Get off to a clean start this month by getting your holiday-worn rugs and carpeting cleaned  - and save with our website specials. Contact us from our website or give us a call to schedule in:
Stop by our Flooring Showroom while you’re in Kensington and we can show you everything that’s new in flooring for 2012. If you need repairs we can do in-home carpeting repairs or renew your area rugs in our plant.
From all of us at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs to you – sincere best wishes for a prosperous and happy 2012.
Love parties but hate the toll they take your beautiful rugs and carpet?
See our cleaning tips (just in time for the holidays)…
Vacuum ASAP
1.To keep food particles from becoming deeply embedded in your rugs vacuum after your party to keep them from turning it into mold and bacteria.
2.Fine, handmade rugs should not be vacuumed with a beater bar.
3.Use a nylon stocking over your attachment nozzle to keep fringe from being sucked up and damaged.
4.Vacuum in the direction the pile lies.
5.If the rug is small enough, take it outside and dust it with a soft brush. Gritty dirt tracked in from guests can abrade the rug’s backing so vacuum the back, flip over and vacuum once more.
Remove Stains
Clean ordinary food and beverage spills immediately by removing the excess and then use specially formulated stain and soil remover (always test for colorfastness), a solution of clear, non-bleach dish washing detergent (1/4 tsp detergent to 32 oz water), or club soda.
Red wine
1. Sprinkle table salt all over the red wine stain if it’s still wet. The salt will help wick up some of the stain as you collect other stain removing supplies.
2. Blot up as much of the red wine stain as you can by placing a clean cotton cloth on the stain and applying pressure with your hands. Move to a clean spot on the cloth and continue to blot until there’s no further transfer of red wine stain. Pour enough club soda on the stained area to fully saturate it. Use a clean cotton cloth to blot up the club soda until no further transfer of moisture is picked up.
3. Apply hydrogen peroxide to a clean sponge and dab at any remaining red wine stain, starting at the outside of the stain and working your way in. Press into the fibers of the rug.Rinse the sponge with cool water and repeat, if necessary, until the stain is gone.
4. Allow the rug to air dry or use a blowdryer on the area.
Grease & Gravy
1. Scrape off excess grease.
2. Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or other absorbent on the stain. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum.
3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent.
4. Blot until the solvent is absorbed.
5. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the detergent/vinegar solution.
Candle Wax
Candle wax can be removed from most surfaces with the following technique:
1. Lay a plain brown paper bag or white paper towels on the wax.
2. Place an iron set on its lowest setting onto the paper bag or paper towels. Run the warm iron over the wax and it will begin to absorb into the paper bag/towels.
3. Move the bag around to a fresh place and keep ironing until the wax is gone.
4. If colored dye from the candle remains, dab at it with a bit of rubbing alcohol, then a sponge dampened with water.
Deep Cleaning
Make sure that you do a deep cleaning of your carpet after the Holiday party. To achieve a clean carpet, you’ll need to have it cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner. A thorough cleaning is needed every six months or so, especially after a party.
Carpet ripples? Ayoub N&H can restretch your carpeting.
Correct carpet installation is imperative for any carpet to perform successfully, both during use and after cleaning. If you had previous carpet installation by someone who didn’t quite do it the right way you may get buckles and ripples. Ayoub N&H can resolve this problem with tight restretching of your carpet.
Most residential and some commercial carpet is installed over a cushion or padding. It is fastened to the floor by stretching the carpet onto pins know as a tackless strip (in the old days carpet was tacked directly to the floor).(Some commercial carpet is alternately glued down to hold up under heavy use in public places and offices.)
Ayoub N&H installs carpet according to manufacturer’s specifications and fully stretches it with a professional power stretcher. Some carpet installers use the less effective method of using a “knee kicker” device. If this method was used when your carpet was installed you will eventually get the tell-tale buckling after time. All the “give” in new carpeting must be removed at time of installation or the carpet will shift, especially in high traffic areas.
Another poor installation problem is weak seaming where carpet sections are joined. Cut carpet must be beaded or “buttered” with a line of carpet adhesive. The edges are then brought together, forming the seam, which is held in place with hot-melt seam tape. A low quality installation will involve cheap seaming tape with the least amount of glue to save money. The unfortunate result is a weak seam – prone to breaking from wear-and-tear and cleaning.
If Ayoub N&H installs your wall-to-wall carpeting it will be done with the best methods available without the shortcuts and inferior methods some installers use. Â If your wall-to-wall carpeting gets “the ripples and waves” Ayoub N&H can reinstall your carpeting in Maryland (Montgomery & Howard Counties in Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern VA) by stretching it as tight as possible and repairing the seaming so you can get longer life from your carpeting – without any more bumps.
Carpet manufacturers are increasingly becoming “Green” professionals. Ordinary Carpeting in the past filled up the landfills. Now carpet manufacturers are creating solutions that actually reduce them.
