Frequently asked questions

Carpets, by their very nature, come in for a lot of heavy use, so it’s important to follow a few basic suggestions for keeping them in tip top order. Even though your Invictus carpet is designed to withstand many spillages, it will still get dirty. So, just follow this simple advice.

Vacuum regularly

The more you vacuum your carpet, the longer it’ll stay looking good. Try and do it often, to prevent build up of soil particles in the pile. Pay particular attention to areas of heavy footfall such as doorways and at the foot of chairs or cupboards.

Periodical cleaning

It’s inevitable that dust and oil particles in the air will leave a dulling film on your carpet over time, and the best way to overcome this is by employing a professional cleaning company (www.ncca.co.uk) that will use cleaning solutions recommended for Invictus carpets. Remember that this Warranty is only valid if this is done at least once in every two year period from the date of purchase. Use the maintenance record to keep a note of this in case you need to make a claim.

Is the discolouration of carpet fibres caused when pigment from a substance like coffee or red wine leaves residue in the carpet. Before tackling a stain, check what has caused it and follow the correct removal procedure from the information in this leaflet. Remember, these stain removal procedures are for carpets made from polypropylene IVINCI SDO Stainaway yarn.

Is caused by dirt, dust, cigarette ash, and other particles that settle on a carpet during normal use. If soiling isn’t removed regularly, the particles can cause friction at the base of the carpet and weaken the fibres, causing loss of pile height and density and a dull appearance. Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your carpet free of soiling and looking great.

Things like beer, berries, coffee, cola, excrement, fruit juice, white glue, ice cream, washable ink, ketchup, sauce, soft drinks, tea and wine.

Soak up immediately using an absorbent cloth or kitchen roll. If the stain persists use a solution of one teaspoon of neutral detergent such as washing-up liquid to half a pint of warm water. Dry with a hair dryer, continually moving to prevent watermarking.

Any of the water-based foods or drinks as above.

Use non-biological washing powder or mix two litres of tepid water with half a teaspoon of carpet shampoo. Re-wet the stain using the soap solution applied with cotton wool and blot with kitchen roll as above.

Things like baked beans, blood, butter, chocolate, cooking oil, crayons, gravy, grease, ketchup, mascara, mayonnaise, milk, mustard and pet food.

Use methylated spirits, applying with cotton wool to the edges of the stain and working inwards. Don’t worry if colours darken during this treatment, just blot with kitchen roll to avoid excessive moisture. Then use a soap solution on cotton wool, dampen the area, blot with kitchen roll and dry with a hair dryer as above.

Scrape away excess then freeze with ice cubes. Shatter with blunt object like the back of a spoon and quickly vacuum chips away.

Apply nail polish remover sparingly with a cotton towel, pick up softened material and push kitchen roll towards centre of spot to avoid it spreading. Repeat this procedure until the stain is removed.

Scrape off as much wax as you can. Cover with a white cotton towel and apply a warm (not hot) iron. Repeat this procedure with a clean towel each time until the stain is removed.

Vacuum as much as possible. Loosen remaining material by tapping with a small brush, but don’t scrub. Vacuum again then use technique for water-based stains as above.

Scrape off excess lipstick and lightly rub the area with a slice of fresh white bread. Complete the removal as per the greasy stains technique above.

Things like brown sauce, shoe polish, sherry, toothpaste, urine and vomit.

Apply diluted detergent with a damp towel and leave for five minutes. Blot, then rinse with water, followed by a pad of weighted kitchen roll.

If you follow the advice in this leaflet for removing food and beverage stains from your Invictus carpet, it’s unlikely that you’ll need our specialist advice. But if you do need our assistance, this is the low cost Helpline number, available during normal business hours: 08444 990450.

Our experienced advisor will ask you a few questions and then offer further suggestions for removing your stain. Remove the stain using the recommended method. If the stain is unable to be removed you could ask for one of our specialists to visit you. If however, the stain is successfully removed by our representative, then you will be liable for the cost of this service. If we are unable to remove the stain in situ, Associated Weavers will, at our own expense through an approved retailer, provide a replacement carpet of similar quality or value (for the stained carpet only).

