Tile flooring is important to keep clean for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is “location, location, location.” Tile is most commonly installed in kitchens, where cleanliness is an absolute must, and in bathrooms, where germs tend to lurk and multiply the fastest if you don’t stop them in their tracks. The first thing to remember about floor cleaning is that it should be the last thing you do when cleaning a room. Whether you’re wiping down the kitchen counters or scrubbing the toilet, cleaning tends to lead to messes on the floor, and it will make your life easier if you remember to do the floor last. If your mother ever told you to clean your room “from top to bottom,” then you know that this wisdom has been around for a long time, and for good reason.

When you are ready to start cleaning your tile flooring, it’s important to realize that you really need to clean it twice. First do a “dry” cleaning, to pick up dirt, dust, and hair, and any other miscellaneous items that might be lying about. You can always use a broom and dustpan, but a better approach is to vacuum with a hose attachment (or any vacuum without a beater bar). Follow that with a Swiffer-type dust catcher and you’ll be well on your way to a clean floor.

Now you’re ready for a “wet” clean. Again, you have some old school and new school options here. If you want to go old school you can always use a rag or a mop. Mops with removable heads are easy to clean, and they tend to do a good job. If your tile can stand up to a cleaning with a citric acid solution (1-cup citric acid to 1.5 gallons of water), go for it. Citric acid makes a good and affordable floor cleaner, but not all tile flooring can handle it, so be sure to check with your manufacturer. If you’re in doubt, you can use a cleaning product such as Dupont’s Stonetech. If you decide you’d rather skip the mopping altogether in favor of a more contemporary solution, you can choose from products such as Swiffer’s Wet Jet, or one of the various steam-based cleaning tools out there. A professional steam cleaning every few years (or whenever your tile flooring starts to look really dingy) can also do wonders. You may have to reseal your tile after a professional streaming, but having a truly clean floor is worth a bit of effort.

Sound is transmitted by the vibration of air molecules. So, if you are surrounded by hard surfaces, any sound is reflected back into the room. Carpets, on the other hand, are extremely effective sound absorbers because the individual fibers, piles tufts and underlay have different resonant frequencies at which they absorb sound. In this respect, wool carpets are extremely effective, as the millions of wool fibers in an area of carpet have a range of lengths, diameters, crimps and spirality, which enables them to absorb sounds over a wider range of frequencies.

Typically, carpets can reduce airborne noise by 35%; however, tests of wool carpets of varying constructions produced an average noise reduction of 46%. With underlay, reductions of 50% to 70% were achieved. It is important to note that sound absorption will be lower if the carpet backing is too impermeable. The ultimate combination for noise absorption is a wool carpet with a wool underlay. Also, cut-pile carpet will absorb more than loop, because of the more open nature of its surface.

In addition to verbal noise we also generate surface noise. Surface noise in a room is the sound from footsteps, dropped objects and furniture movement. Bare tile floors produce 7-12 times more surface noise than carpets, which cushion the impact of the noise, absorbing and deadening the sound. This type of noise control is particularly important in busy restaurants and other locations where people need to be able to communicate amidst a lot of activity.

Overall, by reducing the noise levels and reverberation times, wool carpet improves a room’s acoustics, whether it is in a public facility or your home. Background noises disappear; speech comprehensibility increases and occupants automatically speak in a softer, more relaxed voice, rather than generating even more noise by trying to makes themselves heard above the sound around them.

Stop into Home Carpet One and take a look at the selection of fine wools we have to offer in our Chicago wool carpeting showroom.

See how Stainmaster carpet performs in three real key situations:  in a real home, in a lab/testing situation and animation to show what’s happening at the fiber level of the carpet.

 The function of the carpet will vary depending on what areas of the home you are covering, for instance high traffic areas such as hallways and stairs require a tighter lower pile so as to resist the crushing and matting, pattern or multicolored carpets will help in hiding the every day soiling that is unavoidable.

 The type of yarn is most important as the properties of the different synthetics will greatly affect the performance; nylon, in particular, the Stainmaster fiber; offers the durability and cleanabilty that will insure a long and happy relationship with your purchase.  Other synthetics such as olefin aka polypropylene (poor cleanability) and polyester (less durable) will not perform nearly as well as its nylon counterpart.

 Stainmaster carpets offer a wide selection of styles, many of which are represented in our Stainmaster Flooring Center. The Stainmaster Ultra and Active Life items have enhanced stain warrantees for those with active households and are often the best choice for lower level family rooms and children’s bedrooms.  A more expensive option would be a wool product. 

 Wool; the finest of carpet fibers offer superior durability and will maintain an appearance of being brand new after many years of use and cleaning. Wool being a natural fiber is the most environmentally friendly choice and is offered in a wide variety of patterns and styles to satisfy every décor. Although wool carpets are not stain resistant nor do they carry the warrantee’s of the synthetics; the comfort and beauty that are afforded are well worth strong consideration especially in highly visible areas of the home such as the main stairway.  Area rugs fabricated from wool products are also a more affordable yet stylish and durable option for any Chicago living space. 

