We love our pets, but the mental image of claws digging into new carpet or urine leaving a permanent trail through the living room is enough to skip carpet altogether.

Thanks to technological advances in carpet manufacturing in the last decade, the latest carpeting products can actually help withstand some serious dog and cat abuse love.

While Empire Today® offers several styles of hardwood, laminate, and tile flooring options that would make a great choice for a pet friendly home, this guide is for folks who like their floor a little on the softer side.

Without too much fluff, we bring you the Beginner’s Guide to Pet Friendly Carpet.

Step One: Don’t Sacrifice Style in Fear of Stains!

Your search for pet friendly carpet is all about stain resistance and durability, but that should not exclude style! Stylish looks for your home include a trendy frieze, comfortable plush, or cut-pile pattern. The main thing these styles have in common: no loops for cats or dogs to claw onto, durability, and easy maintenance.

Branded stain protections such as Scotchgard 3M, R2X® Protection, and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for pets to leave permanent stains, odors, and soiling. PUP®, another product offering by Empire, helps reduce the impact of dog and cat accidents. Padding with a scrim layer is important as well – moisture from spills is less likely to reach your subfloor and cause permanent damage. Look for these stain and odor resistance logos on sample boards when shopping for pet friendly Carpet at Empire. If shopping at home, your sales rep can point these logos out as well.

Step Two: Comfort is King

Whether you’re a cat or dog lover, focus on the reason carpet is so popular in homes – comfort. Your pets will spend just as much time as you in carpeted areas, so pick the fiber you like the most and look for a face weight of at least 30 ounces if you like things to feel even softer. Nylon or polyester make great choices.

Nylon will generally cost more and have a little more durability, while polyester is known for its impressive resistance to staining. Our advice? Pick what you like that is within your budget. You’re probably going to be cleaning up after your pet regardless.

Step Three: Be Prepared

There’s a very strong likelihood your dog will make a muddy dash through the living room, and cats can have a tendency to “forget” where the litter box is once in a while. Once you choose carpet, you will need a steady supply of cleaning supplies on hand. Essentials include a vacuum, baking soda, white vinegar, a clean white sponge or towel, and warm water. These are on-hand, non-toxic materials that make it easy to be prepared for any unexpected pet mess.

The Bottom Line

Pets require extra cleaning no matter what flooring you choose. Choose carpeting that looks good, feels comfortable for you and your pet, and expect to clean it regularly. That’s it! If you’re still leaning toward hard flooring options, be sure to view our pet friendly flooring guide to see other choices.

Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate with an Empire Sales Rep to explore Pet Friendly options in your home.

The post The Beginner’s Guide to Pet-Friendly Carpet appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

A lot of people associate Empire® with strictly carpet. And rightfully so – we’ve been pumping out commercials with carpet in the spotlight since the late 1970s. But did you know we’re also prolific with hardwood, laminate, tile, and vinyl flooring?

If you have one of these hard floors in your home, then you know that it takes more than just a quick sweep to keep them looking clean. In part two of Empire’s Spring Cleaning Series, we present Advanced Flooring Care.

Respect Wood & Wood Looks: Proper Hardwood & Laminate Cleaning

Cleaning hardwood or laminate flooring properly doesn’t require a Master’s Degree in the Custodial Arts. But you should know that wood can change over time if you clean it with excessive water or harsh chemicals.

1. Eliminate Dirt and Dust
   Dirt and dust are easily managed with a gentle dust mop or low power vacuum, especially in high traffic areas. Stickier messes like dried mud or syrup can be softened with an ice cube and removed with a dull plastic scraper or moist cloth. The key is to be gentle! You wouldn’t want to scratch up your laminate or hardwood flooring with aggressive scrubbing.
2. Act Fast with Standing Liquids
   Accidents are likely to happen, so be prepared to wipe up spills with a clean, non-abrasive cloth at a moment’s notice. Wood and water do not mix well, so the sooner you wipe standing liquid up, the better.
3. Hire a D.C. (“Designated Cleaner”)
   No, this doesn’t mean you need a cleaning service. It’s recommended that you only use floor cleaner designated for hardwood or laminate. Follow the instructions on the bottle and never over saturate. Too much water or cleaner can cause wood flooring to buckle and/or separate. If you are using a mop, make sure the pole isn’t making contact with the floor. And we recommend staying away from steam mops or buffing machines, as they can both damage your wood or laminate floor.

