedded in those things.

Shampoo my carpets?

Q) I am fixing to clean my carpets, I am torn between renting a cleaner and doing it myself or hiring a carpet cleaning company. I am open for suggestions, I don't mind doing it myself, also I don't mind paying to have it done, I just want it to be clean and fresh.. Thanks in advance.....

A) Get a cleaner to do it. We just had our apartment done. I moved all our stuff out of the way, they were here and done in 40 minutes..and the carpets look brand new. Spoil yourself.

Does cleaning carpets work to remove cat dander?

Q) Hi. My husband and I are considering buying a house that we like very much, but it has a problem: the current owners have a cat to whom I am very allergic. It's really, really bad: even taking allergy medication and using my asthma inhaler ahead of time didn't really help. Here is what I am wondering: would getting the carpets professionaly steam-cleaned work to address this issue? Or would I more likely need to actually replace the carpeting itself? Also, what about adding a whole-house air purifier to the HVAC system? Is it likely to make much of a difference? If you could please let me know your thoughts, that would be great. We love this house but not if it will keep making me sick. Thanks! P.S. There is no cat ODOR per se -- you'd never know there was a cat until you saw it. It's the poor cat's dander that is making me allergic, not an odor or anything like that.

A) Cats hair is almsot impossible to get rid off, why not tile the house instead, i am asthmatic and am allergic to cats but with tiled floors i am able to even have my own can ( given its not on the furniture) you seem highly allergic so maybe even tiles wont work... if the house is as good as you say then just try the carpet cleaning... i dont know

Why so many Americans use carpets instead of hardwood floors ?

Q) Me and my husband have been searching apartments for rent and 90% come with carpets. Being both from Europe, we are not used to the smell of carpet. We just wondered what happened in this country that so many people use carpets.

A) After WWII, wall-to-wall carpeting was considered a luxury-- something that signified success, etc. Previously, homes were built with wood floors and people put down area rugs for comfort, warmth, and to muffle sound. For several decades after the war, just about everyone who could afford it had wall to wall carpeting--- soft for the feet, comfortable to sit or lie on, etc. I've even seen bathrooms and kitchens carpeted-- how impractical is that? But people wanted their homes to be like soft "nests"... a cozy refuge from the 'cold cruel world'. Newer homes in the U.S. have gone back to more wood, marble, tile etc. because people like the look and the cleanliness. In older homes many people are ripping up the carpeting to refinish the underlying wood, if it exists, or put in new flooring. As people have become more aware of the effects of molds and dust on our health, many people want to avoid carpets, which trap such things. Things come and go in fashions, including in home decorating. One reason, however, that many apartments still may be carpeted is to dull the sounds for the people who live below. If the apartment was not built with good sound insulation in the floors and walls, carpeting helps to absorb noise, and makes living close to others easier. Newer buildings have much sound insulation, so, while more expensive because they are new, they will have less carpeting. I, personally, have some parts of my home with natural wood and ceramic tile, but the "family" room where everyone tends to sit/lie around on the floor as well as the furniture when we watch movies etc. is thickly carpeted. We are very casual-- and the kids like to roll around, do somersaults etc. and the carpet is soft. (and relatively clean)

what kind of carpets should i get for the inside of my car?

Q) im getting some new carpets for the driver, and passanger seats in my car... I have a red pontiac sunfire...i painted the entire interior white and red, also some black in couple places. Also i have red neons throughout my car, including under the dash right above where the carpets will be. I want something that looks sweet but doesnt get really dirty or is at least easy to clean up...

A) Then go with red or black... I would recommend black because you don't have to worry about the shades of red not matching what you already have.... it'll make the neon's stand out better too. Sounds like a cool car.

I got my carpets steamed, will that kill parvo?

Q) I got a pup that had parvo (little did I know) and it pooped on the carpets. We got our carpets steamed cleaned today.. Will the steam kill the parvo?? *The pup with parvo couldnt pull through and he passed away. We have his sister (who isnt showing any signs of it) and we have two rescued siberian huskies who have been quarantined away from all the dogs because within 3 hours of rescuing them they crashed from being in bad living conditions. They were malnourished and dehydrated, they only weighed 6lbs and should weigh at least 14 (one was near to death, but I stayed up all night and did all the treatment I could for her and she pulled through, so we named her Miracle.) So that is the reason why I'm wondering because we have 3 young pups. (Thats how my week has been... Really crazy)

A) Girl, what ever happens.. You have my respect. It's a deadly thing to fight. Bleach is used by vets for this, have a tray of bleach at the front and back door to dip your shoes into as you can transmit it through shoes and hands. even car tires, bleach kennels, food, water bowls, anywhere the dog as been. It can live up to 9 months in your environment, though not an airborne virus. have pups get there shots. Good luck, may the doggie god be with you!!!!

fabric softener on carpets?

Q) Can I use fabric softener instead of cleaner with my carpet cleaner to soften up my carpets? Has anybody tried this?

A) yes, but don't add too much. it will make your carpets feel kind of matted and greasy (maybe not the right choice of words to describe, but be moderate with amount you use)