How to Buy and Maintain a Carpet

REVIEWS:
Both the present and past president of the California Carpet Cleaning Institute have endorsed this book.  Ralph Nader's Cal-Perg organization recommended this book.

Author Comments:
Carpeting in the average home is the third most expensive investment that the average homeowner undertakes. This book is designed to save you from making expensive mistakes in your carpeting decisions.

Written by an expert in the industry, this book tells you how carpets are made and how you can avoid making big purchasing mistakes and how to care for the carpet once you get it.

Back Cover Copy:
These days nearly everyone has carpet in his or her home and you probably do too. Wall to wall carpet is as common today as a car in the driveway or a television set in the living room. After a home and an automobile it is the third most expensive investment made in your lifetime.

The majority of people today know very little about this expensive investment. The sad truth is that less than one percent of the population knows enough about carpeting to make the proper choice of purchase, or even the best method of cleaning.
Ten years of research into consumer floor covering problems has made author Robert L. Selby one of the most knowledgeable men in his field. His experiences with home owners, renters, real estate and property management firms have brought into focus the tremendous lack of knowledge that the consumer has in regard to their floor covering., he also has uncovered widespread fraud, incompetence and deceptive advertising by carpet retailers and so-called "professional" carpet cleaners.

Ten years of research into consumer floor covering problems has made author Robert L Selby one of the most knowledgeable men in his field. His experiences with home-owners, renters, real estate and property management firms have brought into focus the tremendous lack of know-ledge that the consumer has in regard to their floor covering. He also has uncovered widespread fraud, incompetence and deceptive advertising by carpet retailers and so-called "professional" carpet cleaners.
From coast to coast in nearly every city the consumer is being cheated and lied to by the greedy and unscrupulous.

"Knowledge is the key to protection," states the author. So it is through this book that you, the consumer, may be aided in all phases of floor covering... from purchase to spots and stains and everything in between.

Table of Contents:

PART I
General Information 9
BRIEF HISTORY OF CARPETING 11
THE NATURAL FIBERS 14
THE MAN-MADE FIBERS 17
HOW ARE TODAY’S CARPET MADE? 20
CARPET TYPES 23
CUSHIONED-BACKED 26
CARPETING 26
ELECTROSTATIC SHOCK 28
PART II
Purchase 31
SO YOU THINK YOU NEED CARPETING? 32
ROOMS FOR SPECIAL THOUGHT 36
WHAT ABOUT CARPETING THE KITCHEN, BATHROOMS, AND LAUNDRY
ROOM? 38
CARPET SQUARES 40
CARPET THE WALL 41
SPECIAL CARPET 41
DYE ORDERS 41
MEASUREMENTS 42
CARPET WEIGHTS 43
THE HIGH PRESSURE 45
SALESPERSON 45
WHO DO YOU BUY FROM? WHAT STORES
DO YOU GO TO? 47
LET’S LOOK AT THOSE ADS! ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO SAVE? 48
THE BARGAIN 49
SHOPPING PRICES 52
CARPET GUARANTEES 54
PADDING 59
DO YOU NEED PADDING? 61
SOIL RETARDANTS 62
SUCH AS SCOTCHGARDING 62
WHAT ARE FOUNDATION “GRADE LEVELS”? 62
NOW YOU CAN BARGAIN! 63
THE ACTUAL PURCHASE OF THE CARPET 64
THE INSTALLATION OF THE 65
CARPET—WHAT TO EXPECT 65
SCRAPS 69
THE NEW HOME CARPET 71
COMMERCIAL CARPETING 72
RESILIENT FLOORS 73
COVING 74
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES 75
OTHER TYPES (NOT AS COMMON) 76
HARDWOOD (PARQUET) 76
CERAMIC TILE 78
OTHER TYPES 79
ORIENTAL RUGS 80
RENTAL PROPERTY 82
MOTEL CARPET MAINTENANCE 85
CARPET BUYERS DIRECTIVE 87
PART III
Maintenance 95
MAINTAINING YOUR CARPETS 96
STAIRS 98
CARPET WEAR AND PETS 99
CARPET WEAR AND ADULTS 100
FURNITURE LEG IMPRINTS 100
CHAIRS WITH COASTERS 101
WRINKLES AND BUBBLES IN THE CARPET 102
SNAGS IN THE CARPET 103
PREVENTION OF RUST SPOTS 103
SOIL RETARDANTS 103
CARPET FADING 104
CASTERS THAT BLEED 104
FURNITURE THAT BLEEDS 104
PAINT THAT GARAGE FLOOR 107
VACUUMING
HOW TO GET THE RIGHT VACUUM CLEANER 108
SO, WHAT DO I BUY? 110
HOW DO I USE WHAT I HAVE? 111
FIRST, HOW DOES IT WORK? 112
AND WHY VACUUM AT ALL? 112
NOW, LET’S VACUUM! 114
MONEY-SAVING HINT ON VACUUM BAGS FOR 116
UPRIGHT VACUUMS 116
CARPET SWEEPERS 118
HOW ABOUT THOSE 118
BUILT-IN VACUUMS? 118
SHOULD I INVEST IN MY OWN CARPET SHAMPOOER? 118
DOES YOUR CARPET NEED CLEANING? 119
THINGS TO CONSIDER AND TO DO IF YOU’RE
GOING TO CLEAN YOUR OWN CARPET 121
SOAPS & DETERGENTS 123
THE CHEMICAL STEPS IN CLEANING 124
A BRIEF HISTORY OF 125
SOAPS & DETERGENTS 125
HOW DO I USE THAT CARPET 127
CLEANING EQUIPMENT? 127
SUGGESTED FURNITURE MOVING PLAN FOR THE
BEDROOMS 134
ODORS & DEODORANTS 137
POWDERED DEODORANTS FOR YOUR CARPET 139
POTTED PLANTS 140
ON THE CARPET 140
FLOODING 141
FINDING A PROFESSIONAL CLEANER 147
CARPET CLEANING 152
ADVERTISEMENTS 152
HOW DO I FIND A PROFESSIONAL? 154
WHEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE 154
OF A CLEANING SPECIAL 154
WHAT ABOUT DYING 154
YOUR CARPETS 154
REPAIRING & MAKING 155
YOUR OWN SEAMS 155
MAKING YOUR OWN SEAMS 157
SPOTS & STAINS 158
THE TOOL KIT: WHAT YOU NEED TO REPAIR AND GET OUT STAINS
159
HARD ONES FIRST 160
THE DO-IT-YOURSELF 166
TILE FLOOR 166
PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR 167
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WOOD FLOOR 169
Index 172