
SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Guide (Don't Buy This Carpet Until You Read This!)
Updated: May 30
SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Guide
SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Guide (Don't Buy This Carpet Until You Read This!)
SmartStrand carpet is a very popular carpet that is manufactured by Mohawk Flooring. They have specific guidelines in their care and maintenance manual that are important to follow. Make sure to read and follow these guidelines, or any product claim could be denied.
Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet is one of the most popular types of carpet being sold. One of the failures of a lot of floor covering stores is not sharing with customers the maintenance requirements, which in many cases, will require a customer to purchase a special type of vacuum when purchasing this type of carpet. (Click To Tweet)
We have a great article in our blog, "Reviews of SmartStrant Carpet, which goes over what SmartStrand Carpet is all about, and the benefits of buying this product for your home.
If you have purchased Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet, or if you are considering making a purchase in the future, read on....
PRICE ALERT: Here's some insane deals on vacuum cleaners: Get Some LOW LOW Prices
"You need to understand the specific cleaning guidelines that are required to maintain your product warranty."
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Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Documentation After You Purchase Your Carpet...
Immediately after you purchase your carpet, you need to gather some important information, and keep it in a safe location:
Keep your original receipt for your carpet
Have your dealer print you a copy of the Mohawk Product Warranty & keep it with your receipt.
You will need to have your carpet professionally cleaned (per your warranty guidelines). We will talk about this in detail a little later on in this article.
In case you ever have issues with your carpet, you will need to have this information with you to file a claim.
Basic Warranty Information
You Need To Know What Your Carpet Warranty Includes. The warranty on your carpet is usually located on the back of the carpet sample. It is your responsibility to make sure it matches the information you are given at the time of purchase. It is always a good idea to take a picture of the back label on your sample, for future reference.
It Is Always Best To Have Your Carpet Installed By A Professional. For your warranty to be valid, your installer needs to follow the guidelines as provided by the Carpet & Rug Institute.
Make Sure You Buy The Right Carpet Pad. The minimum requirements for your Mohawk Warranty to be valid, is to use a pad that is at least 3/8" think, with a density of at least 5lbs.
You Need To Have Your Carpet Cleaned At Least Once Over An 18 Month Period. Most of the flooring stores won't tell you about this. However, it is extremely important, so you can keep your warranty valid. Mohawk is very specific on the type of cleaning. Your professional cleaner must have a Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval. If you need to locate a carpet cleaning company in your area, here is a great link to use: Locate A CRI Service Provider. Make sure you keep your cleaning receipts and store them with your original purchase documentation.
You Must Use An Approved Vacuum Cleaner
The Mohawk Warranty is very specific about the type of vacuum cleaner you must use, in order to maintain a valid warranty. Before we get in to the approved vacuum cleaners, with soft carpet fiber (like SmartStrand), Mohawk states the following in their warranty:
"When selecting the right vacuum, adjustable height is the most important feature to consider. This enables the machine to be used on a wide variety of carpet constructions. If your vacuum is set too high above the carpet surface, the vacuum can’t attract the gritty soil below. If the setting is too low, the vacuum’s beater bar or brushes can “fuzz” the carpet’s surface, causing it to look worn and frayed.
Consider Your Soft Carpet Type: High Pile, Wool, Wool-Blend, and Premium Soft Carpet
Use the highest adjustable height setting where appropriate. Avoid vacuums with very concentrated or sealed suction. Your vacuum should glide easily across the carpet making large wheels the best choice.
Thick Loop, Casual Frieze or Long Pile Carpet: You may need to completely disengage the beater bar and vacuum with suction only.
All Other Carpet Constructions: Use a vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar. Change the bags often and check the beater bars for burs and gouges to prevent damage to the surface of the carpet. If you are unsure about the proper height setting, use an inconspicuous place like a closet to test your vacuum. Its beater bar or brush should just lightly touch your carpet surface."
Here Is A List Of The Approved Vacuum Cleaners For Mohawk SmartStrand Carpets:
Soniclean SFC-7000 Soft Carpet Upright Vacuum Buy Now On Amazon
Bissell Big Green Commercial BGU6000 Ultra Soft Carpet Vacuum
Bank Vacuum The Bank Vault with Soft-Clean Power Brush
Bissel Lift-Off Multi Cyclonic Vacuum 89Q9
Bissel PowerGlide 1305
Carpet Pro CPU-2T Buy Now On Amazon
Eureka Airspeed AS2013A, AS2030A, AS1001A
Fuller Brush Heavy Duty Upright FBMM-PW.4
Kirby Sentria
Maytag M500
Maytag M700
Miele S2 Series Compact Canister “Delphi”
Miele S6 Series Deluxe Canister “Topaz”
Miele S7 Series Upright S7210, S7260, S7280, S7580
Miele S8 Series Premium Canister “Kona”, “Uniq”
NACECARE Henry - Soft Clean
Oreck Magnesium LW100 SP
Oreck Magnesium LW1500 RS (Swivel) Buy Now On Amazon
Panasonic MC-UG729
Shark Rotator Lift Away NV650 Buy Now On Amazon
Shark Rotator Lift Away NV651
Zelmer 1500, 2500, 4000, 5000 w/ Soft-Clean
Air-Way CVAC Kit PT 250
Canavac LS central vacuum kit
Cyclo Vac EBK 360
Dirt Devil Edge Powerhead with Soft-Clean Technology Power Brush
Electrolux Serenity Central Vacuum Soft-Clean
HP Products Edge Electric Powerhead
Miele Electro Plus SEB 228
Nilfisk Palace Collection PA10M
The Villa Collection Central Vac Ensemble
Vacuflo Electric Power Brush
Wessel-Werk Soft-Clean EBK 360 Power Brush
Wessel-Werk The Villa Collection with Soft-Clean
Riccar Vibrance Series Bagged
Simplicity Symmetry Series
Lift-Off Multi-Cyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with HEPA filter and
Turbo Brush for Stairs and Upholstery
Bagless Kenmore (sears brand) Kenmore®/ MD German Made Quick Release Electric
Brush with Telescopic Wand
Eureka AS1051A
Eureka AS2030A AirSpeed One Pet
Hoover UH70120
Hoover UH70205 Windtunnel T Series
Riccar Supralite
Riccar Brilliance
Wessel-Werk Powerhead with Telescopic Wand
Oreck Magnesium
Oreck Magnesium RS
Oreck Quest Pro
Added Bonus: Mohawk SmartStrand - Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Clean Up Spills?