The Vinyl Resurgence: Luxury Vinyl and Sheet Vinyl Cleaned Right

The nice thing about cleaning vinyl flooring is you don’t have to worry as much about water as you do with wood. It’s no coincidence, then, that luxury vinyl and sheet vinyl remain a popular flooring choice in bathrooms and kitchens. Here are some tips for cleaning vinyl.

1. Clean Often, But Gently
   Remove loose dirt with a soft bristle broom. If you prefer to vacuum, disengage the beater bar and use a “bare floor” setting to help avoid damage to your vinyl.
2. Use Mopping Sense
   It’s recommended that you clean vinyl daily with a damp mop. Highly abrasive scrubbing tools, steamers, and buffer machines are not recommended (unless you want to risk bubbles in your floor, or bent corners). For smaller spills, a soft white cloth or eraser are typically the best choice on vinyl.
3. No Rough Stuff
   Avoid detergents, abrasive cleaners, and “mop and shine” products. These can coat your vinyl with a dull film. Ammonia and bleach should never be used with vinyl floor. The key is to use a non-abrasive floor cleaner designated for vinyl and follow the directions carefully. For intense stains such as paint or nail polish, isopropyl alcohol can work wonders.

Avoid Trial and Error When Cleaning Tile Floor

Tile has an unmistakable beauty that brings elegance to virtually any room. Especially effective in main foyers and master bathrooms, tile flooring deserves a little extra attention when cleaning it to preserve its natural, earthy feel.

1. Mop with a Purpose
   Clean your ceramic or porcelain tile with a damp mop (steam mops are also not recommended) once a week. High traffic areas may require daily attention. And please hold the detergent or soap – these products can dull the surface of your tile.
2. Keep Mud at the Door
   Place mats are your friend! Keep moisture and mud near the door and off your new tile (something tells us you won’t mind enforcing this one…).
3. Protect Your Floor
   Have you considered floor protectors? They’re relatively inexpensive and can help protect your tile from deep scratches. Affixing felt or similar pads to table and chair legs can save you a lot of frustration later.

New flooring is a wonderful investment for a lot of reasons, but we love it because it is typically easy to maintain. As you check more items off your Spring Cleaning list, be sure to devote extra attention to cleaning your lovely floors.

And if you’re not thrilled with the way your flooring looks even after a deep clean, it’s time to Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see hardwood, laminate, tile, and vinyl options in the comfort of your own home. Give us a call today!

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Vacuum Like You’re Being Paid to Vacuum

Vacuuming is only as effective as the amount of effort you put into it. It’s recommended that you vacuum daily in high traffic areas. Some refer to this as the “beaten path.”

Most houses have “the room that no one ever goes in.” We can bet with confidence you’ll have some guests in that dining room or living room more often with new carpet installed. For rooms with lower foot traffic, vacuuming twice a week is recommended.

And while vacuuming might not be as exhilarating as walking between skyscrapers with a blindfold, you should still pay close attention to vacuuming in both directions in even columns. If you have a frieze or loop style carpet, make sure you have an appropriate setting on the vacuum that won’t snag your new soft floor.

Keep Mud at the Door

With new carpet, you’ve now earned the right to enforce a “shoes off inside” policy. Mats for shoes should be scattered at every entrance in the house. The creative ways in which people repurpose wooden pallets on Pinterest will blow your mind – like shoe racks.

Seriously, there are no excuses for shoes on new carpet. In the unlikely chance a pet or a child tracks some mud onto the new carpet, it’s important to act quickly. A little white vinegar and warm water with a clean, neutral rag will work wonders in a pinch. In a worst-case scenario of chocolate on a white frieze, don’t spread the mess around. Instead, gently saturate the area and blot carefully, applying even pressure until all the mud/chocolate/crud is gone.

Bonus tip: avoid bleach and other harsh chemicals. You could make a stain worse then you started with. Consider hiring an experienced professional cleaner at least once a year. Your carpet will thank you for years to come.

Avoid “Carpet Craters”

When taking care of new carpet, it’s important to move furniture around once in a while. If your carpet piles are crushed by the same custom Italian sofa long enough, they might not seem like they’ll ever come back up. Furniture legs leave carpet craters – consider using a vacuum or ice cube to help raise carpet indentations.

The best philosophy with carpet? Clean it daily, not just during spring cleaning. Show your carpet some love this spring!

If you’re ready for a carpet upgrade in your home, schedule an appointment with Empire Today.

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