Can carpets improve your health?

David Neishabori, the owner of AZADI Fine Rugs, says that carpets and rugs can elevate your health and spirits.

There is some evidence that the colours in a room affect your mood. Colour therapists claim that blue is a relaxing colour, green is the colour of nature that helps relieve stress, and yellow makes you feel happier and more optimistic. A key colour element in the room is the carpet. It’s important to choose a carpet that suits your personality.

Whether you prefer a more traditional style or a contemporary look, start with the carpet when changing the room décor.

David Neishabori says:

"Studies have shown that walking on hard surfaces can be hard on your feet and your back."

A soft deep pile carpet takes the pressure off the back.

Carpets can absorb dust and allergens that affect the quality of the air in a room. To keep a carpet clean, vacuum regularly, wipe up spills promptly and hire a professional carpet cleaner at least once a year to deep clean the carpet.

Carpets have insulating properties, helping keep the room warm and saving on energy bills. They absorb noise, making the room quieter and feel more relaxed.

Good quality wool carpets are friendly to the environment, as well as your health. They are made from a natural material that can be recycled.

Most people choose carpets for their Wrexham home for how they look and feel, but it's good to know that carpets could be good for your health.

The three ingredients needed to freshen up deep pile carpets

A cleaning expert has demonstrated how she uses three simple ingredients to freshen up a deep pile carpet without scrubbing.

People love deep pile carpets in their Chester and North Wales homes because they add a luxurious, warm and cosy feel to a room. The downside of deep pile carpets is that debris and bacteria can become trapped in the fibres and cause unpleasant odours.

A cleaning expert has come up with a simple solution to freshen up carpets. A user who goes under the name of @washy-wash-cleantok uploaded a video to Instagram of this cleaning method. One cup of baking soda is mixed with four drops of lavender essential oil and two teaspoons of dried herbs. The mixture is sprinkled on the deep pile carpet and left for ten to fifteen minutes before removing it with a vacuum cleaner. The carpet is left clean with a fresh pleasant long-lasting fragrance. This method requires no scrubbing.

This solution is also suitable for rugs and shorter pile carpets.

A quality deep pile rug is durable and is expected to last for many years, provided it is well-maintained. Ideally, vacuum at least once a day. Any spills or stains should be promptly removed. The regular use of Carpet freshening powders such as Shake N’ Vac or homemade mixtures is recommended. To make sure that all bacteria and debris trapped in the carpet are removed, once a year or more frequently, hire a professional carpet cleaner to thoroughly deep clean the carpet.

Floor marking robots reduce single use carpets

The ExCel event and conference venue in London is the first in the UK to own a floor marking robot as part of its commitment to making events more sustainable.

Local suppliers of commercial flooring in Chester and North Wales use carpets to divide large event spaces into distinct areas. After the event, these carpets may be thrown away. It’s estimated that the United Kingdom event industry wastes six million tonnes of carpet every year.

ExCel is a carbon neutral venue that is committed to environmentally friendly practices. ExCel has invested in a robot, made by the company August Robotics, known as Lionel which can be programmed to automatically mark out floor areas. This does not need the services of a specialist floor marking service.

ExCel’s sustainability manager Natalie Sykes said:

“We are always looking for innovative new ways to help reduce our emissions and waste. As such, we’re delighted to be working with August Robotics to automate future floor marking operations.”

She said that she was delighted that ExCel is the first UK event venue to use the floor marking robot.

Marking floor areas using robots instead of carpets does not mean carpets are not needed in events and exhibitions. Trade stands can still be carpeted. Carpets are a relaxing floor covering in lounge areas. A quality carpet is durable and, after an event is over, the carpets should be suitable for her use, even if many people have walked on it during an event.

What to do with your old carpets

When it's time to replace a carpet in your Chester or North Wales home, what do you do with the old carpet? Many discarded carets end up in landfills, which is not particularly good for the environment. There are carpet recycling services that extract the material in carpets to make other products. News18.com, a news website, has come up with some innovative ways to use old carpets.

Make coasters and mats

Cut the carpet into a small oval or rectangular shape and glue cork or jute under them to make heatproof table coasters and mats.

