carpet maintenance guidelines commercial...see steps of effective restorative cleaning and...
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Carpet Maintenance GuidelinesCommercial
Carpet Maintenance GuidelinesCommercial
www.taipingcarpets.com
Carpet Maintenance Tips
Preventive Measures
1. Use entrance mats to keep dirt from entering or spreading through the building and clean them more frequently
than the carpet. See proper type and size on page 3.
2. Atleastonceamonthreplaceairfiltersandinspectairductsoftenforbuild-upofcontaminants
Vacuuming: Carpet must be vacuumed routinely
1. Lighttrafficareas:Vacuumasneeded,butatleastonceortwiceaweek
2. Moderatetrafficareas:Vacuumasneeded,butatleastevery2–3days
3. Hightrafficareas:Vacuumdaily–entrances,corridors,breakareas,elevators,andwork/copyrooms.
Routine vacuuming is the most important part of any maintenance program.
See guidelines for vacuum cleaner types and frequencies of vacuuming on page 4.
Treatment of Spots and Spills
1. Check for spots daily and treat immediately
2. ActQuickly!Thelongerthedelay,highertheprobabilityforapermanentstain.
3. Blotliquidswithadry,white,absorbentclothorplainwhitepaper.Donotscrubthearea.Continuetoblotuntil
the area is essentially dry.
4. Gentlyscrapeupsemi-solidswithroundedspoonandvacuum.Donotaddmoisture.
5. RemoveSpotsandStainswithwaterfirst.Thespillmaybesimplyremovedwithjustwater.
6. Ifwaterdoesn’tremovethespill,locatethespillonthespotremovalchartonpage13andfollowthedirections
carefully.
7. Whenusingstainremovalcleaners,followthemanufacturer’srecommendationsforuse,includingproper
ventilation.
Restorative Measures
1. Restorative cleaned at regular intervals at least twice a year or more frequent for heavy use areas.
2. Remove dry soil from carpet by dry vacuuming before applying cleaning chemicals
3. Afterrestorativecleaning,besurethatthecarpetisessentiallydrybeforeallowingfoottraffic.Thedryingtime
should not exceed 12 hours.
Seestepsofeffectiverestorativecleaningandprecautionsonpage5–7.
Recommended Carpet Cleaning Methods: Understand basic wet and dry carpet cleaning methodologies before
havingacarpetcleaned,onpage8.
Cleaning Method for Various Fibers:Seeprecautionsandguidelinesforwool,silk,cotton,linen,rayon,sisal,jute,
nylon,olefinandpolyesteronpage9–10.
Troubleshooting Common Carpet Issuesincludeburns,crushing,depressions,fading,filtrationsoiling,fluffing,
matting,shading,pilereversal,watermarking,soiling,sprouting,mothandbeetlecontrol,areonpage14–15.
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Maintenance Plan and Schedule
Acustomizedcomprehensivecarpetcareprogramconsistsoffiveelements:
1. SoilContainment–isolationofsoilenteringthebuildingusingmatsatentrances.
2. Vacuuming–scheduledfrequencyforremovalofdrysoil.
3. SpotandSpillRemovalSystem–usingprofessionalspotremovaltechniques.
4. InterimCleaning–scheduledfrequencyappearancecleaningforalltrafficareas.
5. RestorativeCleaning–scheduledfrequencydeepcleaningtoremoveresiduesandtrappedsoils.
Clean and Dry – Improving air quality and environment
Keepingtheenvironmentdryisaveryimportantprocess.Topreventthegrowthofbacteriaandmold,oneshouldim-
mediatelyattendtoliquidspillsandfixsourcesofexcessmoistureandhumidity.Airmovers,HVAChandlingsystems
anddehumidifierswillassistinthedryingprocessofhighermoisturelevelcleaningprocesses.
Carpethasaunique,positive“filter-like”orparticletrappingfeaturethattendstoholdparticlestothefloorthatmight
otherwisebeairborne.Matterbeingheldbythe“filter-like”featureofcarpetcanbetakenoutofthebuildinginsteadof
re-circulatingintheaircontinually,byusingahighpowervacuumcleaner.Refreshingtheindoorenvironmentcanbe
as easy as following a regular vacuuming and restorative cleaning schedule.