The first thing you want to do is to get a dull object (like a spoon), and remove as much of the soil or spill as possible.
Always work from the outside in of the spill or soiled area.
Try to remove the stain with a paper towel. You don't want to scrub the area. Gently blot it without damaging the carpet fibers.
If needed, use warm water on a second towel and repeat this procedure.
Mohawk has a complete list of cleaning procedures, depending on the type of stain. For a complete review of this material, please visit the Mohawk Warranty.
Is Mohawk SmartStrand A Good Carpet? Yes. Mohawk SmartStrand is one of the most popular carpets in the marketplace. You do need to understand the product you are buying, and how to properly maintain it. We have a great article, "Reviews Of SmartStrand Carpet," that will give you some great information on how SmartStrand is made, and how this carpet compares to other types of carpet.
How Much Does Mohawk SmartStrand Cost? Mohawk has products made with SmartStrand that are all across the board as it pertains to price. Sometimes stores will try to push you to their more expensive materials, but don't be fooled. Many apartment complexes are using a low end SmartStrand Carpet. Our article, "3 Affordable flooring & Remodeling Products," recommends one of the SmartStrand hidden gems (that stores won't tell you about).
How Do Professionals Clean SmartStrand Carpet? When you purchase Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet, in order to maintain your warranty, you will need to have your carpet cleaned at least 1 time over each 18 month period. Your professional cleaner needs to be approved by the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI). You can get more information on approved cleaners directly from their website:
Locate A Service Provider. Here is an old video from YouTube that still holds true:
Credit: Rendall's Certified Carpet Cleaning Services
Is SmartStrand Carpet Good for Pets? Yes. With the stain protection offered by Mohawk, this is a wonderful carpet with pets in the house. In fact, Mohawk has dedicated a page on their website to discuss this very question: SmartStrand Pet Warranty.
What Is Excluded In the Mohawk Warranty? Just like with any product warranty, you need to read the "fine print." While the marketing material discusses the benefits of the great SmartStrand Warranty, the fine print will always give you the real facts. Mohawk has a whole list of items that are not covered in their warranty. You can read them for yourself at: Mohawk Warranty
Can I Use A Special Carpet Pad To Get a Better Warranty? Yes. Mohawk Smart Cushion will add approximately 10 years to your carpet warranty. For a complete description, visit: Mohawk Smart Cushion. Plus, if you use this carpet pad, Mohawk will donate a portion of the purchase to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure®.
How Do You File A Carpet Claim? If you need to file a claim, you need to do so in writing to the store from where you made your purchase. While most stores will have your order information in their computer system, it is always a good idea to provide them with a copy of your original receipt.
After the store has been notified of your request to file a claim, they will send a store representative to your home to look at the problem. Many times, the store representative can send an installer out to fix the issue. If it is product related, or something that would require a full replacement, the store might request Mohawk send out a professional flooring inspector.
Make sure you stay on top of the claim, and you constantly call the store for updates. Many stores are more concerned with new sales, and sometimes resolving claims can get overlooked. Be diligent and aggressive in your need to resolve the matter.
Added Bonus - Support Videos
Video #1: Mohawk Carpet SmartStrand Silk Cleaning
SOURCE: MOHAWK CARPET SMARTSTRAND SILK CLEANING
Video #2: SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Pet Urine
SOURCE: SMARTSTRAND CARPET CLEANING PET URINE
Video #3: SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Instructions
SOURCE: SMARSTRAND CARPET CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
Conclusion
Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet is a wonderful carpet, and has had great success in the market place. Many retails stores simply do not do a very good job of explaining to their customers what is in the product's warranty. Many times, you are dealing with a new sales person that has not been properly trained.
Hopefully, this article will provide you with the necessary information about SmartStrand Carpet, before you make your purchase. The last thing you want is to spend money on new carpet, then find out a year later your warranty is void, because you used the wrong vacuum, or did not have the carpet professionally cleaned.
When purchasing carpet, at the time of your purchase, your sales person should be providing you with not only a receipt, but also the product warranty and care/maintenance guidelines.
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