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Show F4 TheSalt Lake Tribune HOME Sunday, October31, 1999 There’s No Magic Method That Will Clean Every Carpet AROUND THE HOUSE We need our carpets cleaned, but I am confused. Every carpet cleaner I cali raves about howits processis better than the competition. The cleaners mention things Coe drycleaning, Steam cleaning,e1 Which aehodts is best, and whom do I believe? BY KATHRYN LOOSLI PRITCHETT KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSSERVICE Today's homefabricsare as elegant as men’s fine haberdash- As with everythingelse, there are as many waysto clean a carpetas there are carpettypes. All in ail, these methods fall into three categories. Theyall have advantages and disadvantages. @ Shampooing: This methodusesaro- tary machine equipment with a brush, bonnet,etc. Shampoo is applied to the carpet and scrubbedin. Thecarpetisallowed to dry and then the shampooresi- due is vacuumed. The disadvantageis that the brushes andbonnets can damage wool, cotton and othercarpet types. The technician can FRED HUESTON ery, as seductive as a velvet evening gown and as ornate as a jeweled handbag. Luxurious fabrics are in fashion, whether you’re shopping for couture or ready-to-wear home dressing. New York designer Bart Halpern’s fabric line includes rich silk velvets and shimmery opalescent microfibers that were actually inspired by couture clothingfabrics. “A lot of what you're seeing in homedesign today comes from the fashion industry,” says Halpern. “These fabrics are fresh to home furnishings, but they're familiar in clothing. Luxuryis all aboutthe touch. Just as you wantclothesto feel good on the body, you wantfurnitureto havea sensualfeel.” Nearly everyfabricline is creating ever more sumptuousfabrics that are beautiful to the touch and to the eye. And whenit comes to the top end of luxury, there are premium prices method. Asklots of questions before making a decision. Mywife and I have an ongoing argument about painting. She says you should paint the edges arounddoors, windows,etc., first, then paint the remaining wall. I prefer to paint the edges last. Who's right? overwetthe carpet, causing shrinkage and damage. Onthe otherhand, nothingbeats a good scrubbingfor heavily soiled carpets. MW Dry cleaning: This methoduses a dry powdered absorbent thatis sprinkled on the carpet. The powderis scrubbed into the carpetfibers and vacuumedafter a time. Theideais that the absorbentwill soak upthedirt without water. This method works well on oil and grease butnotso well ondry soiling. @ Steam cleaning: This method uses a pressurized steam combined with a cleaning agent. A wandis passed over the carpet, releasing the steam and cleaning solution. These machinesare equipped with a vacuum, which removesthe water within seconds. They are available in portableunits and verylarge truck- mountunits. Theseare the type you rent at the grocery store. Theywork extremely well on wool and heavilysoiled carpets. Care must be taken — if the water temperature exceeds 150° F, it can shrink certain carpettypes. Overwetting can also be aproblem. Each ofthese methods has its place. I would advise contacting a reputable carpet cleaner who is familiar with each Well, it depends on where you aregoing to sleep tonight. It really doesn’t matter, but I have to attached. Halpern’s silk velvets sell for $370 per yard, his opalescent microfiber sheers for $80 per yard. Beautiful hand-embroidered agree with yourwife. I prefer to paintall the small,difficult areasfirst, then tackle cottons and wools from Chelsea Editions are available for $200 the larger areas. Mostpros prefer this method, but whatever methodyou use, as long as you get the desired result, that’s ail that really per yard. Silks embellished with rhinestones or pearls by Gretchen Bellinger can run $400 per yard. Her “La Scala” mohair (based on the mohair design atItaly’s La Scala Opera House)will run nearly $250 a yard. Scalamandre, the venerable New York fabric company, in- counts. cludes in its line a hand-embroidered silk brocade that runs $12,000 a yard. Other Scalamandresilks, damasks or hand-cut a Honey-DoTip velvets can cost between $200 and$1,500 per yard. Wheresuch fabrics go in the houseis limitless, starting with manufacturers’ furniture or draperylines, all the way down to placemats or throwpillows. You nameit, it can be covered in or made of whatever fabric strikes your fancy: sofas and chairs, bedding, curtains — evenarearugs and walls. “Honey, what are you doing with those rags soaked in paint thinner?” Donot, | repeat, DO NOT throw rags soaked in paintthinner, linseed oil or any other solvent in thetrash. They can ig- The bad newsis that manyofthe newluxury fabricsaresig- nite. nature lines that are difficult to knock off. The good newsis, if you're willing to give up the name toget the look, the possibilities open up. Glamoroustextiles