Basedontheavailablescience,carpetdoesnotincreasetheincidenceorseverityofasthmaorallergiesinchildrenand
adults.Fromthestandpointofasthmaandallergies,wellmaintainedcarpetissafe.
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Developing a Carpet Maintenance PlanThereareseveralconsiderationswhendevelopingacarpetmaintenanceplan,includingbuildinglayout,planning
fortrafficflow,activities,andpropercleaning,whichincludespreventivemeasures,interimmeasuresandrestorative
cleaning.
Preventive measuresPreventive measures consist of using outside mats capable of scraping debris off shoes and have the capability to hold
that material. Inside mats should remove smaller particles of dirt as well as oils and other liquids that can be tracked in
from outside. (See Figure 2)
Outsideentrance–usesoil-removalmatsthathaveacoarsetexture,areabletobrushsoilfromshoesandholdlarge
amounts of soil in their pile.
Insidemats–usewaterabsorbentmatstopreventtracked-inmoisturefromgettingtothecarpet.Matsthatextendfor
6to15stepsinsidetheentrancewilltrapeightypercentofsoilandmoisturefromthefirstfiveorsixsteps.Usingboth
typesofmatsatentranceshelpspreventexcessivesoilingoncarpet.Keepingparkinglots,sidewalksandentrances
clean will cut down on the tracking in of debris.
Protectivematsshouldbeusedaroundfoodstations,watercoolers,elevatorsandstairthresholdstopreventmoisture
and dirt from becoming ground into carpet.
Formatstocontinuetotrapsoil,theyshouldbecleanedonaregularbasis,morefrequentlythanthecarpet.Ifaccumu-
latedsoilisnotremoved,thematwillbecomeoverloadedandcannotpreventsoilfromenteringthebuilding.Other
preventivetipsincluderestrictingfoodandbeverageconsumptiontospecificareas,requiringlidsondrinksorover-
sized cups and by placing trashcans in easily accessible areas.
Interim measuresInterimmeasuresincludevacuuming,spotcleaning,andrestorativecleaninginhigh-trafficareas.
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Effective,routinevacuumingisamustforgoodcarpetperformance,soapropervacuumingprogramisessentialina
well designed maintenance program. The most important features of your vacuuming maintenance program will be
identifyinghigh,medium,andlowtrafficareasbycontinuallymonitoringcarpetperformanceandmakinganyneces-
saryadjustmentstotheschedule.
Whenselectingequipment,ratherthanchoosingequipmentbasedsolelyoncost,lookfordurabilityinavacuum
cleanertoreducelong-termcostofmaintainingorreplacingtheequipment.
Efficientvacuumcleanersofferhighairflow,highefficiencyfiltrationandanadjustablerotatingbrushagitationfor
more effective soil removal. By using a powerful brush vacuum cleaner the pile opens and the coarse soiling is directed
intothevacuumsuctionflowandextractedbythemechanicaleffectofthemotordrivenbrushroller.Always
usethemanufacturer’srecommendedbagsandaccessories.Duetowearonthebrushrollersandbelts,theseshould
be changed on a regular basis.
Theuseofthecorrectvacuumcleanercanextendthelifeofthecarpet,willhelptocontaintherespirableparticlesgen-
eratedbythevacuumingprocess,andavoidsdamagetothecarpet.Somehighpilecarpetsrequirealternativevacuums
to ensure damage does not occur during vacuuming. These high pile styles are typically referred to as high nap frieze or
shags.Themostsuitablevacuumtypeformaintaininghighpilecarpetisreferredtoas“straightairappliances”.They
are different from the typical vacuum cleaners in that they do not have brush roll agitators. The preferred styles are
canisterorcentralvacuumsystems.AcorrectlydesignedtoolshouldglideeasilyandhasnobrushesorVelcrotyperub
stripsthatcanfraythecarpettufts.Cleaningefficiencyisenhancedwhenthecarpetisvacuumedfrommultipledirec-
tions as opposed to straight line back and forth movement.
