Were you one of the lucky ones that received chocolate for Valentines? If so, we wanted you to have care and maintenance tips handy should some of that chocolate end up out of the box and on your carpet!

Here are some simple tips to remove chocolate stains from carpet. Feel free to keep this info handy for future chocolate mishaps!

Solvent - A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution - Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution - Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional - Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet and Rug Institute: 1-800-882-8846.

We hope this info helps!

For many people, getting ready for the New Year involves setting up a calendar. Whether you use Outlook or another computer-based system, or prefer the classic print calendars, now is the time to prepare for next year by inserting key birthdays, anniversaries, and other personal holidays and events.

While planning your new year, how about including your house? Your home requires a number of annual maintenance events, and now is a great time to schedule them.

Do you have wood floors that need a new coat of wax or stone floors that need sealing? Are your granite countertops due for another coat of sealant this spring? When did you last have your heating and air conditioning system checked? How often do you have your carpets cleaned?

To make your life even easier, add in the phone numbers of any contacts you need for each project right in your calendar so you’re ready to make arrangements as each event comes up this next year.

Instead of counting on your memory or reminders from others, take a few extra minutes as you set up your calendar and plan your home’s care requirements for 2011. Then relax and have a happy New Year!

Preparing properly for the carpet cleaners is part one of the full carpet cleaning process. Now that we’re facing winter weather, part two is even more important – drying your carpeting. If you let your carpet dry slowly and naturally over a few days, you run the risk of mold in your home. It’s best to make sure your carpeting is dry within 24 hours.

The drying process is straightforward. The most important step is turning the fan on your heating system from auto to on (you will find this switch on your thermostat). You may also want to turn the heat up a few degrees to speed drying. It will help to turn on any other ventilation fans you have in your home, such as bathroom and oven vents, and possibly open a few windows if it’s warm enough.

Do you have any ceiling fans? They will dry the carpet quite quickly when turned on high. For corners and fan-free rooms, use portable fans, or rent a professional blower from your carpet cleaner. Move these around to ensure that every space has a chance to dry. Check for dampness by pressing the carpet hard with your hands.

Be sure to double-check any transitions from carpeting to hard flooring surfaces. Residual water can make those thresholds slippery. Dry them off and watch out when walking because the soles of your shoes can be damp. If you have pets, damp paws can be addressed by covering any pet-friendly furniture with towels until everything and everyone is dry.

This may sound complex, but with a few hours of effort, your carpeting will be dry and beautiful, ready for your holiday entertaining.

Now that Thanksgiving is over it’s time to prepare for the rest of the winter holidays. You may want to start the process with a professional carpet cleaning. Consider the following tips to make cleaning easier and more effective for you.

The first big step is finding the right cleaners. Unfortunately, a well-known name or lots of advertising are not your best source for evaluating quality and service. Check with friends and neighbors as well as the Better Business Bureau to find a good cleaning company.

You may also want to look into the type of equipment they use. The truck-mounted steam cleaners do an excellent job and leave no soap residue. Ask about the availability of professional blowers to help dry your carpeting afterwards. Generally cleaners have them at a reasonable price – around $20 per day.

Before your cleaner arrives, taking the time to make your home ready leads to a much better experience. Remove every piece of furniture that can be taken to a room with a hard surface. This may mean that your kitchen and bathrooms are a bit crowded for a day. For wood furniture that is too big or too heavy to move, be sure to place squares of plastic or wax paper under the legs. Sometimes wood stains will seep onto your carpet with the hot steamy water. As you are moving things around, be sure to pay attention to any spots, so that you can point them out to the carpet cleaner.

Be sure to place your pets in a safe spot, away from the cleaning and the open door that’s required during the process.

Having your carpet cleaned may be a nuisance, but the end result is well worth the effort – a carpet that looks like it was just installed.

Below are some easy to follow instructions for removal of pumpkin stains from carpet.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse

the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cau

se a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt , Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipme

nt to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.

In traditional Japanese homes, floors are kept cleaner and more protected because family and guests never wear their shoes in the house. Instead, the entryway has a selection of traditional slippers, which guests change into upon arriving. Some people in the United States would like to follow this practice, but aren’t sure how to go about it. By following these suggestions, anyone can create a no shoes approach for family and friends.

Start with planning for the transition. Pick up a selection of machine-washable slippers in various sizes for both men and women for those people who don’t want to walk around in just socks. Set up a shelf to store the slippers by size, along with a basket or bin for holding the worn slippers for laundering. You may also want to pick up a shoe cubby to store your guest’s shoes without scuffing. Finally, look for a comfortable bench or chair to provide a place to make the change.