Doormats

If parts of the carpet are not worn too much, cut them into square or circular shapes to make door mats. If using them on smooth, hard surface floors, add an anti-slip base.

Plant pot bases

Circular shaped pieces of carpet placed under plant pots help prevent soil and water from spilling on the floor.

Pet comforters

Deep pile carpet pieces make comfortable places for dogs and cats to relax and sleep. They help keep pets warm, especially when placed on smooth surface floors.

By the bed

Old carnet pieces make good beside runners. Use rectangular pieces and stitch or paste a contrasting colour material on the corners to improve the looks. Carpet bedside runners are comfortable and warm for bare feet to step onto on chilly days.

Expect a quality carpet to last for a long time, meaning you won't have to worry about discarding it for many years.

How to clean and care for your LVT flooring

Luxury vinyl tile (LTV) flooring is a kind of material that is chosen by people who want their floors to look attractive while also being cost-effective and easy to clean and maintain. It can be made to accurately replicate the look of everything from wood to ceramic or stone-tiled floors at a fraction of the cost of any of those.

It is also comparatively simple to keep in a good standard. However, good cleaning and maintenance will still be needed if you want to retain the appeal of your LVT floors.

So how should you go about that?

Dealing with loose debris

All floors inevitably end up with loose bits of dirt and debris during the day. That can be from food spillages or just things picked up by boots and shoes and brought into the home. There are two methods for removing this sort of surface debris from LVT floors either of which will work very well.

The first is to use a vacuum cleaner suitable for hard flooring material like LVT. If you are not sure whether that applies to your vacuum cleaner, or you do not have one, using a dustpan and brush will be just as effective.

After these pieces of debris have been cleared away, it will be best to wash the floor. A cloth or a mop will be fine for that, but make sure that they have been wrung out thoroughly before starting, because they should be damp rather than sopping wet. An electric mop will be the best option of all, because it enables you to manage the water level better and will buff your floor afterwards to help prevent unsightly streaks.

Sweeping and washing an LVT floor is something that you should do either one or two times per week. The frequency will depend on how often the room is used.

You can deploy specialist cleaning fluids on an LVT floor but be certain that they are suitable for it before you apply them. Never add wax to this type of flooring though, because it will make the surface slippery and dangerous as well as dulling the look of the tiling.

Getting rid of stains

LTV floors are often fitted in rooms such as kitchens where stains from food and drink spillages are very likely to occur. That need not be a problem, but it is important to know the correct cleaning method for dealing with stains.

Soaking a cloth in hot water and a LVT-friendly detergent cleaner, wringing it out until it is damp and applying it to the stains will be the best first option for getting rid of them. If the stain in question is from something greasy it may be more stubborn and resistant to cleaning though, in which case a brush with soft bristles should be the next step. Move the brush in circular motions and with a gentle touch until the stain is gone.

Afterwards the floor should be given a wipe with fresh water and a damp cloth, before being buffed for quicker drying and no streaks.

Caring for LVT floors to maintain their appearance

You now know what the basic cleaning methods are for LVT floors, but beyond that there are some other steps that you can take to care for them. These will help to ensure that the tiles last longer and maintain their optimum appearance.

1. Use mats

Having mats at every entry point to your house or commercial premises is a very good idea. These will trap things like moisture and particles of dirt and debris to prevent them getting onto the floors in the first place.

That will save you cleaning time and will also ensure the floors stay looking good for longer.

2. Minimise sunlight

If the LVT is being fitted on a floor that will be exposed to a lot of harsh sunlight, it can be a smart move to try to minimise that. This is because sunlight can cause the tiling to become faded or discoloured.

Keeping any blinds or curtains closed during peak periods of sunshine will do that. Of course, if it is commercial flooring that will probably not be a viable option. However, it is possible to get LVT flooring that comes with UV protection that will prevent harsh sunlight from damaging it.

If the flooring is to be fitted in a commercial setting or a room in a house such as a conservatory, having that UV protection will be essential.

This should give you an overview of the basics of cleaning and caring for an LVT floor. Carry out light cleaning on a regular basis while making sure to avoid getting too much water on the floor when washing it for the best results, and protect it from harsh sunlight if it does not have UV protection.