Inheavilyfrequentedareassuchasdesks,beneathchaircastorsandthemainwalkareassuitablebrushvacuumsys-
temsarerecommended.Theuseofthebrushrollerswillstraightenthecompactedfibrematerial,preventingsticking
andpermanentfibrechanges.Pleasenotethatmoistsoilingmustnotbehandledwithabrushvacuumasthiswilllead
to a distribution of the soiling by the brush roller.
Oncetheequipmenthasbeenselected,setascheduleforfrequencyofvacuuming.Usingthefacilitydiagram,classify
carpetareasintohightraffic,moderatetraffic,andlighttrafficareas.
Vacuumhightrafficareasdaily,ormorefrequentlyastheneedarises.
Vacuummoderatetrafficareasasneeded,butatleasttwotothreedayseachweek.
Vacuumlighttrafficareasasneeded,butatleastonceortwiceaweek.(SeeFigure2)
• Hightrafficareasinclude:entrances,hallways,breakrooms,cafeterias,corridors,elevatorlobbies,stairways,
mainaisles,andwaitingareas.
• Moderatetrafficareasinclude:secondaryaisles,researchareas,conferencerooms,classrooms,andatriums.
• Lighttrafficareasinclude:offices,cubicles*,storagerooms,andexecutiveareas.
[*Cubiclesaresometimesconsideredalowtrafficarea;however,chairmatsshouldbeusedtoprotectagainstchairroll-
ers and food spills which can decrease the performance of the carpet.]
Vacuum care tips
Periodicallyinspectvacuummachine:
• Keeptheinstructionsthatcamewithvacuumandrefertothemperiodically.
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• Keepbrushescleanandreplacethemwhenworn.Typically,wornbrushesarestiff,andtheycausesurfacetexture
change on carpet.
• Lookforroughedgesorbentmetalonvacuummachinethatcansnagcarpet.
Dailyremovalofspotsandspillshelpsmaintainthecarpet’sappearance.Immediateactionagainstspotsandspillsalso
reduces the probability of a permanent stain.
Restorative measuresRestorative measures consist of deep cleaning. Restorative cleaning is effective at removing embedded abrasive soil.
Restorative cleaning should be implemented before the soil in the carpet is easily visible in order to preserve carpet
finishesandlife.
Cleaningisthetraditionalactivityofremovingcontaminants,pollutants,andundesiredsubstancesfromanenviron-
ment or surface to reduce damage or harm to human health or valuable materials. Carpet cleaning is the process of
locating,identifying,containing,removing,andproperlydisposingofunwantedsubstancesfromafibroussurfaceor
material.Aprimaryobjectiveofcarpetcleaningistomaximizetheremovalofunwantedorforeignmatterfromthe
carpet and to minimize residues in the carpet.
Basic Scientific Principles of Effective Restorative Cleaning
Thebasicscientificprinciplesofeffectiverestorativecleaningcanbedividedintofivemajorsteps:drysoilremoval,soil
suspension,soilextraction,pilesetting(finishingorgrooming),anddrying.
Principle 1: Dry Soil Removal (Dry Vacuuming)-Drysoilremovalisaccomplishedinphases:
• Pilepreparation(usinggroomingtools)isemployedtountanglethefiberofhigh-pilecarpet,andmustprecede
dry vacuuming.
• Overallvacuumingwithanefficientvacuumcleaner.
• Concentratedentryareavacuuming(removalofthedestructivebuild-upofabrasivesoil).
• Vacuumingtheperimeteroftheroomtoremovefinedustandsoilsthatcansettleinthecrevicesaroundthe
room,causingfiltrationsoiling.*
*FiltrationSoilingisatermusedtodescribedark,grayishlinesthatmayappeararoundbaseboards,underdoors,along
theedgesofstairs,andpossiblyawayfromwallswhereplywoodsub-flooringmaterialshavebeenjoined.Itiscausedby
airflowoverandthroughthecarpetthatallowsfine,airbornesoilstosettleonthecarpetsurface.
