Infloormation

Before Valentine’s Day gets here…….we want to let you know that if you are the lucky recipient of a box of chocolates you don’t have to worry if some of it ends up on the floor! Below are some easy tips on how to remove chocolate stains from your carpet.

Easy instructions for how to remove chocolate stains:

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Not sure? Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846

Happy Valentines Day!

Reader Question:

I’m still trying to find a mop or some sort of brush that would do a good job on circle sawn flooring. I have pretty deep grooves in my flooring’s pattern, and have a hard time getting it cleaned up. I originally bought a Swiffer, and it takes about 6 sheets just to get up the surface dirt! Does Bona offer a more textured mop?

Julia from

Answer:

Julia,

Yes! Bona offers a textured mop. The most important thing to do first, is to vacuum the floor to remove as much dirt as you can. This will help make the Swiffer sheets  last a little longer or the Bona mop able to clean more without having to be washed. You should be able to see a difference when using  the Microfiber Dusting Pad because of the texture of the pad. Another thing that will help is to clean your floors more often so that each time there is not as much to try to remove. (not suggesting that you don’t clean often enough!) Circle sawn floors are stunning and we think worth the little bit of extra attention they require to keep them looking great.

Give these ideas a shot and let us know if this information helped you. Thanks for taking the time to send in your question.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Pierce Flooring

Whether it’s at a holiday party or just a glass to celebrate the holidays, eggnog is a wonderful drink festive holiday drink. We want you to know that there’s no need to worry if you have an eggnog spill. At Pierce Flooring, we care about your floors even after you’ve made your purchase. See below for easy to follow care instructions in the event of an eggnog spill. (This will work in case Santa accidentally spills his milk, too)

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

When in doubt -call a Professional. Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846

Happy Holidays from all of us at Pierce Flooring and Design!

It’s almost time to start carving pumpkins! Pumpkin carving can be so much fun, but it can also be a messy project. Of course, everyone takes precautions to cover the floors when carving inside, but what do you do when you find pumpkin on your floors? We thought it would be best to go ahead and arm you with the information about how to remove pumpkin stains from your flooring BEFORE you have a pumpkin problem!

How to remove pumpkin stains:

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt, you can always call a professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846

Now you can sit back and relax to enjoy your pumpkin carving because you already have a solution should you have a problem! Happy Halloween!!

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program recently certified multiple new vacuums, solutions, and one cleaning system.

Oreck Manufacturing Company of Cookeville, Tennessee adds seven new vacuums to to its collection of SOA-approved vacuums.

Johnson Diversey Company of Sturtevant, Wisconsin has had its Taski Ergo Disc w/Malish Brush system approved at the Bronze Level.

Three new solutions from Shaw Industries have received SOA certification, including:

• Shaw’s R2X Green Stain and Soil Remover Concentrate
• R2xtra Carpet Cleaner and Odor Eliminator Concentrate
• R2X Stain and Soil Remover Concentrate

For more information on the Carpet and Rug Institute, click here. To view our product offerings from Shaw, please click here.

What are your thoughts? Is it important to have a vacuum certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute? Is your vacuum on the list? Was this a factor when purchasing your vacuum?

There are so many myths out there about how to clean hardwood floors. Would you believe that some people use water (in a bucket) with a mop (word to the wise – wood and water are not friends!), shaving cream and we’ve even heard Windex! Each manufacturer is different, but you if you clean your hardwood floors with the wrong cleaner or worse multiple cleaners on top of each other you can void that nice long warranty that you received when you purchased your floors. Why not take the time to do it the right way? Not only will you have clean floors, but you will have properly cleaned and well maintained floors with an intact manufacturers warranty!

At Pierce Flooring, we use and recommend the Bona family of products. Bona offers wood cleaners that are safe for all residential hardwood floors that are safe for the environment as well as your family. Other products they offer include tile, laminate and stone cleaners, the proper mops you should be using to apply their cleaners.

Bona’s mission is “Bringing out the Best in Hardwood Floors.” They have been the world leader in hardwood floor finishing and floor care for over 90 years, combining luxury and convenience through a world-class product offering, designed specifically for you and your floors.

Maintaining your hardwood floors involves more than just cleaning. Be sure to use walk off mats at every exterior door to prevent dirt from being trapped on your shoes and entering your home where that dirt or sand can scratch the finish on your hardwood floors. Equally as important, keep the mats clean, too! Also, use chair protectors on chairs with legs. People don’t even think about the damage they do when they get out of a chair. One last tip, ask your guests to remove their high heels (when possible). The pressure of a woman in high heels can leave permanent dents in some species of wood floors.

Between the quality of Bona and the service you get at Pierce Flooring, what more could you ask for in a team?!?

Call us today at 877.525.0066 or come into see us to get the Bona product that is right for your floor.

Even though natural stone is very hard and strong, it can also be very porous. Because of this feature, you want to protect your natural stone investment by using a quality sealer.

If left unsealed, stains can penetrate deep into the stone. Using a sealer allows the sealer to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone, filling them so that stains cannot penetrate  those pores.

There are different types and qualities of sealers on the market. At Pierce Flooring, we recommend and use Miracle Sealants. They offer a variety of products including cleaners, color and gloss enhancers, abrasives, penetrating sealers, water based sealers, natural look sealers and one step sealers and enhancers. Everything you need to protect your stone floor, countertop or backsplash.

Keep in mind that not all sealers are the same. There are topical sealers and penetrating sealers. To get the best job, you want to use a penetrating sealer.  A penetrating sealer fills the pores of the stone so that when a stain tries to fill those pores it can’t because the sealer is already there blocking the pores.

How can you tell if you need to reseal your natural stone? Simply pour some water on your stone. If after half an hour your stone does not turn dark, then your sealer is still working.

Protecting your investment is easy. Call us today at 877-525-0066 or stop by to discuss your project so we can help you determine what product is right for you.

Have you ever left a candle unattended and spilled some wax on the carpet or spilled some wax on the floor when carrying a lit candle from one location or the other? Most people’s instinct is to cut the wax out of the carpet, but wait! See below for alternative solutions before cutting your carpet and doing permanent damage!

How to remove candle stains:

Nail Polish Remover – Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846