are available in a wider range of prices than everbefore. “The demand forfine fabrics has really risen in the last few years,” says Scott Frankum, formerly of San Francisco's Mike Furniture, whois developing a line of custom upholstered furniture for sale on the Internet. “There are twofactors driving the increased demand for luxuryfabrics in home design — an increasingly sophisticated audience and an improved manufacturing process that allows high-end textiles to be available at a numberofpricepoints.” Frankum says one reason for the increased sophistication of Place the rags in a metal container such asa coffee can andfill it with water. Letthe rags soak forseveral days before removing them. Allowthem to dry in your drivewayandthentoss in the trash. Fred Huestonis the authorofseveral how-to books on homerepair, Write to him at NTC, 941 Longdale Ave., Longwood, FL 32750 or e-mail fhueston@ aol.com. Sorry, nopersonal replies. the buying public is the proliferation of shelter magazines and other media. Old standards such as Architectural Di- ‘LewisWolcott (enya he OM eeea BUTE|B Frankumsays thatat onetime,all furniture wasessentially custom-made — you either made your own furniture or hired someonetodoit. “But since the end ofthe last century, more and morefurniture has been mass-produced andtherefore available to the middleclass. Before heading to the. ¢+Dornbush Ne Haunted gest and House Beautiful have been joined by hundredsof other sourcesto educate middle-class buyers on fine homefurnishings. “Of course, the rich werestill having furniture custom-made, theater, take a moment aside to-read Celia © but the process would involve drawing the design, making a Baker's drama'coverage in the Salt Lake Tribune: “Atthatlevel, it would takea year to create onesofa.” In a more midpriced retail line, you'll find Old World style created with New Age efficiency — andincreasinglyaffordable prototype, then having the fabric woven specifically for that pieceof furniture before having it constructed,” says Frankum. prices. This spring, for example, Bernhardt introduced the New ig Paral Me CER BrightonHilla!3:00-3:00 ear aren crus ar 2 6ib-87b9/531.0678 Avenues Condo 1:30-1:30 Vintageline of sofas and chairs that provide a large frame mie downy cushionsanda casual, slipcovered look. “The New Vin: tage line has been big hit already,” says Bruce Parisi, Berr-°" hardt’s Northern California representative. “The luxury look has always been aroundin homefurnishings, it’s just at a much moreaffordableprice point now.” Sofas in the Bernhardtlineretail for$1,500-$1,800; comparable sofas by other manufacturers are $2,200-$3,000. Likewise, Kravet just introduced a new fabric collection, Kravet Couture, to bridge the gap between the lower and upper. ends ofthefabric collections. Robin Gordon of Kravet says this new line of midpriced luxury fabrics (about $70 per yard) can,,, becomethe “hero” fabrics in a room. “They are the heroesof the room, the fabrics that really make the room. Thesefabrics have’. the hand [the way a fabric drapes] and look of much more ex-’, pensivefabrics.” 5 Gordonattributesthe relative affordability of these high-end. fabrics to the company’s size and ability to shop globally and’ warehouselarge amounts offabrics. For the consumer,thefinal choice dependson need. Like most; furniture makers, some fabric houses offer their own lines furnishings that people can custom design with their pick of.” pattern. Butfor fully furnished decorators who mightjust want ,. to maketheir ownthrowpillowsor valances, the companies alg. sell fabrics by the yard. Rats! How to Identify and Evict aretTe Deval hare 32 ‘Ue, Andyragaet Meet $362.500 53, ‘fhotee byBobPopping/Contra Costa ‘Times Paul Eisenberg, ownerof Poppy Fabrics,displays one of the: hundreds of mohairs, chenilles andsilks his companycarries. At top is a detail of Old World-style “Bosc” tapestry fabrie: ra19 278-4414 "— Those Unwelcome Winter Guests: i cA ehoe _ BY JOAN JACKSON aesah ‘OPEN: 2:00-5:00 MLS 110485 6127 § NewHaven Dr Sets Sestore loreal dining’ large. lot. Gi ren $469,000 OS ame as ‘Ounapus cove KNIGHTRIDDER NEWSSERVICE, Are you hearingthe pitter-patteroflit. ‘sweeping valey wi Updated Mtchen & new baths $289,900 598-0600 Laviee Gorey Bryant CUTEcoling HOME-LOW PRICE: rock neo 0 tnd! Wondertul art vuted accentuate pt Wet landscaped OPEN. 2:00:5:00 MLS 73580 \STOM 4 bars. 2 bins. $46,000 2050 E Sunset Ridge Or NewHee country on quit | stream 6 5 " e172 fae toor benuy 61608000, ‘Sonny & OPEN: 12:30-2:30 9819 Soutn 250 East Shut ahwl ca maple sone Tamara Buracek x safe hiding places, says Richard Poche, ownerof Genesis Laboratoryin Fort Col, lins, Colo., which has specialized in pestcontrol research for30yeai ‘That safe haven, he says, “maybe un. commumey CencNewtogiend 202 ee anonste.Tebubes “ cing spectacular setting bart 41-4980 can 598-0000 Ton txt/a tthe, On Ig mann OPEN 1.00-3:00 