For many years and even today, carpet remains very popular with homeowners all across the U.S. Carpet is the most practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring out there, and it accounts for more than half of all flooring purchases made every year. It is still used in bedrooms, on the second level of a home, and to cover stairs. The fact is, carpet has outsold every other type of flooring for more than 60 years. Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can’t compete with.

Below you will find many of the features that carpet will add to your home. Warmth –Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you need warmth underfoot.

Insulation –Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an extra layer of much-needed insulation between the floors of your home. Depending on the density and weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency as well.

 Safety –Carpet offers a slip-resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion in the event of someone falling. For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound –Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring. Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:1. Reduces surface noise from foot traffic 2. Absorbs airborne sound 3. Blocks transmission of sound. These qualities are valuable on upper levels of a home and apartment.

Surface –Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and hide any other problems such as warped floors. The thicker density the carpet is, the more problems it will be able to cover up. Easy to care for –The carpets of today are more stain-resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever. No matter type of spill it may be, there is always a way to clean it up.

Clean air –Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve the quality of air by trapping allergy-causing dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and maintained.

Variety of use –Carpets aren’t only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing. You can easily add carpet to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non-level surfaces, without having to worry about it slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility –Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room. Because it is available in a variety of different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating.

Low cost –Carpet offers an economical alternative to the other types of expensive flooring, even with professional installation. And, unlike hard surfaces, carpet is comfortable even if you decide to lay down on it.

Life span –The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market if it is properly cleaned and maintained. All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a lifespan of 5 – 30 years or more, which is very common nowadays.

Warranty –With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase. Once installed, all you have to do is enjoy it – as the warranty will ensure that you are very well protected.

In today’s financial climate, you might find yourself short of cash towards the end of the month. A payday loan may seem like the easiest and sometimes the only answer to make ends meet. Payday loans often cost around 25% of the amount borrowed in fees, and are repayable within 30 days.

If you need a loan to cover a credit card payment or another bill, you may be able to contact your creditor and arrange a repayment program that gives you enough breathing space to avoid the payday loan.

Look for a credit union in your area. These non-profit organizations will advance funds at an extremely low rate.

Make use of a credit card cash advance, which although expensive, will allow you to spread the cost over several months and be less costly than a few months of payday fees.

Finally, only use payday loans in a genuine financial emergency. Just make sure you never use them to live above your means and don’t fall into the trap of having to take out a new loan every month to cover basic living expenses

Whether it’s chewing, begging, or jumping, our pets’ actions are a part of their unique personalities, for better or worse. However, there is one undesirable habit that most pet owners would agree causes the most embarrassment: urine. To animals, urine is an important social tool, used as a calling card, mate attraction, or territorial warning. To us, it is odor and stain.

If you are lucky enough to catch the animal in the act, you can pour salt liberally onto the deposit while it is still wet. Use enough salt to completely cover the spot. The salt will absorb the urine. Let it dry and simply vacuum it away. But most animals are secretive about peeing on the carpet; most of the time it is dry by the time you discover it. Single, light urine deposits may be treated by applying a neutral carpet cleaning agent, gentle agitation, and a thorough rinse. Finish the job by placing a folded white towel on the area. Set a weight on it and leave overnight; the remaining moisture and residue will wick into the towel.

Once urine has reached the point that it has penetrated the carpet and the cushion, removal of the odor becomes more difficult. Most cleaning and deodorizing methods are designed to treat the carpet face fibers, not the carpet backing and cushion. If you don’t get out all of the urine, changes in humidity and temperature will result in reactivation and the odor will eventually return. Due to the chemistry of urine, old, heavy deposits are much more difficult to treat and you will need the help of a professional.

Why? Because urine undergoes a dramatic chemical change as it ages.

The water in the urine evaporates leaving behind organic compounds that become more concentrated. Bacteria begin to consume the urine, breaking down the proteins, sugars, and other organic compounds. Once the contamination has reached this point, it also becomes a potential health threat to humans. During the process of bacterial digestion, bacteria secrete ammonia and a strong, pungent odor develops. The urine turns from a mild acid to a strong alkali.

This strong alkaline deposit attacks the dyes in some carpets. Over time, the dyes can be weakened causing permanent color loss and yellowing. The adhesives used in the carpet backing can be dissolved, and the carpet can literally fall apart. Permanent damage to wood subfloors will also result from deep penetration of concentrated urine deposits, requiring additional repairs.

Acidic cleaning agents neutralize alkaline residues and make the urine deposits easier to remove during normal cleaning. One urine contamination treatment available contains an enzyme called urease which is effective at breaking down the organic components of urine. Pairing agents are specialized deodorizers that bond to odor-causing molecules and create a new odorless or pleasant-smelling molecule. Oxidizers use the power of oxygen to eliminate urine odor and help remove staining. Oxidizershave the additional benefit of killing bacteria and often help in removing the yellow stain. But care is required when using oxidizers since these cleaning agents are not compatible with all types of carpet.

The decision of which method to use will depend on several factors. The amount of contamination present, the depth of penetration, the construction of the carpet, the fiber content, the installation method, the sub-floor type, and the size of the affected area must all be considered.

Contact Hansen Steam Way today for more tips, help or to schedule your next appointment