What are your New Year's resolutions?

How do you plan to get your 2012 resolutions to stick?  Here’s some advice from Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo.

1)   Don’t try to change fifty things at once.  Pace yourself and don’t try to undo ten years of less-than-desirable habits, behaviors in one day!

2)   Don’t make unwise resolutions.  Set goals that are logical, practical and maintainable.

3)   Create an accountability system.  Once the excitement, the motivation and the initial momentum subsides, what will keep you doing what you need to do to maintain your resolution.

4)   Remember what you did last time.  Don’t do that again!  Don’t do what’s comfortable, do what works.

5)   Work in four-week blocks.  The four week time frame is long enough to produce significant practical change but also short enough for you to stay focused, motivated and in the game emotionally.

6)   Weigh up the cost.  If you want to create exceptional outcomes, then you must be prepared to do exceptional things.           

In regards to this blog, Cinderella Carpet One looks forward to a new year and more blog posts to help those of you that are interested in flooring, design and the latest trends. Feel free to let us know if there are any topics you would like to learn more about in the upcoming New Year. What you want to read is the most important goal to us!

Our New Years resolution is to continue to improve the content based off your interests.  How do we plan on doing that?  Ask for your feedback!   We really do want to hear from you so please make your comments and suggestions on our blog page or our Facebook, and Twitter.  Most importantly contact us on our website and let us know what you’d like to see.

Do you want to read about...

•                Extending the life of your floor. (What issues do you have? What floors do you have?)

•                How to choose the best floor for you. (Are you more interested in hardwood, carpet, rugs, laminate, tile, allergy-friendly floors, eco-friendly floors, etc?)

•                Home design (If this is yours, what is your biggest challenge and what's your favorite style?)

•                 Information about flooring (Is there a term you don't know?

myth/misconception/FAQ that you'd like to double check? something else?)

•                What are you most interested in? (Flooring for the home, business, rental property, etc?)

•                Did we miss anything?  What are you most interested in and would like to see us write about in 2012?

Please comment and let us know!  We really do want to know what you think.

Happy New Year everyone!  Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo hope yours is full of hope, joy, peace, and opportunity.

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR NEW FLOORING.

Stocking Stuffer:  Gift Cards from Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo

Christmas is just around the corner. Where has this year gone? In past years, you have probably scoured the mall and the Internet in search of just the right gift for those special people on your list. Most people love giving gifts to friends and family, especially when they know it is something they are going to love. But, we find these days there is very little time to shop. So, giving gift cards is the gift of choice for many people.

No one can argue that the last several years have been tough on our wallets. Instead of doing the fun remodeling projects, most people have had to focus on those that were absolutely necessary and relinquish those projects that can wait. That’s part of the reason giving a Cinderella Carpet One gift card to your friends and family can be that perfect present. It hopefully gives them that small little nudge to get started on that home improvement project they’ve been putting off.

What homeowner do you know that isn’t always doing some sort of improvement project or renovation? A Cinderella gift card makes great stocking stuffers too. Gift cards are a great way to introduce friends and family to a locally owned store for flooring, window coverings and accessories. Cinderella gift cards come in any increments you desire. So, there’s a dollar value to match just about any budget. Contact us in Salinas or San Luis Obispo to purchase your card!

We would also like to thank you, our client and our readers for all your support this year.  To give is a tradition with Christmas.  Therefore we give you today our cordial thanks for the confidence in our company.  We hope that going into 2012, the future will be better for all of us.  The New Year will bring exciting projects, postings and updates to all our followers – so we look forward to seeing you!

Happy Holidays!

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY HOUSEGUESTS ARRIVE!

They are all coming over for the holidays, and they are bringing more than just presents. That’s right, your relatives along with their kids, their stuff, and lots of stress! However, you CAN be prepared with these helpful tips: 

DECLUTTER YOUR HOME

It's time to declutter and create some much-needed space. Your living room, family room, and other common rooms used for entertaining should be free of any furniture that you won't use. Old magazines, newspapers, mail, and other items should be sorted and recycled or discarded.

COMPLETE HOUSE REPAIRS

If your family has been dealing with a drippy faucet, squeaky door, or broken steps you should get these things taken care of before your guests arrive. A few small house repairs and improvements can make your home safer and more comfortable for your holiday houseguests. And gals, if you don’t have your own tools to get the job done it’s time to put those on your X-mas wish list.

CLEAN THE HOUSE ROOM BY ROOM

Pick a room each day or a few rooms each week. Or schedule a special session with your normal cleaning SERVICE. Don’t wait until the night before everyone arrives to start cleaning.

TAKE INVENTORY OF YOUR GUEST BEDROOM

Can your guests sleep in there comfortably? Does the room need to be CLEANED? Make sure all the bedding is fresh and super comfortable, vacuum the floor (don't forget under the bed), and make space in the closet for your guests' clothes. Provide clean towels and supplies in the bathroom and let them know where to find more. Make the room cozy with a sitting area, if possible.

