SPROUTS. If your carpet shows sprouts, don't worry, it isn't growing. With cut pile carpet, small tufts or sprouts can stick up above the surface. Don't pull them, just clip them off with scissors.

SNAGS. Pulling or snagging can occur when a sharp object like a loose shoe nail or a child's toy hooks on the fibers. Again, don't pull the snag, clip it off with scissors.

DENTS. Remove a dent by stroking it with the edge of a coin. You can also use a hair dryer (hot air) or a steam iron very lightly to raise the dented area while you tug upward on the tufts. CAUTION: DON'T LET THE IRON TOUCH THE CARPET.

CRUSHED PILE. Vacuum regularly with a "beater-bar" type vacuum, or use a plastic or wooden carpet rake to restore matted-down pile.

BURNS. Should your carpet endure a burn, remove the tops of the darkened, burned fibers with curved fingernail scissors. If the burn is extensive, your carpet may require patching or replacement.

SHEDDING. Some shedding is common in new carpet with cut pile. The loose fibers are easily removed through regular vacuuming and in no way affect carpet quality. This condition will diminish after a few weeks or months depending on vacuuming frequency.

FOOTPRINTS. All cut pile carpets show footprints.  This is not a defect.  It is much more prevalent on deep pile carpet made from bright fiber.  To minimize footprints, you might want to choose very dense, low pile carpet made from Solutia's mid luster nylon.

PILLING.  Sometimes certain types of carpet, or heavy traffic, can create little balls of tangled fibers and lint.  Just pull them off by hand or clip them with scissors.

FLOODING. When carpet must be restored as a result of rising waters, a backed-up sewer line or other disaster that requires application of biocide, bactericide, fungicide or some other material to prevent growth of microorganisms, the STAIN WARRANTY IS VOIDED.  If a pipe bursts, washing machine overflows or flooding from some other clean water source occurs, it is necessary only to have the carpet dried - both front and back by a professional cleaner with the proper equipment.  You might want to clean the carpet after it has dried, if detergent was involved.  This procedure WILL NOT VOID the stain warranty, provided it is attended to immediately.  It may, however, void the wear warranty if delamination results.