1. SCRAPE:
   Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.


2. ABSORB:
   Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper towels or cloth towels.


3. BLOT:
   Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper towels or cloth towels.


4. PEEL:
   Once the stain has been blotted, peel the tile off of the floor.


5. RINSE:
   Rinse the tile under the water faucet, but do not allow the water to soak the back of the carpet tile. We like to call this giving your Floorigami DIY carpet a shower, not a bath.


6. DRY:
   After rinsing the stain, be sure to blot the tile with a towel or extract the water from the surface with a shop vac. Allow the carpet tile to dry by placing it on a grate so air can reach the face and back of the carpet tile.


7. REPLACE:
   Ensure the tile has fully dried before you place it back in place. We recommend not walking on wet or damp carpet tiles.

The best way to reduce dirt accumulation and prolong the life of your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Most dirt, even dust, is in the form of hard particles. When left in the carpet, these gritty, sharp particles abrade the pile as effectively as sandpaper.

That depends on the amount of foot traffic and household soil to which your carpet is exposed to. More use means more frequent
vacuuming. Weekly vacuuming is a great place to start! Shaw floors recommends a vacuum cleaner with a vertical rotating brush or
“brush/beater bar” to agitate the pile and mechanically loosen soil particles. The exception to this is for the Plume Perfect shag style product with longer yarns which might tend to wrap around a rotating brush. For these styles we recommend a suction-only vacuum.
Be aware that some vacuums have overly aggressive action which may damage the surface of your carpet.

Shaw’s R2X ® Stain & Soil Remover is recommended for all types of spot cleaning. It is approved under the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval certification. Additional cleaning products in the CRI certification program are listed at www.carpet-rug.org. Do not use any household cleaners other than those listed in this program, since many household products contain chemicals that may permanently damage your carpet.

1. DETERGENT:
   Mix 1⁄4 teaspoon clear hand dish-washing detergent with 1 cup warm, not hot, water. Use a clear, non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy or clear Ivory. Professional installers and maintenance teams should use Shaw R2X ® or CRI SOA approved cleaning solutions and apply according to label directions.


2. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE/AMMONIA:
   Mix 1⁄2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% solution available in drug stores) with one teaspoon undiluted, unscented, clear (non-sudsy) household ammonia. Use within two hours of mixing.


3. VINEGAR:
   1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.


4. AMMONIA:
   One tablespoon to one cup water.


5. SOLVENT:
   Liquid, non-oily, non-caustic type sold for spot removal from garments. Use products for grease, oil, and tar removal such as Carbona and Afta. Do not apply directly to carpet to prevent carpet damage. (See Procedure A).

• PROCEDURE A:
  Apply solvent to dry towel/cloth. Blot, don’t rub. Repeat application if necessary.


• PROCEDURE B:
  Apply detergent solution (see “Cleaning Solutions”) using a damp towel. Blot, don’t rub. Use a fresh, damp cloth towel to remove all detergent residue. Blot; finish with pad of paper towels weighted with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish. If any stain remains, repeat.


• PROCEDURE D:
  Apply detergent solution (see “Cleaning Solutions”) using a damp towel. Blot, don’t rub. Use a fresh, damp cloth towel to remove all detergent residue. If spot remains, apply ammonia/ water solution (see “Cleaning Solutions”) using a damp towel. Blot, don’t rub. Apply white vinegar (undiluted), only after stain is removed. Apply water rinse with a damp towel. Blot; finish with weighted pad of towels.


• PROCEDURE G:
  Freeze with ice cubes. Shatter with blunt object such as a butter knife or back of spoon. Remove chips before they melt. If color remains, follow with solvent (Procedure A).


• PROCEDURE L:
  Apply solvent remover (non-oily acetone type) to a white, cotton towel and apply to spill. Do not saturate carpet. Pick up softened material using a clean, white paper towel, push toward center of the spot (to avoid spreading material). Repeat above to soften and carefully remove a layer of the material each time. Haste may spread the stain and/or damage the carpet. Follow with Procedure B. If spot remains, apply ammonia solution using a damp cloth. Blot, don’t rub. Apply white vinegar (undiluted), only after stain is removed. Apply water rinse with a damp towel. Blot; finish with weighted pad of towels.


• PROCEDURE M:
  Apply detergent solution (see “Cleaning Solutions”) to white towel, leave 3-5 minutes. Blot, don’t rub. If stain is removed, finish with a water rinse, then blot, then apply a pad of weighted paper towels. If stain is not removed, continue as follows: Apply ammonia solution using a damp cloth. Blot, don’t rug. Apply hydrogen peroxide solution (see “Cleaning Solutions”), let stand 2-3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap. Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide and allow to dry until removal is complete. Apply white vinegar only after stain is removed. Apply water with damp towel. Blot and dry with weighted pad of paper towels.


• PROCEDURE O:
  Cover with white cotton towel or brown paper. Lightly apply warm iron to towel or paper until material is absorbed. Be sure towel is large enough to cover the stained area. Never touch the iron directly onto the carpet, as the fiber may melt. Change towel or rotate same towel to a clean area and repeat until all material is absorbed.


• PROCEDURE P:
  Vacuum as much as possible. Loosen remaining material by tapping with a scrub brush or toothbrush. Tap with brush, do not scrub. Vacuum again. If stain remains, use detergent solution in Procedure B.

The most frequently used areas of your carpet — entrances, doorways, traffic lanes, seating areas, etc. will collect dirt much faster than
other areas. By cleaning these areas when they first show signs of soiling you can prevent the dirt from spreading to the rest of the carpeted areas of the house. Periodic professional cleaning of the overall carpet is highly recommended. The frequency of overall cleaning may vary depending on the level and type of traffic and the conditions to which your carpet is exposed. This may range from as little as 6 months to 24 months between cleanings. Your carpet should be properly cleaned at least once every 24 months to maintain its appearance and useful life. Shaw recommends only hot water extraction, utilizing carpet cleaning products, equipment, and systems certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program.

NOTE: Be sure the professional carpet cleaner cleans with the length of the carpet tile to minimize lifting. If a tile lifts from a truck mount extractor, it can easily be flattened by stepping on the edge of the tile.

If you decide to rent a steam cleaning machine and do it yourself, remember recommended carpet cleaning equipment and cleaning
products should have certification in the CRI Seal of Approval Programs