While sand is a known abrasive (ie, sandblasting & sand paper) it's a pretty interesting subject by itself. What is sand and what does it consist of? There's "rough" and "smooth" sand, even "singing or "booming" sand. Check out these cool sand sites and learn a little more about that pesky stuff we track into the house and go crazy trying to get rid of.
Here in the Seattle area, most of our yards are either based on clay (compressed fine silt) or sand from being on the bottom of Puget Sound. Mine's the sand variety with about three or four inches of pine needles so when it's wet out we get a double decker treat. Today I received the lovely indoor and outdoor mats I ordered from Consolidated Plastics. I liked the oriental look ones, but wasn't prepared to pony up the price and got the basic ones. Even for wall to wall carpet most wear happens in the first ten feet of an exterior entrance and proper walk off mats are important to protect your home's interior. Mats can be brought in to the shop, pressure cleaned and be ready to go home in about a three day turn around time. Cleaning is inexpensive compared to having to fix damage later. If you decide on mats get two sets so you can have one on the floor and one in reserve. We can do your car and truck mats as well!
On a wet, dark, dreary evening check out Tea and Carpets for a real treat. More than just rugs, it's like a visit to a literary salon. Always interesting and a fun read.
Thea
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Weather and rug cleaning in Seattle
There's an old joke that it only rains twice a year here in Seattle: Once for for 182 days and once for 183. Happily this is untrue and we do get lots of lovely sun, but when the grey days set in they seem to last forever.
No surprise that business is fueled by both. When the sun's out clients notice how everything needs to be cleaned, when it rains even the cats and dogs don't want to go outside and accidents happen. You can even check out flea activity on the weather channel. All that wet stuff gets tracked inside as well. Did you know that one grain of sand can have up to 24 cutting edges and when that stuff gets into your rugs and carpets it's like a bazillion little hacksaws making your floor coverings prematurely old? Tan wall to wall carpet can hide up to one pound of sand per square foot and a Chihuahua can urinate five gallons of urine a year. Of course if you don't want that urine in your carpet, you can use it decrease your risk of heart disease......that you get from lack of exercise in Seattle when it's raining. Just checking to see if anyone out there has a sense of humor.
It's a wonder to me how some rugs last hundreds of years and some look like ICK in two or three.
We have high wind warnings through tomorrow with four to eight inches of rain expected in the "higher elevations" with possible flood warnings. I expect that rug and carpet cleaning will keep us busy in Seattle.
No surprise that business is fueled by both. When the sun's out clients notice how everything needs to be cleaned, when it rains even the cats and dogs don't want to go outside and accidents happen. You can even check out flea activity on the weather channel. All that wet stuff gets tracked inside as well. Did you know that one grain of sand can have up to 24 cutting edges and when that stuff gets into your rugs and carpets it's like a bazillion little hacksaws making your floor coverings prematurely old? Tan wall to wall carpet can hide up to one pound of sand per square foot and a Chihuahua can urinate five gallons of urine a year. Of course if you don't want that urine in your carpet, you can use it decrease your risk of heart disease......that you get from lack of exercise in Seattle when it's raining. Just checking to see if anyone out there has a sense of humor.
It's a wonder to me how some rugs last hundreds of years and some look like ICK in two or three.
We have high wind warnings through tomorrow with four to eight inches of rain expected in the "higher elevations" with possible flood warnings. I expect that rug and carpet cleaning will keep us busy in Seattle.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Textile Museum in Canada
Did all of you Northern cousins realize that you have your VERY OWN Textile Museum? I sure didn't and it gives mea whole new reason to want to go to Toronto!
How much advertising can you believe?
First of all, I'm going to be off work for the next couple of days. I stopped to get my annual flu shot yesterday and, since I hadn't had a pnuemonia shot in the last 8 to 10 years, got my booster there too. Apparently, the formula of the carrier for the dead virus in the shot has been changed since my last shot and I very rapidly developed a raging allergic reaction that precipitated a late night run to the emergency room with a right bicep that looked like a body builder, itchy, hard as a rock and bright red. Oh yes, and I couldn't turn my head. Today I'm home keeping company with Percoset, Benadryl and steriods.
Just some personal observations: I was noticing in the phone book the other day how many rug and carpet cleaners advertise themselves as "the best", "superior" or "expert". They all have "state of the art " equipment, etc. How does the consumer know how to choose? While there are many dedicated, well educated cleaners out there (yes there are classes in all kinds of cleaning and national certifications available) who take great pride in their profession, the truth is that absolutely anyone can go buy a machine and - with no training - put advertising in the yellow pages and start cleaning! Are you sure this is who you want in your home?
Ask anyone that you are considering to clean your valued furnishings about their system, how long they have been cleaning, whether or not they belong to a national certification agency and have taken any educational classes and/ or how much training their company provides.
Ask for referrals. Do they have any warranties or guarantees? Bonded and insured?
Don't take certification for granted. Do your homework, go with someone you feel comfortable with. Ask for a written estimate if you are unsure, don't let anyone pressure sell you.