Wondering how to lay a carpet? It’s not an easy task…in fact it is a job often best left to a professional. But are you a true DIY’er who is up for a challenging round of carpet installation? Then check out these six practical guidelines from Associated Weavers.

Make sure your tool box is fully equipped

As the saying goes, good preparation is half the battle. That also applies to carpet installation. Make sure your tool box contains:

• a measuring tape and pencil
• a sharp carpet knife
• a pair of scissors
• a roller and a ruler

Take the proper measurements

Pay extra attention to some difficult areas in your room. A lot of older houses do not have concealed radiator pipes, for instance. You’ll have to take these into account, when measuring the installation area. Cut off the excess carpet parts — both along the pipes and walls — with a sharp Stanley knife.

Clean your floor

Before you lay your carpet, it’s important that the floor is completely dry, flat and clean. If you have wooden floor, you can first lay a chipboard, for instance. Do you have a concrete floor? Then make sure to remove any holes and cracks in the surface.

Remove the doors

Remove the doors from the room if possible so you won't have to work around them. Having the doors out of the way will also make it easier for you to place the carpet.

Installing a carpet underlay?

Lay out the carpet underlay perpendicular to the direction you plan to install the carpet. Staple the seam alternating so that they aren't beside one another. Stretch the underlay so that the pieces are butted tightly together. Feel through the underlay and use a sharp knife to cut away the excess along the wall.

Place the carpet in the room

Roll out the carpet into the room and try to keep it as straight as possible. Cut away excess carpet but leave some next to the walls. Don’t forget to spread the carpet out and press it firmly against the walls.

Give your carpet some time to adjust

Once you’ve positioned your carpet in the room, it’s important to allow it to properly acclimatize for a while. Make sure your carpet gets used to the temperature and humidity in the room, before you install it.

Use the appropriate method and tools

• Use stretching strips (or tack strips) to fix a carpet that comes with an underlay. This laying method ensures perfect insulation as well as a long life for your carpet.
• You can also use adhesives to attach your carpet. However, make sure that you only use solvent-free adhesives that contain no volatile organic compounds and that comply with a number of health criteria, mainly concerning its outgassing characteristics.
• Only choose double-sided tape, if you’re installing your carpet in small room.
• Trim excess carpet with a wall trimmer, which rests against the wall and provides a straight cut at the correct spot.
• Use a power stretcher to attach the carpet to the strips on the other side of the room.
• Use a knee kicker for corners where the power stretcher can't reach.

Note that you can also lay your carpet without fixing it to the floor. However, like with double-sided tape, this method is not suitable for big rooms.

Put the fibres in the right direction

When you install your carpet, it’s important to lay all carpet strips in the same direction. If the carpet’s piles are going in different directions, you’ll end up with distinct colour variations.

Whether you should consider installing a carpet underlay depends on your carpet’s characteristics as well as your own preferences. Associated Weavers helps you decide with four easy questions.

What type of finishing does your carpet have?

The type of fabric used on the bottom of the carpet strongly influences the need for a carpet underlay. If your carpet has a textile or latex backing , then an underlay is necessary in order to avoid uneven surfaces. Does your carpet have a felt or foam backing? Then there’s no reason to consider a carpet underlay.

Do you have underfloor heating?

We recommend all carpet has a new underlay, however, you must ensure the combined TOG rating value of the carpet and underlay isn’t too high as this would an adverse effect on the heating.

Be sure to ask for professional advice from a carpet specialist.

Do you want to save energy?

Besides adding extra comfort and protecting your carpet from wear and tear, a carpet underlay also has an insulation effect. Depending on its thickness and density, an underlay helps you cut down your energy bill by preventing the loss of heat through your floor.

Do you want to sound-proof your floor?

Installing a carpet underlay is a simple, yet very effective solution for reducing the noise of footsteps in your home. By absorbing the impact of a footstep, carpet underlays improve the sound-proofing qualities of your carpet. The more dense the underlay, the less noise you’ll hear.

Completing the Warranty registration form is an important first step in protecting your investment. Filling out this form can help you obtain product support and efficient warranty service.