A good example of this is Mohawk EverStrand™ Carpet Collections. It provides your home with beautiful carpeting without inflicting harm to our planet. That is because the carpeting is made from plastic bottles!
EverStrandâ„¢ Carpeting from Mohawk
 One in every four plastic bottles in North America become EverStrand™
 30 plastic bottles on average are recycled to make one square yard of EverStrand™
 14,000 recycled plastic bottles turn into EverStrand™ every minute
 3 Billion recycled plastic bottles are manufactured into EverStrand™ each year.
 24 Billion bottles have been recycled since 1999 = Carpet instead of more landfill.
It’s a tremendous innovation  - Mohawk has turned one unusable product into gorgeous carpet with outstanding performance attributes and simple cleanability. So if you’re looking for carpet with a conscience, look no further than EverStrandâ„¢ from Mohawk. Ask for it at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rug’s showroom in Kensington, MD. when you need new carpeting for your home.
After Ayoub N&H cleans your carpets you want your carpets to look fresh and bright for a long time. Here’s some post-cleaning tips for you and your family to follow:
Don’t walk on freshly cleaned carpets for at least 4 hours or more until dry to touch. You could mat the wet fibers with the weight of your footsteps – or slip.
Don’t remove the protective pieces we put under furniture until carpet is absolutely dry or bleeding from wood stain could occur.
Don’t allow your children or pets on the damp carpet for at least 4-5 hours – preferably 8 hours until it is thoroughly dry so they won’t get any cleaning solution or treatments on their hands (or paws).
Vacuum right after a carpet is dry to remove any dried residue and then vacuum on a regular schedule to keep dirt from becoming embedded deep into the carpet fibers.
Then enjoy your professionally-cleaned carpet!
Contact Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs on a regular basis to clean and maintain your carpeting. If your carpet becomes damaged we can also repair it for you- or totally replace it when it comes time for all-new carpeting. Be sure to check our monthly specials for great values in carpet & rug cleaning! Our pricing includes all the extras you don’t get with most carpet cleaning companies like pre-spraying, pre-vacuuming, and moving your furniture.
Your Oriental rug shouldn’t just last a lifetime – it can last generations and become a family heirloom. Despite their beauty they are very durable but need care to remain in top condition.
There are many factors that can effect the longevity of an area rug. They include fiber type, weave and density. Quality handmade rugs should last from 60 to as much as 100 years. Tufted and most woolen machine made rugs will last from 20 to 30 years depending on quality.
Rug Padding – firm padding protects the rug from wear, tear and slippage, and makes it easier to vacuum
Clean spills promptly – Â blot the liquid first, clean with mild bleach-free detergent (test in an inconspicuous place first). For oily stains use a mild cleaning fluid or dry powder type petroleum-based cleaner. Elevate to dry the bottom of the rug or use a hairdryer or fan. The best way to deal with stains is have Ayoub N&H clean it thoroughly at our plant to remove all residue.
Maintain the edges – don’t use glue unless the rug can’t be repaired otherwise. It reduces the value. The sooner you do repairs the easier it will be to fix.
Ayoub N&H Cleaning Plant - wet/wash process is the cleaning method for Oriental Rugs. Do not steam clean on your floor. It may dry rot your rug.
If you have a valuable hand-knotted Oriental rug they are worth taking excellent care of.
If it’s easy to transport drop off at our plant in Kensington or a dry-cleaner location nearest you in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington DC. Contact us to pick up your large rugs. Your oriental rug can last several lifetimes so take care!
Did you just have your carpet cleaned and it looked perfect while it was still damp – but now that it’s dry there is a mysterious stain that’s appeared.
This is a naturally occuring post-cleaning situation known as reappearing or wicking stains. It’s caused by staining matter from a prior spillage having dried down at the base of the carpet pile. So after cleaning, you may have had the visible area looking spot-free but the old problem was still lurking at the bottom – now free to roam by moistening it.
Once the stain is wetted by a thorough cleaning it becomes mobile and wicks up the fiber to the top. Since wall-to-wall carpet dries from the bottom up, the top is the last to dry completely. So, this is how the “invisible” stain suddenly appears.
You can take this follow-up step yourself to remove most or all of this reappearing stain:Â just moisten it and blot with an absorbent white towel. The best way is to mist it, cover it with toweling add a layer of aluminum foil or wax paper on top of the towel and then put something heavy on top like a telephone book. Wait about a half an hour and then remove. Repeat as needed.
An alternative is to use a carpet spot remover solution or drycleaning fluid type spot remover. Make sure they’re safe on your carpeting first; try a test area in an out of sight place. You can always rinse lightly and do the blotting step mentioned above.
If you prefer a dry-extraction, carpet cleaning compound, lightly massage or brush the compound into the stain. Leave it to work for 30-60 minutes to absorb the stain, then vacuum.