Principle 2: Soil Suspension–Oncedrysoilhasbeenremovedfromthecarpet,soilsuspension(pre-conditioning)
procedures begin. Soil suspension and removal are the most critical steps in effective carpet cleaning. The goal of soil
suspensionistoseparatesoilfromfibersurfaces.Therearefourfundamentalactivitiestobeaccomplishedunderthe
soilsuspensionprinciple.Thesearechemicalaction,elevatedtemperature(heat),agitationandtime.
Chemical action is employed in two phases of the cleaning process.
• Inthefirstphase,chemicalsareusedtopreparethecarpetforcleaningbyreducingsurfacetensionanddissolving
varioussoils.Thisstep,called‘pre-conditioning’isessential.Itisunreasonabletosuggestthatsoils,whichhave
beengroundintocarpet,alongwithoilsthathavehadyearstooxidizeordryout,couldbesuspendedadequately
in the few seconds that elapse between the application and removal phase employed with restorative cleaning
method.Therefore,rememberthatpre-conditioningtakestime.
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• Thesecondphaseofchemicalactivityoccurswhenchemicalsaremixedintorinsesolutionstosuspendlightsoil
thataccumulateinnon-trafficareas,alongbaseboards,orunderfurniture.Therefore,chemicalsproperlyformu-
lated,mixedandappliedduringpreconditioningareessentialforfulleffectivecleaning.
Elevated Temperature (Heat)–Heatreducesthesurfacetensionofwaterandenablesfaster,moreefficientcleaningthan
coldwater.Itismerelyamatterofthermodynamics:heatacceleratesthemolecularactivityofchemicalsemployed,
andthusaidsinseparationofunwantedmatterfromfibers.
Agitation–Agitationinsomeformisrequiredtoaccomplishuniformchemicalpenetrationanddistribution.Without
agitation,soilsuspensiontendstobenon-uniform,whichisoftenindicatedbysoilstreaksfollowingtheremovalproc-
ess.Agitation,usingacommon,multi-bristledbrushorcombtoworkinpre-conditionerchemicalsismosteffective
andtime-efficient.Brushagitationreferstothefore-and-aftstrokingofpreconditionedcarpetpilethroughouttraffic
areas,placingparticularemphasisonentry,pivot,andheavilysoiledareas.Mechanicalagitationinvolvestheuseof
mechanizedrotaryorcylindrical,nylon-bristledbrushactiontoachieveaggressiveagitationanddistributionofpre-
conditioning chemicals into the carpet pile.
Time –Thefourthfundamental,time,isoftentheleastconsidered.Soilsdepositedandcompactedoverextended
periodsbetweencleaningstaketimetodissolveandbecomesuspended.Pre-conditionerchemicalsrequireprolonged
contactor“dwelltime”foradequatefiberpenetrationandsoilsuspensiontooccur.Basedonchemicalformulation
andapplicationtemperature,dwelltimecanvary,usually10to15minutes.Followpre-conditionerchemicalmanufac-
turer’s label instructions.
Principle 3: Soil Extraction–Soilisanunwantedsubstancethatisforeigntotheconstructionofthecarpet.Inorder
toachieveeffectivecleaning,suspendedsoilsmustberemovedphysically(extractedorrinsed)ascompletelyaspossible
from the carpet’s pile.
Principle 4: Pile Setting(FinishingorGrooming)–Theterm“finishing”referstoanyprocedurethatenhancesthe
appearanceofcarpetbeyondthephysicalsoilremovalprocesstoimprovetheperceptionofcleanliness.Generally,pile
settingorgroomingemploysoneofseveralfinishingorpile-groomingtools(carpetbrush,comb)specificallydesigned
for this purpose. Most low loop pile carpet does not require pile setting.
Principle 5: Drying–Cleaningisnotcompleteuntilcarpetisdryandreadytobetrafficked.Dryingcarpetisessential
forseveralreasons:
• Itisrequiredtoreturnthecarpettouserassoonaspossible.
• Dryingcarpetessentiallyeliminatesslip-fallhazards,especiallyinareaswherecarpettransitionstohardsurfaces.