In closing, myself and my associates welcome the opportunity to help each and every client with their particular needs and desires in order to enhance the function and beauty of your home.

 -Bruce Knee, Sales Associate

Wool carpets provide the ultimate luxury for your Chicago pets, while keeping them safe and healthy.  The natural benefits or wool are especially noteworthy for older pets and those with compromised immune systems.  Wool is a non-allergenic fiber that does not promote the growth of bacteria, dust mites or give off harmful emissions, making it a safe and healthy choice for your carpet in Chicago.  Since wool actually absorbs indoor air contaminants, the air a pet breathes is cleaner and safer than it would be without wool. 

Aside from promoting good health, wool carpet feels good.  The luxurious softness and warmth makes it incredibly comfortable.  That’s because all the qualities that make wool coats, sweaters, hats and scarves so wonderful to wear are built right into the carpet.  The natural bulk and resilience of wool provides an exceptional layer of under-paw comfort and provides the perfect place for your Chicago pet to curl up and enjoy.

 For customers with pets that shed, a wool carpet that matches the pet’s hair can help keep the floor looking clean.  Although it may sound silly, this beauty secret can lessen the need for extra vacuuming of your Chicago carpet. 

 The bottom line is that wool carpet is an excellent solution for any Chicago pet owner.  Like any carpet, the best way to care for wool carpeting in Chicago is through proper vacuuming and getting to problem areas quickly.  You will find a wide assortment of in-stock and special order wool carpets at Home Carpet One in Lakeview.

-Joel Schreier, owner

More often that not, to stand out manufacturers need to use top of the line materials and come up with new and innovative technology that has never been seen before.  Jasba, a German tile manufacturer, has done just that with its introduction of the Hydrotect technology. 

Hydrotect is an anti-microbial technology built into the surface of many of the Jasba tile lines.  This technology is beneficial in many ways to the tile consumer.  The first benefit of this new innovation is the elimination of lime scale, fat, and dirt on tile surfaces. Hydrotect, is activated by light and then becomes hydrophilic (water-attracting). Instead of forming drops, the water is distributed as a wafer-thin film evenly over the tile surface making it a breeze to wipe off without the build up or image of water spots, dirt, and soap residue. 

By eliminating lime scale, dirt, and fat, you also get rid of the existence of germs and unpleasant odors.  The use of interior light as the activation source for Hydrotect keeps the process natural.  Oxygen is produced and in turn destroys bacteria and the formation of new germs.  This also helps hinder the growth of mold and alleviates the presence of unpleasant odors that may arise from improperly cleaned tile surfaces. 

Hydrotect is totally non-toxic and free of irritants. The coating is permanently burnt into the tile’s surface and has a practically unlimited lifespan.  All of the Jasba tiles with the Hydrotect coating are clearly marked with the Hydrotect symbol making it easy to determine which products fall under the category. 

If it’s a beautiful tile with ease of maintenance you are after, stop in or give us a call at Home Carpet One.  We would be more than happy to show you what the Jasba line has to offer. 

 -Blake Rose, Merchandiser

Living in an older home with tile in need of repair can prove to be quite challenging.  One of the most common problems with an existing tile installation is cracked or missing grout.  There are a variety of reasons that can cause this including an inferior sub-floor, improper grout installation, and inadequate grout spacing.  The first step is to determine what caused the grout failure. 

A popular underlayment for tile installations is Durock. It is distributed by USG Corporation and is a water durable, mold resistant panel used in both interior and exterior applications.  It comes in three different cement boards   (1/4”, 1/2”, and 5/8”).  One misconception installers often have is to simply install the Durock without applying a thin-set bed first.  This crucial step is extremely important when installing floor tile and omitting it will inevitably contribute to the overall poor performance of your installation.  Also, one should note that when installing tile on a floor, the overall thickness of the sub floor should be an inch and a quarter.  This helps increase the stability of the floor and decreases any flex that ultimately can cause the grout to fail.

Another culprit regarding poor grout performance is using the wrong type of grout for the application or simply utilizing the wrong consistency.  In most cases, one would use sanded grout on floor applications or any grout joint over an eighth of an inch.  However, when installing stone or other delicate surfaces that are subject to scratching, unsanded grout is used.  In both cases, the proper consistency is crucial to the longevity of the grout performance. Also, there are additives available to help minimize grout shrinkage and aid in keeping the grout looking new. One of these additives is a product called Grout Boost.  This stain resistant grout additive offers superior stain protection and actually seals the grout.  Being that it is used in place of water while mixing the grout, there is no need to come back and seal. 

Finally, it is important to ensure the proper the grout joint is used.  Bigger grout joints can crack easier, thus utilizing smaller joints typically offer better performance.  There are understood guidelines regarding joint width, yet the installer should always refer to the instructions on the grout label.  Sanded grout does not crack or shrink as easily as unsanded, and therefore is the preferred grout choice when either grout can be used.    

-Tony Reyes, Hard Surface Manager