If you don’t have a guest room, prepare a sleeping space for your guests, and make sure your family KNOWS that it is to be treated as a bedroom while they are there. Also give them a private place to change and wash up. If you don’t have space for relatives at all, do a little research and provide your relatives with local HOTEL information.

COOK AHEAD

Who wants to spend all your time in the kitchen when you have houseguests? Cook ahead and freeze some meals for dinner. Also, make sure your pantry and kitchen are stocked with staple items. Keep breakfast simple (cereal, granola and yogurt, or fresh fruit). Lunch can be sandwiches and salads.

DECORATE

You don't want to be hanging Christmas lights and setting up displays while your guests are in town. Prepare by decorating a little early. Keep things simple and elegant to avoid cluttering up your home and decorate green when possible.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Ask your guests if they have any special DIETARY needs before they arrive. This will help you avid any last minute trips to the grocery store.

GIFT GIVING

Have gifts wrapped and ready to DISTRIBUTE before your guests arrive. They are lots of fun to shake and look at for the kids in your family. This will also allow you to spend time with your family instead of locked up in your bedroom wrapping presents!

 HAVE FUN AND RELAX

Remember to ENJOY your company. Sharing your home can be stressful, but by cleaning and organizing in advance, you can have a relaxing time visiting with those you love!

Happy Holidays from Cinderella Carpet One, your local flooring expert in Salinas and San Luis Obispo.

HOW TO PREVENT HOLIDAY DAMAGE ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOOR!

Those high heels may make your holiday party dress look great but be sure to take them off before you walk on your hardwood.

The holiday season can bring a lot of wear and tear to your hardwood floors.  Don't worry though, Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo can help you prevent holiday damage. Even with family and friends tromping back and forth over your floors, and the spills from festive foods and drinks, protecting your hardwood flooring isn't as difficult or daunting as it may appear.   Below are some simple tips to protect your hardwood floors from the holidays:

No-Shoes Policy

Enforce a no-shoes policy to help protect your reclaimed wood floors. Provide a shoe rack and a place to perch while people take off their shoes in the entryway of your home. Include a basket with no-slip slippers near the shoe rack.
If a no-shoes policy won’t work have mats on both sides of the door so people can thoroughly wipe their feet before entering your home.  Check out Carpet One’s pink ribbon holiday welcome mat designs and support a great cause.

Area Rugs:

The winter season is quite chilly. By placing rugs in high-traffic areas - such as gathering spaces, on either side of beds, hallways, etc. - you are protecting your hardwood floor from heavy foot traffic, furniture and dropped objects.

Cleanliness
By cleaning your hardwood floors, you are protecting them from scratches and water damage while making your home look beautiful.  A good routine to follow is to sweep your flooring with either a soft- bristled broom or dry sweeping cloth daily and vacuum once a week.

Spill Patrol
Holidays are all about great food and drinks as well as surrounding yourself with friends and family, which of course goes hand-in-hand with accidents and spills. Though you can't really control accidents or spills, you can be prepared for when they happen on your hardwood floors. Create a spill kit to keep on hand; include a bucket filled with a set of clean rags, white vinegar, extra-fine steel wool, mineral spirits and floor wax. If your reclaimed wood flooring is already surface-sealed, all you need to do is wipe up the mess with dry rag - or for stickier situations, use a dampened rag with water or a white vinegar/water solution.

For candle wax spills on your floors, allow the wax to harden first. Then use a card or plastic putty knife to lift off or gently remove the wax. If there is any waxy residue left over, rub a used dryer sheet over the area. Then use a hairdryer on a low heat setting and attempt to melt the remaining wax, using paper towels to lift it. Lastly, use a cloth with an equal mixture of white vinegar and water to clean the area.                    

In order to have hardwood flooring that will last you for many holidays to come, make sure to properly maintain and protect it.

If you are looking for hardwood floors for your home or business? If you're in the market for reclaimed lumber or other sustainable wood products, contact Cinderella in Salinas or San Luis Obispo for a free in-home estimate so we can discuss all your options.

The Thanksgiving guests (and the leftovers) are gone. Get some tips for the carpet stains they left behind.

No one likes it when there is a spill on the floor, but with the help of Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo, it can be cleaned before becoming a permanent part of the carpet. The information listed below and on our floor maintenance page of our website will prepare you to properly deal with spills and keep your carpet clean for years to come.

Tip #1 - Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean.  Simply using water on a spill will help most of them. 

Tip #2 - If 
water doesn't work, simply expand your search.  You'll find numerous products on the market that can help you get rid of spills quick.  Most importantly, please consult your specific warranty for detailed cleaning instructions. Some manufacturers have precise warranty flooring maintenance requirements.                                                                                                                                                      

Tip #3 - Always try the cleaning product in a closet or somewhere less noticeable to be sure it won't discolor the carpet.                                                                                                                                                     

Tip #4 - Always blot the stain up, don't rub. If there's a lot of liquid or the stain seems to keep coming back use a thick towel and a weight of some kind to allow the stain to soak up into the towel. 

