FAQs

A: Aside from picking the ideal carpet fiber for your home, choosing an excellent carpet pad is one of the most important decisions you will make in the carpet buying process. A thick, dense carpet pad will enhance the resilience and performance of your carpet and prevent the premature appearance of wear.

A: Each of these is an aspect of the carpet's construction. Typically, this information is on the label found on the back of the carpet sample. Your retailer should be able to help you find this information.

A: Both BCF and Staple yarns are used to tuft carpets. BCF stands for "bulked continuous filament" yarn and consists of a given number of continuous strands that have been extruded and pulled together into yarn bundles. Staple refers to a fiber in a natural, unprocessed state that has not yet been turned into yarn. Bales of Staple fibers, each about eight inches long, are shipped to carpet mills where they are processed into spun yarns. Both yarn types will perform extremely well if a carpet is properly constructed with regard to pile height and density, twist and twist stability.

A: Developing a plan is quick and easy - just go to Personalized Care, answer a few questions about your home and a customized care plan will be developed on the spot. Of course, maintaining that carpet care regimen can be the challenging part. Try to schedule these activities so that they become a regular part of your week and delegate tasks to other family members as needed. When pressed for time, make sure you at least vacuum the most frequently used areas of your home; it will give your carpet the most immediate and long-lasting benefits.

A: As a general rule, first remove all excess liquid with several layers of clean, white paper towels. Apply a diluted hand washing detergent to a clean cloth and gently blot the stain until it is removed. While this technique is effective, the specific type of stain you have will determine the best way to treat it. Visit the Stain Center for proven, specialized cleaning procedures that are developed specifically for use on carpets made with Anso® nylon.

A: Vacuum! Regular vacuuming will remove particles of dirt and soil, that can not only leave your carpet looking dingy over time, but can even abrade the nylon, shortening its lifespan. And don't forget to schedule regular professional cleanings to remove dirt accumulation that your household vacuum cleaner cannot reach. For a customized care plan that will maximize the life of your carpet, visit Personalized Care.

A: Use a vacuum that has a rotating brush or beater bar, which will vigorously stimulate the carpet tufts to loosen caked on dirt and soil. To remove tough stains, the hot water extraction method is most effective - schedule a professional carpet cleaning to have this done.

A: Sudden, dramatic color loss in small areas is due to bleaching of the carpet by household chemicals, such as cleaning solutions, plant foods and pesticides, and even acne medications, unknowing transferred from face to hands. These spills can be unnoticeably present on your carpet until activated by high levels of heat and humidity. Unfortunately, there is no fix for color loss and the presence of stain resistance treatments will not prevent the loss from occurring. In the future, take careful precautions to prevent this condition by visiting Preventive Maintenance for more information. If these products are used frequently and in close proximity to your carpet, consider purchasing a lighter-toned carpet in the future so that the appearance of these spots is not so dramatic in comparison to the color of your carpet.

A: Any carpet regardless of fiber type may show color change due to exposure to sunlight or atmospheric contaminants.

A: An even, all over lightening of your carpet's color is due to fading, most likely by exposure to environmental factors, such as sunlight, high humidity and high temperatures. All carpets will lose some color over time, and although there is no way to repair color loss, you can protect your carpet from further fading by installing window shades or curtains where the sun exposure is greatest.

A: You may be experiencing problems related to installation. Contact your retailer or carpet installer for answers to your questions.

A: The shading that is produced by vacuuming is a normal characteristic of thick carpets. Vacuuming your carpet in one direction and smoothing the carpet surface by hand can reduce the appearance of vacuum cleaner tracks.

A: The condition you are describing is called shading and is an aesthetic effect built in to thick, luxurious, cut pile carpets. Shading is not a defect, but the hallmark of a truly luxurious carpet, created by the light reflecting across the tips of the carpet tufts in different directions.

A: The shedding you are experiencing is natural for new carpets and is caused by loose, excess fibers left over from the manufacturing process that are being dislodged from normal use. To minimize the appearance of shedding, try vacuuming frequently. Shedding should stop within the first year of carpet use.

