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You love the look and feel of your carpet. You love the way the color complements the other furnishings in the room. So, how can you protect your carpet and keep it feeling like new for years to come? The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) offers the following tips to prolong the beauty and life of your carpet:

• Keep walkways and entries clean. Sweep. vacuum or rinse soil away from the entryway area often.
• Use walk-off mats at all entrances. This will prevent dirt from being tracked inside and soiling carpets and rugs.
• Vacuum regularly. You should vacuum at least twice weekly in high traffic areas. In all other areas vacuum weekly to remove dust and particle soil. Use high quality equipment with high efficiency vacuum filter bags (replaced when 2/3 full for best results) or a bag-less vacuum with HEPA filtration.
• Treat spills immediately. Using a *mild cleaning solution will decrease the solution, test it in an inconspicuous spot to ensure the discoloration does not occur. Wait 30 minutes to an hour to see if any color changes or other problems may arise.(*Standard mild solution: One teaspoon neutral white or colorless detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. Make sure the detergent is BLEACH-FREE.
• After treating spills with a mild solution, gently blot with a clean white cloth. Rubbing may cause damage to the carpet fibers. Continue blotting until the spill is removed or until no more color is transferred to the cloth.
• Rinse away all cleaning agents. Mist the carpet with plain water to remove the cleaning agents. This will prevent discoloration or rapid soiling.
• Have a carpet professionally cleaned annually. Light colored carpet may require even more frequent professional cleanings. The IICRC recommends hiring an IICRC - certified professional or IICRC certified firm to clean you carpet. Certified firms and technicians adhere to the IICRC S100 Carpet Cleaning Standards and recommended cleaning procedures.

To learn more about the IICRC or how to care for your carpet visit the IICRC web site at www.iicrc.org or call (800) 835-4624.

Marcus Gladney has been an IICRC certified technician since 2000. His certifications are in carpet, upholstery and water damage.

If you have any questions please contact Celebrity Carpet & Upholstery at 913-851-(STAR)7827

During the 1960s and 1970s, much of our nation's focus was on the pollution of our outdoor environment but recently our focus has shifted to pollution of our indoor environment.

Concern for fuel economy in the early 1970s led to changes in construction techniques and building design to prevent the loss of temperature-controlled air from buildings. Airtight structures keep air inside but they also prevent the flow of fresh air from outside. Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that our indoor environment has two to five more pollutants than outside air.

The quality of our indoor air has become more important to us in recent years in that the average American spends over 20 a day inside a closed structure. We spend 90 percent of our lives indoors. Heightened consumer health awareness has placed an emphasis on improving the quality of our indoor environment.

Carpet plays a vital, positive role in indoor air quality. It acts as an environmental filter, trapping and holding impurities from the air we breathe. The EPA and carpet industry findings indicate that with proper ventilation if it is new carpe. Carpet itself does not contribute negatively to indoor air quality but the buildup of soil in carpet does. Upholstery fabric also harbors soil and contaminants.

According to Michael A. Berry, PhD., former Deputy Director of the EPA Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, the single leading cause of poor indoor air quality in built environments today is poor maintenance. Carpet and upholstery must be cleaned to remove trapped contaminants before they overflow and are released back into the indoor air.

For a healthier indoor environment, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends:

• Vacuum frequently. A vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency filtration bag removes soils and bio-contaminants from carpet and upholstery and reduces the release of reparable particles into the air. These bags are now available for most models of vacuum cleaners at retail stores that carry vacuum cleaners and accessories.
• Periodically have carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned. Thorough cleaning removes soil and pollutants to improve indoor air quality. As an IICRC certified professional technician We are trained in the use of proper cleaning agents and equipment.
• Control the sources. Entrance mats halt tracked-in soil and contaminants. Tobacco smoke, which is trapped in carpet an upholstery fabric, is a major source of indoor pollution.
• Increase fresh air flow. Our ancestors knew what they were doing when they opened windows to air out buildings.
• Clean for health. Carpet and upholstery fabric hide soil. Don't just clean for appearance when the accumulation of soil becomes visible.

Broken pipes, leaky appliances and heavy rainstorms can teach an unexpected lesson on the destructive power of water. One unforeseeable release of water and suddenly your home and furnishings are in serious peril. A little knowledge about what to do, combined with quick action, can help salvage you home and personal items.

In most cases only a professional can repair water damaged flooring and furnishings. Do not attempt to treat these items yourself - that may only contribute to the problem and cause further damage.

The Institute If Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends the following actions to minimize damage while waiting for help to arrive:

• Foremost, stop the water leak and attend to obvious safety hazards, like electrical shock and personal injury from slips and falls.
• Increase airflow with open windows, fans and heating and air conditioning systems. Open doors, drawers, cupboards and closets to maintain optimal air circulation and promote drying.
• Move furnishings out of wet area or protect furniture legs from absorption and damage with triple folded aluminum foil.
• Hang up draperies and pin up upholstery skirts to prevent water rings; allow leather items to dry at room temperature.
• Wash wet clothes, sheets and linens immediately and hang cleanable fabrics to dry.
• Do not store damp items in plastic bags where mold can grow.

Celebrity Carpet Cleaning can preserve your home and furnishings from the destructive effect of water.

Celebrity Carpet Cleaning has been certified by the IICRC in water damage, carpet and upholstery cleaning since 2000. We use professional inspecting and drying equipment. We can identify hidden water pockets and can dry both your structure and furnishings to acceptable industry standards.

Purpose:

Until the establishment of IICRC in 1972, there were no controls or regulations pertaining to qualifications or standards in the carpet industry. By representing the industry as a whole, rather than any one company or group, IICRC is now being universally accepted as the objective certifying agency for those reaching levels of proficiency in the industry.

The IICRC will continue to develop and implement an international Code of Ethics and Standards to assure maximum consumer protection. We will continue to help coordinate the goals of the industry and consumer.

It is also out purpose to professionalism among those dedicated technicians and firms who represent our industry in serving the public, both in their homes and in their businesses. It is our aim to continue to expand the line of communication and understanding between carpet producers and certified cleaners.

Function of the Institute

To qualify and certify:

1. Technicians responsible for cleaning and restoration.
2. Those firms that employ certified technicians, or have employees who are working towards certification.
3. Individuals serving the industry as carpet inspectors.

To cooperate with regulatory bodies, government agencies and consumer groups in establishing fair standards of proficiency in the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry.

To maintain an international registry of certified technicians, firms, and carpet inspectors for use by fiber companies, carpet manufacturers, insurance companies and governmental agencies.