Archive for April, 2008

Arbor Day - April 25th

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

 Arbor Day was established by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1872. He and his wife moved from Detroit, Michigan to the Nebraska Territory in 1854, where he was the editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper. His influence as a journalist led to his involvement in politics, and he became a promoter of the settlement of Nebraska. The lack of trees, however, was an obstacle.

  The Great Plains had been described as the “Great American Desert.” The tallgrass prairie that covered much of Nebraska at that time could provide rich farmland, but without wood for building houses or for fuel to heat homes, few found it convenient to settle there. Even the allotment of free land by the Homestead Act failed to entice sufficient numbers of families to relocate to Nebraska.

  Morton first proposed Arbor Day as a tree-planting holiday in 1872 at a meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. On the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1874, prizes were offered to counties and to individuals for properly planting the largest number of trees. It was claimed that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on that day.

Preserving the Life and Beauty of Your Carpet

Friday, April 18th, 2008

With their rich colors, textures and intricate weaves, carpet and rugs can give any room a homelike feel. But the beauty and life of your carpet depends on the care it receives.

Just how long should a well-cared-for carpet last? It’s hard to say. Believe it or not, you can find some 100-plus-year-old Oriental rugs still in use. But generally speaking, ten years is given as a guideline for quality carpets that are well-maintained (12.4 years according to DuPont studies.) Use manufacturers’ warranties as a guide to how long you can anitipcate a particular carpet to last. And look at those warranties carefully-large carpet manufacturers are tying their new carpet warranties to proper cleaning and maintenance with industry approved products.

5 Easy Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Carpet

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
  1. CHECK THE WARRANTY. Copies of specific warranties on your carpet purchase may be available from your carpet retailer. Stain resist warranties can vary from 5 to 20 years. ALL STAIN RESIST WARRANTIES REQUIRE REGULAR CLEANING AND IMMEDIATE SPOT REMOVAL.
  2. VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM! It is said that the three most important rules for maintaining carpet are vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Vacuum your carpet often.  Once or twice a week at least. Vacuuming removes the sharp soil that can cut and slice the fiber causing premature wear. Much of this soil is not visible to the eye. Remove any loose particles such as loose food, leaves, pieces of dried mud, bugs, etc. as these can cause a spot on the carpet. If you are in need advice about your vacuum or in the market for a new unit contact Clean Home Vacuums, Inc. at 2000 W. Broad St, Athens.
  3. REMOVE SPOTS IMMEDIATELY. Spots that are not immediately removed can turn into permanent stains very easily. Always use a spot cleaner that is recommended by the carpet manufacturer or trained, certified professional cleaner! Many “over the counter” spotters leave too much soap residue that leaves a sticky residue behind that will make your spots return!
  4. HAVE YOUR CARPET PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED. Professional cleaning by a professional, certified firm should be done at least every 12 months according to DuPont and major carpet manufacturers. Heavy traffic areas may need it more often. Manufacturers warranties require professional cleaning at least every 18 - 24 months to retain texture retention warranties. Rule of thumb: Clean your carpet before it looks visibly soiled.
  5. HAVE CARPET PROTECTOR RE-APPLIED. the sil resistor that is built into stain resistant nylon carpet is removed with regular foot traffic and harsh cleaners. to keep your carpet cleaner longer, have a protector reapplied each time you have your carpet professionally cleaned.