Price isn't everything. Many offers that have low price up front may have hidden charges. Remember that ultimately, you get what you pay for and the cost to repair work that was done incorrectly may outweigh the cheap price.
Don't wait till the last minute to book a cleaning. Everyone else does that too and peak cleaning times - like the upcoming holidays - are often hard times to get appointments.
Emmanuel's isn't the fast food of rug and carpet cleaning and I like it that way. Life's too short for bad food, cheap beer or just simply not having a job done well.
Happy Veterans Day tomorrow!
Thea
Just some personal observations: I was noticing in the phone book the other day how many rug and carpet cleaners advertise themselves as "the best", "superior" or "expert". They all have "state of the art " equipment, etc. How does the consumer know how to choose? While there are many dedicated, well educated cleaners out there (yes there are classes in all kinds of cleaning and national certifications available) who take great pride in their profession, the truth is that absolutely anyone can go buy a machine and - with no training - put advertising in the yellow pages and start cleaning! Are you sure this is who you want in your home?
Ask anyone that you are considering to clean your valued furnishings about their system, how long they have been cleaning, whether or not they belong to a national certification agency and have taken any educational classes and/ or how much training their company provides.
Ask for referrals. Do they have any warranties or guarantees? Bonded and insured?
Don't take certification for granted. Do your homework, go with someone you feel comfortable with. Ask for a written estimate if you are unsure, don't let anyone pressure sell you.
Price isn't everything. Many offers that have low price up front may have hidden charges. Remember that ultimately, you get what you pay for and the cost to repair work that was done incorrectly may outweigh the cheap price.
Don't wait till the last minute to book a cleaning. Everyone else does that too and peak cleaning times - like the upcoming holidays - are often hard times to get appointments.
Emmanuel's isn't the fast food of rug and carpet cleaning and I like it that way. Life's too short for bad food, cheap beer or just simply not having a job done well.
Happy Veterans Day tomorrow!
Thea
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Possible "Rug Morning" on the horizon and other ramblings
I found my good friend Dusty Roberts post to my blog and thought I'd post the link to the web album of the trip to Kish to share. It was so awesome and really the trip of a lifetime. My deepest and most sincere thanks to Dr. Khosrow Sobhe for facilitating this for me.
Dr Sobhe, in addition to his many other talents, has a rug showroom and cleaning facility in Los Angeles, CA. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Sobhe in person and hearing him speak this July
at The Oriental Rug Retailers Association meeting in Atlanta GA. His personal blog pages are a great inspiration to me.
Possible "Rug Morning": On the East Coast is the wonderful Textile Museum in Washington DC.
One of their most fun activities is the "Rug Morning" where anyone can bring an interesting textile or rug pertaining to the theme of the day and the TM staff will tell them about what they have. Doesn't that sound fun? Barry O'Connell has been in Seattle for work and has kindly offered to help me put on a few "Rug Mornings" starting December 6th! I will post more details as they come up.
Yesterday at Emmanuel's we were fairly busy with rugs coming in. I hope that this is a positive economic indicator and not just the result of all our rain.
Dr Sobhe, in addition to his many other talents, has a rug showroom and cleaning facility in Los Angeles, CA. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Sobhe in person and hearing him speak this July
at The Oriental Rug Retailers Association meeting in Atlanta GA. His personal blog pages are a great inspiration to me.
Possible "Rug Morning": On the East Coast is the wonderful Textile Museum in Washington DC.
One of their most fun activities is the "Rug Morning" where anyone can bring an interesting textile or rug pertaining to the theme of the day and the TM staff will tell them about what they have. Doesn't that sound fun? Barry O'Connell has been in Seattle for work and has kindly offered to help me put on a few "Rug Mornings" starting December 6th! I will post more details as they come up.
Yesterday at Emmanuel's we were fairly busy with rugs coming in. I hope that this is a positive economic indicator and not just the result of all our rain.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Rug cleaning can get you into hot water.
This morning our ten year old, 120 gallon hot water tank rusted out and a river of boiling water went through the edge of our downstairs showroom. Thankfully no rugs or people were injured during this stunt, don't try this one at home.
We hand wash rugs with cold water and use hot on the fringes after the rugs are dry to make them really white without having to use bleaches which will eventually corrode the material.
Speaking of being in hot water: Part of the fun thing with Oriental Rugs is what goes into making them. Michelle Whipplinger and her delightful, well educated staff run Earthues - a studio dedicated to natural dying, textiles and education. If you've ever wondered if the hot pink or orange in your rug could EVEN be natural, this is the place to find out. Check out their schedule!
Thea
We hand wash rugs with cold water and use hot on the fringes after the rugs are dry to make them really white without having to use bleaches which will eventually corrode the material.
Speaking of being in hot water: Part of the fun thing with Oriental Rugs is what goes into making them. Michelle Whipplinger and her delightful, well educated staff run Earthues - a studio dedicated to natural dying, textiles and education. If you've ever wondered if the hot pink or orange in your rug could EVEN be natural, this is the place to find out. Check out their schedule!
Thea
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