What's Normal for New Carpet

Preventative carpet care is the key to keeping your carpet looking new, longer. Vacuuming it regularly is important, but so is how you vacuum – so we've put together these vacuuming tips, along with special care for situations like stains, snags and burns.

Shedding

Balls of fluff or loose fibers? Normal. Your new carpet isn’t unraveling. It just contains some fiber tips sheared in the manufacturing process to achieve uniform pile height. This “shedding” will minimize over time with regular vacuuming.

Sprouting

On close inspection, you might see an occasional “sprout” or snag lifting above the carpet surface. This can be caused by pet nails, high heels, or even vacuuming. Don’t pull on it — that could damage your carpet. Instead, just snip the tuft with scissors to match the existing pile height.

Seams

Carpet rolls come in widths of 12 or 15 feet, so seams are expected in most rooms. However, the visibility of the seams depends on the texture and color of your carpeting as well as the lighting and furniture placements.

Filtration Soiling

Filtration Soiling

As your carpet begins to age, you may notice grayish lines around baseboards, under doors, and along the edges of stairs. This soiling is caused by dust and other airborne pollutants that can accumulate where concentrated airflow is directed over the carpet’s pile. This is a result of the environment and not a carpet defect. Changing air filters regularly and vacuuming consistently may help minimize it.

Buckling & Wrinkling

Buckling & Wrinkling

Carpet buckling occurs when the underside of carpet becomes detached from the adhesive. Common reasons include:

  • Pulling up carpeting for wiring or to repair squeaky floors 
  • Sliding or dragging heavy objects across the carpet 
  • An increase in temperature or humidity 
  • Improper wetting during cleaning

Maintenance & Warranties

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper care and maintenance to maintain your warranty and keep your floor looking its best.

Caring for Your Carpet

In addition to regular vacuuming, we recommend a professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 15 months. This not only helps extend the life of your carpet, but it’s required by most manufacturer warranties.