A New Look For Hardwood Flooring

Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs is known for their rug and carpet cleaning, but did you know that we can give your hardwood floors a new lease on life also?

Don’t hide your floors. We can transform your dull, scratched hardwood into rich, designer flooring with careful sanding and preparation, followed by the stain of your choosing and a protective finish.

Even if your floor isn’t in terrible condition a different stain color can be applied to give your room a whole new feel. If you have deep damage to your flooring we can replace the bad area to blend with your current wood.

There are two types of urethane that can be used in the re-finishing process:

• Water based urethane: dries in a shorter period of time so the job can be done quicker. The floor can be walked on within two hours and additional coats of polurethane can be applied the same day. In addition, fumes from water based urethane are not as noticeable.

• Oil based urethane: will take longer to dry and typically produce fumes that are very noticeable although the smell does dissipate as the urethane dries. The process will take more than one day since a drying time of about 24 hours is required inbetween coats. Oil based urethane is better for floors in direct sunlight since it does not break down as quickly.

Images – Top to bottom:

• Preparing floors: old finish half-sanded
• Fully sanded wood flooring
• Starting application of the new stain
• Floor fully stained with finish applied
• The fabulous hardwood flooring result!

(Shown) Sedona Red stain with an application of an oil based polyurethane with a satin finish.

Check the Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rug specials for discounts on hardwood floor refinishing and  stop living with your worn wood floors that detract from your decor. Your home can look like a showhouse after Ayoub N&H Professional Refinishing.

Renew Your Hardwood Floors with Ayoub N&H Refinishing is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

Protect your wool rugs from moths

Moths love wool rugs. Add a little neglect, a dash of pet hair and you have a moth magnet. Moth larvae can hide unnoticed in the deep, dark undisturbed recesses of rugs – unless you get them cleaned by professionals in-plant. A moth- infested rug is treated in the plant with a spray made from dried chrysanthemum flowers to protect all the rugs in our care.

Many people even believe that cleaning rugs is not good for them. This is totally false. Dirty rugs are targets for moth infestation. They especially love keratin in hair (dog and cat hair on a rug is a paradise for moth larvae). They can also feed on a mix of synthetic fiber and wool.

There are two types of clothes moths that can damage your wool rugs: the webbing moth and the casemaking moth because they spin a silken tube that protects them. The webbing moth remains stationery and does the damage in one place – the case making moth does not attach its tubes and therefore can move around and cause more damage throughout the rug.

The moths’ life cycle can last from 2 months to over 2 years. They lay their eggs on products their larvae can eat – like wool rugs. The larvae stage (the damaging stage) can last from 2-30 months. A moth infestation, unnoticed in rugs, can result in major damage – pile loss the size of a fist in weeks.

At the Ayoub N&H Plant – your wool rug is thoroughly vacuumed, beaten, dusted and washed. Mothballs, flakes and crystals are ineffective in moth control for rugs and can make some people sick – they are only a minor repellant anyway. It just makes the wool less-tasty to the larvae. A moth repellant, that lasts for up to 3 years or until it is washed again, can be applied by Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs. It has no residual odor and is not harmful to people – just your hungry rug inhabitants.

What signs should you look for to check for moth infestation:

• flying adult moths
• loose carpet fibers on top of the rug
• cocoons – slightly fuzzy cylinder, same color as the rug around ⅛ in diameter x 1/2″long
• squirming larvae on or deep inside the rug’s fibers

So protect your wool rugs by having us clean them at our rug cleaning plant. We are experts in the care and cleaning of your valuable rugs. If it’s too late we can repair your rug’s damage and treat your rugs so they’re better protected against future invaders. Give Ayoub N&H Carpet and Rugs a call today: MD/DC 240-430-0994       VA: 703-535-5410 or contact us through our website.

Clothes Moths Damage Wool Rugs is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

In-Plant Area Rug Cleaning is the Recommended Standard

Getting your valuable floor coverings cleaned at the Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs Kensington Plant is the best way to get your area rugs and fine orientals properly renewed and cared for in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Ayoub N&H Carpet and Rugs is a professional textile cleaner that follows the ANSI (American National Standard Institute)-approved standard of care for rugs.

One of the principles established in the latest edition of standards was that rugs should be cleaned in a plant environment, not on-location. It is not possible to clean a rug in-home to do a complete job such as: dusting, fringe correction, urine decontamination, mother protections, etc.

We won’t be able to correct potential problems that might appear after the rug is dry like: dye bleed, quality control results, etc.

So if you think it might be easiest to just clean it right on the floor, think again. Your rugs will have a longer life and problems can be avoided by doing it the right way – thoroughly by professionals.

Call Ayoub N&H today to schedule your area rug cleaning. If you’re in Maryland or DC 240-430-0994 and in Northern Virginia 703-535-5410. You can drop off at our convenient dry-cleaning locations , at the Ayoub N&H Plant, or we can pick it up and drop it off for you. You’ll love the results of Ayoub N&H in-plant rug cleaning.  (While you’re at it have your cushions and drapery professionally cleaned there also –  renewed and fresh!)

Cleaning Rugs On-Site Should be Avoided is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

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:

Maryland or Washington DC:   240-430-0994

Virginia:    703-535-5410

We can pick up area rugs for you or you can drop off and pick up yourself at a convenient dry-cleaner location or our cleaning plant in Kensington, Maryland.

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.

Mark Your New Calendar for Rug & Carpet Cleaning is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

Spills, crumbs, stains!

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.

Save with our Specials and Happy Holidays from Ayoub N&H!

Post-Holiday Carpet & Rugs Cleaning Tips MD VA DC is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

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.  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.

Poor Carpet Installation Problems Can Be Remedied is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

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!

EverStrand™ 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.

EverStrand™ Carpet from Mohawk – Made from Recycled Bottles is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

Let your carpets dry

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.

Post-Carpet Cleaning Tips is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

Fine Orientals Can Last With Proper Care

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 –  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.

Taking Care of your Oriental Rug for Long Life is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs

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:  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.

What To Do About Reappearing Stains On Just-Cleaned Carpet is a post from: Woven Tales at Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs