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The basic principles of installing carpet on stairs are not very different from those of installing carpet on your floor. The only difference is that you’re going to deal with treads and risers when working with stair. And while it can be quite to lay carpet on your floor, installing one on your stairs can be quite tricky. However, if you are familiar with the techniques on how to do get the job done, you can practically do it yourself and not hire a professional. First off, there are two ways to lay carpet on stairs: the waterfall method and the cap & band method. In the waterfall method, the stairs is covered by a single piece of carpet. In the cap & band method, the tread of the stairs is covered by the cap while the risers are covered with the band.

This article is going to show you the step by step process of installing carpet on the stairs using the waterfall method:

Step 1. Prepare the materials you are going to need: standard sized carpet, carpet pad, tack strips, carpet staplers, hammer, knee kicker, and carpet knife. You’re also going to need safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris while working.

Step 2. Next, figure out how much carpet you’re going to need by measuring the dimension of the stairs. Measure the width by getting the length of the tread. Make sure you leave an allowance if both ends of the treads are open. To get the total length of the carpet, simply take the measurement of the rise and the tread.

Step 3. If you are going to replace and old carpet with a new one, carefully remove the existing carpet along with the carpet pad and tack strips. Sweep the stairs clean and use a vacuum cleaner if necessary to make sure there are no debris. Once you’ve smoothen the entire surface, install the tack strips first on the sides of the treads using a hammer. Do this on all stair treads.

Step 4. After installing the tack strips, lay the carpet pad next. Use the stapler to set the pad in place in each tread and riser and underneath the tack strips. Make sure the staples are four to six inches apart.

Step 5. Starting from the bottom of the stairs, begin installing the carpet. Hold the edge of the carpet and stretch it until it is hooked into the tack strip. Set the carpet in place using a knee kicker and trim the excess using a carpet knife. Repeat this step on every tread but make sure the carpet is smoothly placed before proceeding.

Step 6. Once you are done covering the entire stairs, staple the edge of the carpet on the riser of the last step. Again, the staples should be four to six inches apart.

Step 7. Check your work and make sure the carpet is laid smoothly and evenly on each tread. If this is not the case, you should take the carpet off and repeat the process. If everything is done according to plan, you can start enjoying your new, carpeted staircase.

Carpets being damaged by water as a result of leakage or flooding are not an uncommon thing. Although you can actually prevent it from happening, you still have to be very prepared in case you experience it in your own home. Water damaged carpets are not easy to clean and repair, but if you have the proper knowledge and understanding of how to do it, you will have a higher chance of saving your carpet and restoring it to its original state. Here are four simple steps on how you could salvage your carpet in the case of water damage.

Step 1. Determine the source of the water and assess the degree of damage done to the carpet. If the carpet has been soaked in clean water from your tap, it can possibly be saved and restored, although it would still depend on how long it remained in the water before you found it. However, if the carpet has been exposed to black water flooding or toilet water, it has very little or no chance at all of being cleaned and restored. If this is the case, you might as well dispose the carpet and replace it with a new one immediately.

Step 2. Whether the carpet has been damaged by unsanitary water or not, you will still have to disinfect it first. Before cleaning the contaminated area, dehumidify the room first to prevent the growth of bacteria. To disinfect, add 2 tablespoons of liquid bleach to 1 gallon of water and use it to scrub off dirt from affected area. If possible, remove tack strips, take carpet off the floor, and treat it outside to avoid getting the wall and other furniture wet. Using a pressurized hose, wash the carpet thoroughly and scrub it with a commercial grade carpet shampoo.

Step 3. Dry the carpet using a large fan or a vacuum. If the carpet is large, it would take 24-36 hours for it to dry completely. To avoid soiling the carpet, advise everyone in the house to keep off for a while. Or, you can place a barrier around the carpet to prevent people from stepping on it while it is still wet. If the carpet is not too large, you can hang it in a dehumidified room to dry. Observe the carpet while drying, and if you don’t see a significant improvement in the damaged part after 12 hours, you might as well consider replacing it with a new one.

Step 4. Contact your insurance company and inquire what specific help they can offer you with regards to your dilemma. There’s a possibility that would be willing to offer you a replacement help for the carpet so don’t be hasty in deciding on buying a brand new carpet. In the same manner, if the damage done to your carpet is beyond your ability to repair, you might as well hire a professional to get the job done for you.

You can have your carpet installed by the carpet company if you can afford to do so, but if you want to be practical, you can do the installation on your own. Installing a carpet is not an easy task though, especially if you’re working on a large area. The good thing is that it’s still possible to do it even if you don’t have someone to assist you. As long as you have the skills and special tools needed, there’s no way you can’t get the job done in no time. Here’s a step by step guide to help you install a new carpet on your own:

Step 1. Prepare the materials you need. For installing a new carpet, you will need a knee kicker tool, a carpet stretcher, a hammer, a utility knife, a tackless strip, measuring tape, safety gloves, and some knee pads to protect your knees while working.

Step 2. Using a hammer, install the tackless strips ½ inch away from the wall or perimeter of the room you’re working in except the doorway. Make sure the strips are positioned tightly against each other and that the pins are facing towards the wall.

Step 3. When you’re done installing the tackless strips, it’s time to lay the underpad. Roll the underpad on the floor and make sure the edge doesn’t overlap the tackless strips. If there is any that overlap the strip, remove it by slicing it through with a sharp knife. Staple the underpad onto the wooden floor to secure it. For concrete floors, use adhesive tape or glue.

Step 4. To install the carpet, roll it on the floor and make sure it overlaps the edge of the floor by 4 inches. You can trim the excess later on when you’re done installing. Measure the dimensions of the room and give an allowance of about 6 inches, and use chalk to mark the dimensions on the carpet. In case you have more than one piece of carpet, make sure you leave an allowance on the edge where they would meet, so that there wouldn’t be any gaps between them. Do this on every extra piece of carpet you use.

Step 5. To attach the carpet to the edge of the wall, you will need a knee kicker tool. A knee kicker tool is used to put the carpet in place by stretching it so that it is held firmly by the tackless strip. You will need to place the tool over the carpet, 3 inches from the wall. Hit the padded end of the tool with your knee so that it pushes the edge of the carpet over the tackless strip. The tacks should hold the carpet in place, but you will need a carpet stretcher to finish the job. A carpet stretcher is somewhat similar to the knee kicker tool, only much longer. Use it to grip the carpet and stretch it for a smooth finish.

Grease stains are never a welcome sight on any clothing, but they are even more dreaded when they happen on carpet. After all, you cannot just toss the carpet into the wash, and instead you need to know how to remove grease from the carpet completely without damaging the material. The key to remember is to treat it as soon as it happens, as the sooner you work on it, the easier it will be to remove.

Step 1. Prepare the things you need. The cleaning solution depends highly on the type of material your carpet is made of. If your carpet is made of wool, get some dry cleaning solvent. For synthetic material, mix 1 tablespoon of household ammonia and ¼ teaspoon liquid soap into 1 quart cold water. For oriental rugs, make a solution made of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts cold water. Also prepare paper towels or clean white towels, a spray bottle, another spray bottle containing cold water, a vacuum cleaner, and something heavy, such as a book, or a dish.

Step 2. Apply the selected cleaning solution to a small area of the carpet that is not usually seen, such as those in a far, dark corner, or under the furniture. This is to make sure the solution will not cause damage such as staining or color fading.

Step 3. Use a clean piece of cloth to blot the area where the grease is in order to draw out as much of the grease as you can. Remember not to scrub, but to blot. Blotting lifts the stain; rubbing will cause it to move further into the carpet fibers. Work from the outside part of the stain moving towards the center so that the stain will not spread.

Step 4. Spray the cleaning solution best suited for your carpet material onto the stain.

Step 5. Blot the areas with a clean dry cloth, and continue to do so until the cloth comes out clean with no more stain being lifted out. Be sure to change the cloth regularly so that you do not spread the stain.

Step 6. Spray the area with clean water as a rinsing procedure.

Step 7. Blot the wet area using a clean cloth. Continue to do so until you are sure the cleaning solution has been completely removed. It is important to remove the solution completely, as having some left over will actually collect more dirt more quickly.

Step 8. Place a piece of clean cloth or some paper towels onto the stain and weigh it down with your heavy object, either a book or a heavy dish. Leave this for several hours or preferably overnight, as this process will allow the towels to absorb whatever liquid remains in the carpet.

Step 9. Let the area dry thoroughly, and run a vacuum cleaner over the area to restore the fibers to their original texture.

Deciding on a new carpet may not be as easy as it seems. Generally, a high-quality carpet can cost thousands of dollars, including installation, and the first thing that people desire when they buy one is that it will stay as good as new even after many years of use. You don’t just easily replace a carpet when it’s worn out because as much as possible, you want it to be permanent. Therefore, you would want to think very carefully and consider these things before you decide which type of carpet to purchase.

Carpet Material: Selecting the material and style of the carpet should be your primary consideration. Most people make the mistake of preferring color and design to durability, but this will only lead to poor carpet performance. Furthermore, consider the area where you’re going to install the carpet. If you want it placed in a high-traffic area of the house like the living room or the hallway, buy carpet with durable loops or tighter twists, because these are the types of carpet that can withstand 24 hours of beating.

Room Theme: Not every home has a theme, but if your home has one, you might want to keep that in mind when choosing a carpet. If you’re planning to design a kid’s playroom, it would be a good idea to cover the entire floor with carpet to provide cushioning for your children when they’re playing. If you’re decorating the living room, choose a carpet color that matches the color of the wall and the accessories such as throw pillows and figurines. You should also determine whether your wall color would be permanent or not. If you’re planning to redecorate your home in a few years, choose a carpet with a bold and balanced color palette. Alternatively, you can choose one in a neutral color if you want to have the freedom to redecorate your home frequently.

Carpet Padding: Every carpet needs a high-quality cushion to have a long lasting life. Regardless of the type or quality of the carpet you have, the kind of cushion or padding you place underneath it will determine how long it’s going to last. It also serves as a shock and noise absorber, which increases the performance of your carpet. However, don’t install a cushion that’s too thick because it will make your carpet feel squashy. A pad that is 7/16 inches thick is enough to do the trick.

Cost: The cost of the new carpet you’re buying is not the only thing you need to worry about. If your floor needs to be treated before the carpet can be installed, you will have to spend some for that too. To avoid any kind of hassle, ask your manufacturer what’s included in the package and what’s not. You will definitely be charged for installation but you should also ask if there are any additional charges for delivery. To be sure, set aside a certain amount for other things you might be spending for as soon as the carpet is installed such as additional fixtures and accessories.

A carpet feels nice and luxurious under bare feet, especially on cold nights. But it will not feel as nice on our feet when they are coated with dust, or if they are not taken care of properly. Does it really take such tedious effort to take care of carpet flooring, or is there a way to make the task go easier? Indeed there is, and this is mainly by implementing carpet care tips that you perform regularly, both for prevention as well as for treatment when accidents happen on your carpet.

Tip 1. Be generous with the use of rugs all around the house. You may think that you do not need rugs as the carpet can catch whatever dirt, but you really would not want the carpet to serve as the catch-all as it is much more difficult to clean than rugs are. As such, use rugs on the front door, back door, and just about any entrance in your house. These rugs catch most of the dirt that people bring into the house, assuring you that your carpet does not get the brunt of the dirt.

Tip 2. As much as possible, do not use shoes on your carpeted areas. This includes guests. Don’t be embarrassed about imposing this rule, as guests generally understand your desire to keep your carpet well-maintained. Of course, if they like the general feel of your house, they may even volunteer to take off their shoes. If you have a new carpet, you might even limit children playing in the carpeted areas, or at least prohibit the bringing of food and drinks onto the carpeted areas of the room. Prevention will always be better than cure.

Tip 3. Remove stains as soon as they occur. Accidents can and will happen, and being quick to react will give you a great advantage in terms of keeping your carpet well-maintained. This prevents the settling of whatever liquid is spilt on your carpet, such as juice or wine or other liquids. If the stain is new, most times water is enough to get the stain out, so you would not even need to resort to harsher solvents.

Tip 4. Be sure to use the proper cleaning agents for each particular stain, and to apply them properly. The general rule is to put the solvent onto a piece of cloth or onto paper towels, and work your way in from the outermost parts of the stain in order to keep from spreading it. Then, blot the spot, rinse, blot again, and repeat the process until the stain does not transfer to your cloth anymore. Dry your carpet completely.

Tip 5. Be handy with a vacuum cleaner. This means vacuuming the carpet regularly whether or not there is anything specific you need to attack. In terms of stains, vacuums help to dry the area more quickly than natural drying. For regular maintenance, it helps keep dust and other debris down to a minimum, making your carpet perfect for kids to play in as well as adults to enjoy.

There’s nothing more annoying than lounging around in the living room with your best friend Buster and suddenly have that itchy sensation on your ankles. Fleas are not only irritating to your pet, but if they can get onto your carpet and wind up biting you, they need to die! Unfortunately, fleas are not always easy to get rid of, as the infestation can come back once the eggs are not removed completely.

Step 1. Make sure you not only treat your carpet for fleas, but also your pet dog or cat. After all, when you get rid of the fleas in your carpet but your pet still has them, they can just as easily jump back into the carpet. Some pet owners claim that they got rid of fleas from their pets by using dishwashing detergent in their baths. If possible, you can consider the idea of putting your pets on a flea control treatment for the long-term to prevent re-infestation.

Step 2. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly and as often as possible. This is because fleas tend to be in varying stages of development as they live in your carpet. Then you can dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic garbage bag or put diatomaceous earth (DE) or borax into the vacuum bag to kill the fleas.

Step 3. Sprinkle salt onto your carpet, as salt kills flea eggs, particularly on the areas where you have spotted fleas before. After about 24 hours, vacuum the carpet. Be sure to do this for every inch of the carpet, including behind and under furniture.

Step 4. Put on some goggles and a dust mask. Use DE for stubborn pests by rubbing it directly on the carpet. DE is typically safe for human beings, but it would be best to make sure you do not breathe in the dust particles.

Step 5. Use a borax and water mixture to stream clean the carpet. The water is helpful for drowning adult fleas while the borax clings to the carpet and keeps new fleas from developing. This treatment can be effective for a maximum of one year.

Step 6. For optimum results, clean the entire house thoroughly, so that the fleas cannot escape from your carpet to any other part of the house. If they cannot find anywhere they can get nourishment, fleas can leave the house on their own. Of course, this includes making sure your pets are also flea-free.

The household with the craft lover mom or the model-toys enthusiast dad will most likely have its fair share of super glue drippings. But what do you do if you get the super glue onto, of all places, your carpet? Is there a way to get the glue out without ruining the carpet, or are you doomed to having to endure that thickened spot until you reach the time of replacing the entire carpet altogether? If you need to remove super glue from your carpet, follow these steps to see your carpet looking as if nothing had happened:

Step 1. Firstly, don’t panic. Before you try any other remedy that might just damage your carpet, know that your best bet is acetone, as it is a good solvent of super glue. Grab a bottle of nail polish remover. Check to see if it is made of acetone. You don’t have to worry as this liquid, when it removes the super glue, will cause no damage to your carpet.

Step 2. Test the nail polish on a small part of the carpet, preferably one that is not easily visible. You might try one under a desk, behind the closet, or in a covered corner in the wall.

Step 3. Get some cotton balls or a cotton swab. Soak the ball or the tip of a swab in the acetone and rub it lightly onto the spill. If you wish, you can actually wrap the soaked cotton ball around a small portion of the pile of the carpet. Watch for the acetone to dissolve the super glue within a few seconds.

Step 4. After the acetone dissolves most of the glue, most likely there will be some hard granule-like bits that remain. Use a fork or your fingernail to scrape off these hard remains of super glue.

Step 5. Take note that acetone is flammable. Therefore you need to apply dishwashing liquid or any carpet cleaner to the spot where you applied the acetone. Use a paper towel to wipe away the last remaining bits of acetone.

Step 6. Be sure to keep your bottle of nail polish remover handy, as it can keep you from panicking the next time you drip super glue onto your carpet. On a side note, you can also use it to dissolve super glue that gets onto your fingers accidentally.

Step 7. Alternatively, you can use a super glue solvent or remover to get rid of the glue drips on your carpet. You can get them from the local hardware store or hobby shops. Just be sure to follow the directions on the packaging, and just like with the nail polish remover, test it on a small portion of your carpet first. Some experts are uncertain about how these solvents can affect the color of your carpet.

Taking care of your carpet does not need to be painstaking. Although you may be too conscious of it as to scold your kids anytime they bring drinks or food onto the carpeted living room, sometimes knowing the right home remedies for removing stains may just do the trick in helping you keep your cool in the event of spills.

Water: Perhaps you are not too keen on trying water as it seems too simplistic, but many stains can be effectively removed with water as long as you act right away. This is partly because most carpets these days have been treated for stain-resistance, and getting stains out with water as soon as the spill happens is very effective. Just pour a little water onto the affected area and blot it out using white paper towels or a clean white cotton cloth. Avoid rubbing the spot; just press the towel or cloth down to soak up the water as well as the stain. Repeat the process as needed. If you notice the stain not transferring anymore to the paper towels, it’s time to move onto a next remedy.

Spoon: Using a spoon may be the most logical thing to do for things like peanut butter and other soft solids. Scrape out as much as possible of the solid before you use water or apply any cleaning solvent.

Dishwashing Detergent: Dishwashing detergent is among the best home remedies in removing carpet stains. All you have to do is put a few drops into a cup of cold water; mix gently. Apply it onto the carpet in a way similar to applying water, blotting it out and adding more as necessary. This will help especially for greasy stains from food.

Rubbing Alcohol: 90% isopropyl alcohol can be used to remove stains from ink and similar substances on your carpet. If all you have is a 70% solution, it is better than nothing. Note that you should not pour the alcohol right onto the carpet; instead, put some on a white cotton cloth and be careful when you dab the spot. Make sure you do not wind up spreading it. Again, don’t rub. Repeat the process until the stain is removed, or if you notice no more transferring of the stain onto the paper towel or cloth.

White Vinegar: White vinegar may work on coffee stains on carpet. First, heat the area using a hot wet cloth. Then, dab the area with vinegar, rinse it off, blot it out and repeat as necessary. Be sure to dry the carpet well after you are done.

White Wine: White wine is a good bet for removing stains made by red wine. If the stain is old, applying white wine allows you to “recreate” the initial scenario, making the red stain easier to get out. Blot it out and repeat as necessary; then rinse the carpet well and dry it quickly.