park Tooke na MLS 80012 fr oom p00.sing.nerecly tabout Renee 51 acre wt |" ber . Rodent seasonstarts in October, when mice andrats search for warmth,food and der your refrigerator, in your garageor in theattic.” An estimated 21 million homes in the United States are invaded byrodents each year, with the peak season from October through February How doyou knowyouhave them? “You can hear scampering or gnawing sounds THE! CLT LOT SI tle feet? No, not the kids, We'retalking about four-legged pests sneaking indoors for a snug winter home. Cononetos 6416358 Lariew Gorey PEPPERWOOO'S FINEST) Just Utes! 9000 gM of tote ux ca late at night in the attic or behind the walls,” says Noor Tietze, vector ecologist with the Santa Clara County Mosquito 02, t faty FABULOUS DORMER A. CONDO: mataie spect 2/2 ” frpanorar ty & en Mowe? balcony far ger$210,900 The best SLC hat to ‘ter! Chen (GET RIO OF THE 916-6000 and Vector Control District in San Jose, Calif. You may also findrodent droppings in undisturbedareas of the home suchas pantries, attics, garages, under baseboards and along wails or see tell-tale signs of gnawing on packaged g cardboardboxes and walls near pipes and vents. Another giveaway: If your dog or cat vechuded wwflone of ponent 7 631-7095 ToryBlack 0839 ‘FABULOUS HOLLADAY Private park the 38 zo ey 446-4608 cumin bookcason, Tpic. great Mage Taytor 208-4041| snares. $103,900 ew, 00-8024 Nearly new muro veuned pup cetings, hargwood foor n vel condo. paws excitedly at a kitchen cabinet or the base of your refrigerator orstove, you can assumethere is a somelittle pesky crea ture hiding there. Don't be embarrassed. Lots of the nic est homes in the best neighborhoods at: tract rodents. There are some things you can do, though, to keep out unwelcome verminvisitors: @ Wash the dishes andclean up spilled food from counters andfloors. Dispose of trash andclutter. Keep all food, water, and garbagein metal or thick plastic contain ers with tight-fitting lids. ® Thoroughly wash cans and bottles with soap and water before putting them intothe recycling bins, Washout thebins, too, because what's left behind canattract rodents. W@W Keepthestorage areas freeoflitter and old newspapers. Rodents are attracted to undisturbedareas withinthe house and ET Com LS Ly in and aroundstored objects. MRemove fallen fruit from around trees, especially apples and citrus. & Removevegetation next to the house. “The reason rats like groundivy, for in (801) 467- seh orang stance, is because it is a good hiding place, plus they canfindsnails in the ivy, Tietze says. “Snails are a prized delicacyto rats.” @ Don't overload bird feeders boca spilled seedattractsrodents. @ Putout just enoughpet food so your, dog or cat can eatit all at one time. Pet; food should neverbe left outdoors. s After that, figure out how the rodents 1, are getting in and thencloseoff those, entryways, Tietze says. Rodents comein through almost any: openings doggie doors, holes in the walls, missing vent screens, openings-. around pipes, dryer ducts venting to the: outside, The roofis a handy highway:Rats have access fromclimbingplants or trees. that are too close to the house. That's! where roofrats get their name. To block their entry, use sheet metal, steel woolor concreteto seal up any holes larger than one-quarterinch in diameter* Micecansqueeze through spaces as small. as a nickel, while rats can squeeze through a spaceas small as a half-dollar. Once inside, rodents can be very de structive, They chew ( hrough wall boards, Poche says, and can “eat through card’ board boxes, woodandplaster.”” Rodents also carry disease and fleas,” andleave waste. Accordingto the Centers’ for Disease Control, hantavirus, a lung’ disease,is carried by rodents. Ifyou think you have a rodent problem,’ * chances areyou do, Poche says. Then what? One solutionis to set traps.Mouse snap! traps, rat snap traps, and glue boards are. available for $3 to $5 at home- and! garden-supply stores. They work with: + varying degrees of success. The experts . sayto use them for 15 days and if they remain untouched, the problem has proba; « blyclearedup. ' But traps like that mean you haveto. deal with the trapped rodent, and most, people cringe at the idea of touching a deadrat or mouse. Other traps, such age » the d-Con Ultra-Set Covered Mouse Trap, and Catchmaster Baited Mouse Glue Trap, havecovers that makeit possible to, disposeof the dead rodent without ever ! seeing or touching it. Poisonousbaits for rats and mice work, Tietzesays, but dead rats can cause prob. lems, too. Rats carry biting mites, and “It ay youkill the rats indoors, the biting mites’ can become a secondary serious prob” lem,”hesays. Use poisons carefully and always kee} baits andtraps out of the reach of childréfy andpets. If you are not confident doing it, yourself, contact a pest-control compantny, listed in the Yellow Pages under “Pests,” r——_—_ | POOR ¢ |