Find and maintain the right carpet for you

Carpets provide both practical and aesthetic appeal inside a home. In winter,carpets help keep homes warm,and the right color carpet can add to design schemes. While rugs mayhave originatedinthe FarEast, NorthAmerica also has some rich carpet history. According to The Carpetand Rug Institute, the UnitedStates carpet industrybegan in 1791 when the first wovencarpetmill openedinPhiladelphia.

Others soon followedsuit. Tufted carpets and machine-poweredmanufacturinghelpedchurn out yards upon yards of carpeting, making it apopular, affordable and common addition to homes, especiallyafter the post-World WarIIhousing boom.

Carpeting remains ago-to flooring material in modern homes. In fact, many homes offera blend of both carpeting in some roomsand different flooring choices in others.

Upon choosing carpet,itisimportantthathomeowners followsome guidelines to prolong acarpet’slongevityand maintain itsstyle.The following aresomecommon carpeting dos and don’ts.

DO consider the room’s purpose and foot traffic beforeshopping forcarpeting. Makealistofthe attributes desired (e.g., soundproofing, easycare, high pile) and presentthese to the salespersonso he or she can help youmakethe best choice.

DON’T rush into flooring choices. Unlikepaintcolors, flooring materials are morepermanentchoices that areonly updatedevery severalyears or more. Weighall of your options beforediving in.

DO consider conservativecolors and styles. Neutral hues and patterns will blend better with furnitureoptions. This means you can change furnitureout and still keep theexisting carpeting, which complements anynew pieces. Also, if there’sa chanceyou might sell your home in the near future, buyers tend to look foraneutral color scheme theycan maketheir own.

DON’T skimp on padding to save afew dollars on the carpetinstallation. The carpeting needsa solid foundation to last and look itsbest. Inadequate padding canleadtoextraand noticeable wear and tear.Invest in agood foundation forthe carpeting, likefirm, dense padding in high-traffic areas.

DO become knowledgeable about different carpetstyles, such as frieze, Berber,Saxony, textured,and more. This will help ensureyou makethe most educated decision.

DON’T purchase at thefirst storeyou visit. Shop around to investigate differentpricing and specials. Also, consider the professionalism and expertise of the staffresponsible forcarpetinstallation. High-cost carpetmay not look very good if it isn’t installedcorrectly

DO stain-protect rugs and carpeting, which canhelp repel stains thatwould otherwise become permanentand can prolong the longevity of the flooring.

DON’T forget to vacuum carpets frequentlytoprevent ground-in dirtand debris.

DO pick textured carpets to conceal footprints and vacuum track marks.

Homeowners should consider as many variables as possible, including foot traffic in agiven room, before installing carpeting in their homes.

Caring for kitchen countertops

Kitchen remodels area popular home improvement project thathelp homeowners recoup large percentages of their initial investments at resale. Akitchen remodelcan invigorateahomeand make the most popular room in the house morefunctional.

According to HomeAdvisor,a home-improvementinformational guide, homeowners spend an average of $22,000 on kitchen remodels. However, lavish projectscan cost morethan $50,000.Protecting such investments is importantand requires thathomeowners understand howtoproperly maintain kitchen features so they have the longest lifepossible.

This includes the newcountertops thatmakethe kitchen look complete. Countertops come in various materials, not all of which should be treated the same way.Quartz, granite, marble, laminate, and tile countertops require different types of maintenance.

Quartz

Engineered quartz countertops are popular.Quartz countertops arenearly maintenance-free andresistantto stains, scratches and even heat. Quartz will not need to be sealedlikenatural stone and canbecleanedusing justa damp cloth with amild, nonabrasive soap.

Granite

Polishedorhoned granite countertops offera high-end look thatadds instantvalue to akitchen. Natural variations in granite give each kitchena custom look. To keep granite countertops clean, avoid abrasivecleansers that canscratch, and opt forwarm, soapy water instead. Stains arepossiblebut canbe remediedwitha baking soda paste left

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• to sitfor acouple of hours, advises Angie’s List. Wipe up oils, acids and soda promptlytoavoid stains, and follow advisedsealing routines

Marble

Marble is anatural stone thatis porous and will need to be resealed periodically. Because marble has high levels of the mineral calcite, it canbereactivewhen acids come in contactwith it andetch marks mayappear. Promptly wipe away tomato juice, lemon juice, perfume, or toothpaste.

Marble is softer than granite and will wear at afasterrate. Avoidscratching and exercise caution when using knives or sharp objectsaroundmarble.

Laminate

One of the morebudget-friendly materials, laminate countertops canbe fabricated to mimic the look of natural stone, wood or evenquartz. Laminate is less resistanttodamage than other materials and will need agentle touch.

Neveruse abrasivecleansers,scouring pads or steel wool when cleaning laminate countertops. For toughstains, an all-purpose cleaner should suffice when appliedwithanylon-bristled brush. Test anycleanser in adiscreet area first.

Tile

Cleaning tile countertops requires getting into crevices along the grout lines. Atoothbrush and amildew-fighting cleaner or bleach dilutedwithwater is advised. Also, unglazed tiles need to be sealedyearly. Some soap mayleave residue, which canberemoved with a solution of vinegar and water.

Check with the manufacturer or installer of the countertops to learn more about the waystoclean and maintain newcounters.