19 Feb 10 Cool Facts About Carpet

Believe it or not, carpet is a fascinating subject. With origins reaching back thousands of years, how could it not be? Try adding the following random facts about carpet to your intellectual repertoire the next time you want to wow friends at a party:

#1 Ancient carpets were not only used to insulate floors but walls as well. It is likely they were first produced in Central Asia by tent-dwelling nomads.

#2 The word “carpet” has its roots in both Old French and Latin. The Old French word carpite meant heavily decorated cloth. This in turn came from the Middle Latin carpita, meaning thick woolen cloth. Carpita is the past participle of the Latin word carpere, meaning to pluck. This makes sense as carpets were made from unraveled, shredded or plucked fabric.

#3 You can give your carpet a “salt rub” to brighten faded colors. Steps: Vacuum the carpet. Mix equal parts salt and water in a bucket. Dip microfiber cloth in bucket and wring until it’s just damp, not dripping. Scrub the area you want to freshen up. Let it dry. Vacuum again and voila!

#4 Early models of the Hoover vacuum were difficult to sell because customers bristled at the idea that their carpets could be so dirty as to need one!

#5 The five-second rule definitely does not apply to bacteria… Bacteria and germs can live up to four weeks on carpet and can make your family sick.

#6 The term “Carpetbagger” was a derogatory term used by Southerners to describe Northerners who traveled to the South during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War (1865-1877). It referred to the inexpensive luggage carried by the Northerners, made from pieces of carpet sewn together.

#7 The largest carpet in the world today is the Qasr al-Alam carpet in Iran. Completed in 2007, it measures an astonishing 60,500 square feet—about the size of the Superdome’s playing field.

#8 For a carpet to be considered a magic carpet, it must have the ability to transport people standing on it to a distant location by flying through the air. And technically speaking, it’s a magic rug because of its size.

#9 To give “red carpet treatment” refers to the effort to extend extraordinary hospitality to someone. In ancient times, red was considered the color of the gods, and red carpets were laid down so dignitaries would not have to be disgraced by having their feet touch the earth.

#10 Carpets trap allergens and dust; cleaning the carpets properly can ensure they are removed entirely from your home, thus improving the air quality in your home.

Bonus! For carpets to be at their best, they need to be professionally cleaned a minimum of every 12-18 months.

Here at Steamer’s Carpet Care, we can help with that. Our trusted 9-Step Cleaning Process will not only rid your carpets of germs, but get them looking like new again. Call us today.