If possible, let your guests know about the change in visitor requirements when you invite them. This allows them to plan their footwear accordingly. Be sure to mention that while they are welcome to wear their socks or bring their own slippers, you have a good selection of in-house options for them.

Make sure that your family follows the same requirements. It may be difficult at the start, but soon everyone will be used to taking their shoes off at the door. Be sure no one in your family wears shoes at your parties – if your guests follow a requirement, you and your family should also.

Make sure to thank your guests when they leave for their tolerance of your request. Although the choice is reasonable, it is also uncommon and you want to acknowledge that.

Consider giving this approach a try. Once you instigate this change, you will find that your flooring needs to be cleaned much less often, and your home will stay cleaner in general.

Wood floors and carpets can have a hard time when the weather turns wet and/or wintery. The following multi-step approach will help you protect your floors throughout the seasons.

One doormat alone is not enough to protect your floors. Plan on two or even three steps to addressing the dirt and wet shoes headed your way. Step one is a good outdoor mat. Look for a large one with dual functionality. It should be rough enough to allow guests to scrape off any water, sand, sleet or mud, and absorbent for the wet that comes with the weather. You may love that cute printed doormat, but leave it in the store – a pretty inside floor is more important.

Once inside, add another mat just under the door. There are a number of low-nap, high-absorbency rugs made for this job. This will take the next layer of dirt and wet off your guest’s footwear.

Finally, you may want to add a third machine-washable rug at the entryway to your nice floors. Looking at the amount of dirt that rug collects will help you realize that the third step makes a big difference for your wood or carpeting.

Be sure to take the same approach to every entryway in your home, and your floors will look great all year long!

When it comes to cleaning your carpets, you have a couple questions to consider: do you steam or dry clean? Do you perform the cleaning yourself or have it professionally done?

When done well, steam cleaning is likely the best process and most often recommended by carpet manufacturers. “Done well” means that the water is hot enough, the technician is appropriately trained (IICRC Certified is best), the cleaning agents are correct for your carpet and the equipment—particularly the vacuum—is in good working order. A fully functioning truck-mounted vacuum should recapture around 95% of the moisture introduced into your carpet. This will dramatically increase soil and waste removal, while reducing drying time.

It is important to recognize that if you desire steam cleaning, most home maintenance tools don’t always measure up. While highly touted by their manufacturers, they typically can’t produce enough heat, power or suction to sufficiently clean your carpets. They may suffice for spot cleaning, but for a true deep extraction cleaning, you’ll be far better served by spending your money on a cleaning professional operating from a truck-mounted unit that produces real steam. In order for steam to get to your carpet, the water needs to be heated to around 250 degrees, to account for the drop in temp from the unit to your carpet!

It is critical that the carpets don’t get too wet, and that all the cleaning agents are completely removed. Overwetting can cause backing separation or leave ripples in your carpet. Not removing all the cleaner may leave residues that can cause rapid resoiling.

Glazed ceramic tile is known for its durability and the variety of colors and designs. Ceramic tiles are purchased in dye lots that have the same texture and color. Because an exact replacement match of ceramic tile can be impossible, we urge you to take special care to avoid breaking or damaging the ceramic tile. Ceramic tile is brittle and can be broken by a sharp blow from a heavy object. Take our advice and save all unused tile that you were given for future repairs. You’ll thank us later!

Tile Cleaning: Warm soapy water, a detergent or a commercial tile cleaner can be used to keep your tile bright and shiny. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended tile cleaning products.

Grout Cleaning: Because the grout between the tiles is porous, you may want to consider sealing the grout once a year or so. This will prevent stubborn stains from penetrating the grout and becoming unsightly. Wipe spills away promptly to avoid staining the grout. Routine scrubbing of the grout with warm soapy water will keep it clean and fresh. Cleaners that are to strong can stain the grout. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended tile cleaning and sealing products. Sealers and cleaners can be found at your local hardware store.

Grout Sealing: Water can penetrate grout seams and joints, and will damage materials adjacent to and underneath the tile. This occurs when excessive amounts of water are used during floor washing, or in the bathroom from splashes and spills from the showers, tubs, and sinks. The grout installer applies a silicone based grout sealer prior to close of escrow to reduce staining, mildew, and water penetration. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended tile cleaning products. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended tile sealing products. Grout sealers are available at hardware stores and should be used following manufacturers guidelines.

Seams and Joints: The seams and joints are not waterproof, and require proper maintenance to prevent water seepage and damage of materials adjacent to and underneath the tile. Inspect these areas frequently and apply a silicone caulk to the joint as needed.

Note: Fulton Homes cannot ensure that ceramic tile repairs requiring new material will match the color of the existing tile material or colored grouting. Color variations are normal.