Tip #5 - You should vacuum your carpet immediately after a holiday gathering to avoid the food crumbs from sticking to your carpet and turning it into mold and bacteria. Go over the most trafficked carpet areas in several directions to allow the vacuum time to pick up all it can.  High quality vacuums are the best choice, as they get up the most debris, food crumbs, pet dander and soil and are better for extending the life of your carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the life of your carpet.  If you have just laid the carpet, you are already aware of the expenses involved with doing so.  Take a minute to check out the spot solver that will properly help you deal with spills before they become a permanent part of your carpet.

A clean carpet will add value to your home if it is maintained well.   Keeping your home free from molds and odors will help to make a comfortable living area for your friends and your family. And lastly, having these carpet cleaning tips in mind, your clean carpet will always look ready for another holiday party.

If you have additional questions regarding the maintenance of your floorcovering,  please do not hesitate to contact our store in Salinas or San Luis Obispo and we will be glad to assist you.

Happy Holidays! 

A THANKSGIVING MOMENT

Happy Thanksgiving from Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo

This is a short week coming up so we wanted to make sure we sent out our Thanksgiving wishes today!  We are so thankful to all our valued customers,  and our followers on Facebook and Twitter.  We are also thankful for all our employees in Salinas and San Luis Obispo that have made our stores a success over our 45 year history.

I hope your Thanksgiving is a bouquet of Roses this year and that you have time to enjoy every second with your friends and family.  Thanksgiving is about being thankful and we hope this video (in a very humorous way) reminds us all to be thankful as we head into the hectic holiday season.

You still have time to put your request into Santa for new floors for your home. Don’t be shy!

Thanksgiving’s arrival signals the start of colder temperatures, shorter days and for many people—pre-holiday panic!  The holidays will be here before you know it, and with them, holiday guests knocking at your door. You want your home to look its best when family and friends arrive.   Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo can give you those beautiful floors for the holidays!

THE KITCHEN

The kitchen floor always takes a beating so it might deserve the bulk of your attention.  Choose kitchen flooring that matches your priorities--durability, sustainability, low maintenance, or an open floor plan.

Choosing flooring for your kitchen-remodeling project is a critical design decision, one that unites all the elements of your kitchen. Not only that, kitchen flooring must perform extremely well, providing low maintenance, durability, and good looks without breaking your budget. With so many flooring options available, how can you be sure you're getting a product that provides the right combination of price and style-one that will provide years of satisfaction? Weigh the options based on your lifestyle and how you'll use your kitchen.

THE LIVING ROOM

The showcase of your home is usually the living room.  Most people put the majority of their decorations in the living room since it’s usually the first place the guests enter.  Don’t forget to look down.  If your carpet is badly stained or worn, new carpet or hardwood is definitely in order.  This new flooring could be the ideal foundation for all your Christmas decorations.

THE BATHROOM

Next to the kitchen, the bathroom will get the largest amount of traffic during the holidays.  If it needs new flooring, this is one room where it will cost the least to get the most since bathrooms usually have low square footage.

When choosing the right flooring for a bathroom, there's more to keep in mind than personal style. Some very specific factors come into play: Is your flooring, for instance, impervious to water? Will it stain easily when makeup takes a spill? Is it safe when walking across with wet feet?

There is no better time than now to get your home ready for the holidays.  Stop by our showroom in Salinas or San Luis Obispo  and pick out the flooring you want to make your home look its best.  Remember, we offer FREE in-home measurements so call or email us today.

CONTEMPRARY STYLING FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE NOW

Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo is proud to partner with Karastan to provide high quality floorcovering for your home.

Karastan carpet is one of the most established names in the carpet and rug industry. Its name has been synonymous with quality and innovation since they produced their first rug roughly 80 years ago.

If you are looking for a carpet manufacturer that has proven itself to be an industry leader, consider using Karastan carpeting in your home. Karastan has been a world-renowned carpet and rug manufacturer for years, and has a top-notch reputation to back up its name.

Although your choices in carpeting are widespread, with a number of name brands to choose from, Karastan carpet deserves a look if nothing more than to become aware of the wide range of patterns, textures and styles they offer.

What Products Do They Offer & What's Unique?

Karastan carpeting is made from synthetic fibers, like nylon, polyester and polypropylene (also known as olefin) as well as natural fibers such as wool. Some carpets are a blend of the two types of fibers.

At Cinderella Carpet One our sales consultants can guide you to the best material that suits your budget.

What Type Of Warranty Is Offered?

The warranties offered on Karastan carpet are similar to what would be expected of other large carpet and fiber manufacturers. These include warranties against:

•                abrasive wear

•                manufacturing defects

•                stain resistance

•                texture retention

•                fade resistance

•                anti-static

•                soil resistance

•                moth and insect problems (for wool carpets)

What sets their warranties apart from some others is their 20 year limited abrasive wear warranty and their limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Where To Get A Closer Look

Like with any other large home product such as flooring, you'll want to see the product up front and personal.  Before you actually get out and burn some gas, take advantage of the Karastan product catalog on our website. It's a good way to quickly see if there's a pattern, color or texture that interests you. Having done some prep work ahead of time will make your visit to our new showroom in Salinas and San Luis Obispo more efficient.