If you have any doubts about trying to remove post-cleaning stains yourself be sure to contact Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs for powerful, professional carpet cleaning in MD, DC, and Northern VA and get the best possible results.
Spills create odors because organic matter in the liquid starts to break down and develops bacterial growth. If the spill hasn’t penetrated too deeply and is removed / treated ASAP it has a very good chance of being completely removed. When limited amounts of cleaning solution must be used, only a proportion of the odor may be eliminated. It is difficult to satisfactorily remove odor producing stains from the backing of wall-to-wall carpeting.
Odors produced by animal waste are practically impossible to eliminate 100% from most materials. Ofter the best solution is to replace the affected part of the carpet and padding with a new piece. In severe cases, the subflooring may even need to be treated and sealed. Some odors, such as mildew, although removed, will recur with new mildew growth and bring back that musty smell.
Natural fibers, dyes, finishing agents, foam or latex backing compounds may also produce an odor. If it’s present in new carpeting or rugs a good airing should dispel it. Sometimes it can take days or weeks for it to be unnoticeable. Older carpets and rugs may need treatment with a deodorizer.
Ayoub N&H uses the latest, highly effective commercial deodorizers, special deodorizing equipment, and freshening fragrances to reduce or eliminate unpleasant ones in carpets and rugs from many sources. If you’re greeted by an unwanted carpet or rug smell when you enter your room, contact Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs today for professional carpet or rug treatment in the DC Metro area includingthe following Counties:  Howard County, MD • Montgomery County, MD • Prince Georges County, MD , Fairfax County, VA • Arlington County, VA.
Quality carpeting should last for around 15 years with the proper care. Here are some helpful tips to keep it in good shape:
Regular Cleaning
If your carpet looks dull or faded it’s probably in need of a good cleaning. Regular cleaning keeps your carpet’s color bright and true and prevents stains from setting in. Soil can change the color of your carpet – especially oily soil which can become absorbed into the fiber and make it yellowish. Matting can actually be caused by soiling rather than loss of fiber. Ayoub N&H Carpet and Rugs employs truck-mounted steam cleaning for the most thorough soil extraction. Remember: the longer the stain remains, the greater the chance of permanence. If you do have an area that can’t be improved, Ayoub N&H can do in-home carpet repairs like patching for a fraction of the cost of replacing the carpet.
Shedding
Are balls of fluff reason for concern after installation? No, they are just the loose fibers left over in the carpet after manufacturing. With the use of a good vacuum cleaner, they should disappear after a year or so.
Furniture Dents
You’ve probably noticed if you’ve ever moved your furniture a “footprint” of the furniture. Use of furniture glides or cups will help prevent this. If it’s too late, try roughing the depression up to get the pile back up, then dampen the spot and heat it with a hair dryer to reset the fibers.
Texture Protection
High traffic areas can have added  protection with strategically placed area rugs that can be rotated. Texture will naturally wear after time but this added ounce of protection will prolong it’s beauty.
Fiber Popup
If you ever have a piece of yard loosen and is protruding from the carpet, don’t pull it. Instead snip with scissors to the level of the rest of the pile. Pulling them out can worsen the problem. If it’s happening more than a couple times, contact the store you purchased your carpeting from or the manufacturer.
Wrinkles and Buckles
Bumpy carpet can be a safety hazard. It can be caused by a number of things including: poor or incorrect padding, incorrect installation, or high temperatures and/or humidity. If you need your carpet restretched contact Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs to have your carpet problems remedied by professional restretching.
Have a problem carpet? Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs, your Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC carpeting and rugs expert, has the solutions.
If you love the look of area rugs in a room, you’re not alone. Deciding on the size of the rug can be perplexing though. Should it fill the room or be centered between your furniture arrangement? Here’s some basic guidelines to get you started:
Measure Carefully and Test Your Door Clearance
As a rule of thumb, allow 18″-24″ of bare floor space between the rug and the walls. Smaller rooms may permit less, but try not to go below six inches of surrounding floor space.
Living Room
When arranging furniture just try keeping the front legs or edge of your sofa (depending on size of room and rug), loveseat and accent chairs on the rug; the back legs can remain on or off depending on the rug’s size.
Dining Room
For easy dining and best appearance the chair legs should sit on the rug. Aim for 18″-24″ of rug on all sides of the table so that the back legs of the chairs stay on the rug, even when the chair is pulled out.
Bedroom
Comfort is the key in the bedroom: area rugs should extend beyond the sides of the bed at least 18″ for a king or queen and 12″ for a full or twin. You can also scatter area rugs to define the areas in front of the bed or dresser to add warmth and luxury.
Kitchen
Your kitchen rug will need to be easy to clean and durable. Go for runners in front of the sink and work areas to cushion you and help reduce fatigue. Smaller rugs can add interest, but use padding or opt for styles with rubber backing so they’ll stay put and away from the main high traffic path.