A: Carpet is a textile fabric and will become soiled with use, particularly frequently used areas of the carpet such as entrances, doorways and traffic lanes. By cleaning these areas when they first appear soiled, you can prevent the dirt from spreading to other areas of your home, thereby prolonging the time between professional cleanings. Periodic professional hot water extraction is recommended to help maintain the overall appearance of your carpet. The frequency will vary depending on the level and type of traffic or conditions to which your carpet is exposed and may range from as little as 6 months to 18 months between professional cleaning. Keep in mind that light-colored carpets will show more soiling than darker colors and will require more frequent maintenance to retain their appearance.

A: Stain resist treatments are designed to resist and minimize the impact of stains. No carpet is stain-proof, but there are special cleaning procedures you can use that will take advantage of your carpet's stain resistance capability. Be sure to visit the Stain Center for specific stain removal directions.

A: During the stain removal process, you may have rubbed the surface of your carpet too vigorously. Proper cleaning technique is very important to ensure that the texture of your carpet is not altered. When removing a stain, gently blot with a clean towel but do not rub. Repeat this process until the stain is eliminated or minimized. Persistence is the key to removing a carpet stain, but be careful not to overcompensate with too much enthusiasm!

A: There are many anti-stat products on the market that can effectively reduce the amount of static electricity produced by your carpet, but keep in mind that no product can completely eliminate this natural phenomenon.

A: You can contact the carpet care technicians at Anso Smart Lines® via our toll free number (800.441.8185) or online chat with these professionals via our Anso Smart Solutions. A Carpet Care Professional at Smart Lines® will walk you through the warranty claims process and give you tips on how to keep your carpet looking its best.

A: Along with all your carpet information, such as style name, mill name, type of carpet fiber and your receipt, save a two foot square piece of excess carpet immediately after installation. If you encounter any carpet concerns in the future, this unused carpet sample will be important to measure the normal changes in your carpet's overall condition and in determining a warranty claim. Keep this carpet sample safe by storing it in a plain plastic bag and hanging it from a clothes hanger in your closet.

A: Reviewing an unused carpet sample is integral in determining the presence of a carpet defect when compared to your current carpet's condition. A Professional Carpet Technician will use industry standard rating scales to measure your carpet's ability to retain its original characteristics, including pile thickness and surface texture. A warranty claim decision cannot be made without examining an unused sample of carpet, so be sure to keep your sample clean and in original condition.

A: Any carpet made with Anso® brand nylon will enhance the warmth and beauty of your home - while withstanding a great deal of wear and tear. However, you should understand that any carpet will display normal appearance changes over time. Depending on the style and construction of carpet you choose, the amount of use and traffic your carpet receives will make a difference in how quickly normal appearance changes become evident. Please refer to our warranty information to help you understand some of these changes. Your salesperson can help you select a carpet construction that best suits your needs.

A: The condition you are referring to is called tip-bloom and can be caused by normal, everyday wear. The individual tufts of your carpet are starting to untwist, causing them to look like they are blooming. Since the areas of your carpet with the most tip-bloom are likely to be high-traffic areas, try frequently alternating your furniture placement. This should somewhat change the normal traffic patterns in your house and cause your carpet to wear more evenly.

A: Crushing is the compression of the carpet tufts. Foot traffic and placement of furniture or objects can crush the surface pile of your carpet, causing this condition. Matting, on the other hand, is the entanglement of the fibers on the surface of your carpet. Although many factors can contribute to matting, loss of individual tip definition is often the precursor to this condition. For more information on these carpet conditions and suggestions for preventing them, see Changes in Appearance.

A: Often, carpets show pronounced wear in the most frequently used areas of the carpet, called "traffic lanes". Caused by repeated foot traffic, the crushing of the carpet pile that produces these traffic lanes can be minimized by occasionally alternating your furniture placement to allow the carpet to wear more uniformly. Be sure to vacuum these specific areas more often to reduce the presence of dirt particles that can lead to matting. Use entryway floor mats to minimize the amount of dirt tracked into your home.