• Rapiddryingeliminatesthepotentialformicroorganismgrowth(bacteriaandfungi)andassociatedmustyodors,
inadditiontohealthhazardsthatmayariseifcarpetstayswetinexcessof12hours.Adequateventilationisnec-
essarytospeeddryingtime.Theuseofcommercialairmovers(dryingfans),HVAChandlingsystemsordehu-
midifiersgreatlyreducedryingtime.
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Afacility-widerestorativecleaningshouldtakeplaceatleasttwiceayeartoremovetheaccumulationofsoiloverlooked
during daily maintenance.
[Note:Inspectheavyuseareasforslightdullingofcolor.Thisindicatesabuildupofsoilandrequiresmorefrequent
restorative cleaning.]
Precautions
Duringrestorativecleaningofcarpet,followseveralcommonsenseprecautions:
• Alwaysvacuumfirst.
• Applypre-spray,followingchemicalmanufacturer’slabelinstructions,andagitateintothecarpet’sfibersallow-
ingadwelltimeofusually10to15minutes.
• Ifusingachemicalcleaningagent,itisimportanttousearinsesystemtoremoveanypotentialchemicalclean-
ing residue from the carpet yarn that might result in a high rate of resoil.
• Whenproperlyperformed,restorativecleaningmethodsshouldleavethecarpetdrywithinsixtoeighthours.
Humidityorenvironmentalconditionsmayextenddryingtime,butundernocircumstancesshoulddryingtime
exceed 12 hours.
• Supplynaturalormechanicalventilationduringthecleaninganddryingphasesofrestorativecleaning.
Adequateventilationisnecessarytospeeddryingtime.Theuseofcommercialairmovers(dryingfans),HVAC
handlingsystemsordehumidifiersgreatlyreducedryingtime.
• Followdirectionsformixingsolutionscarefully.Usingasolutionstrongerthantheconcentrationrecommended
willnotimprovecleaningefficiencyandmayleavebehinddetergentresiduethatcanleadtoacceleratedsoiling.
• Limitaccesstodampcarpetuntilitiscompletelydrytoavoidrapidresoiling.
• Furnitureshouldnotbemovedbackintotheroomuntilcarpetiscompletelydry.
Note:Iffurniturehastobemovedbackintotheroombeforecarpetiscompletelydry,besuretousealuminum
foil under the legs of furniture to prevent rust or furniture stains from developing on the carpet.
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Carpet Cleaning Methods
All recommended carpet cleaning methods below offer various advantages. Properly performed under appropriate
conditions,eachmethodcanprovidesatisfactoryresults.Acombinationofmethodscanbeusedtoachievethedesired
results.
Wet Cleaning system:
Wetcleaningmethodsareeffectiveforhighlysoiledcarpets,withheavyoil/greases/soilbuildup.Jute-backedcarpets
andlooserugswithnaturalfoundationyarnscouldshrinkafterawettreatment,leadingtosuppositionsthatwet-
cleaningcouldalsoremovewrinkles.Overwettingiscommonwiththismethodwhichcancausebackingdelamintion,
straining,shrinkage,andodor.Wetcleaningsystemsnaturallyrequiredryingtime.
• Carpet Shampooing: the cleaning solution is showered onto the carpet through several openings in a rotary brush.
The rotary action of the brush whips the detergent into a foam and provides agitation or rubbing action on the
carpet.(Caremustbetakennottodamagecarpetwhilstcleaning;useofastiffbristlebrushcandamagethecarpet,
especiallycutpile.)Thissuspendsthesoil,andthewet/dryvacuumingthatfollowsremovesit.Thismethodwill
leaveresidueswhichpromotere-soilingtrappedinthecarpetpile.Carpetmustbethoroughlyvacuumedbeforeand
aftercleaningandrinsedaftershampooingtoremoveresidues.Carpetshampooswillfrequentlyalsohaveananti-
resoiling additive such as a resin to reduce this resoiling tendency. The encapsulation cleaning solution may be used
tocreateacrystallineresiduethatcanbevacuumedandthisavoidsthedryingtimeofcarpetshampoos,makingthe
carpet immediately available for use.
• Hot Water Extraction: hot water cleaning solution is sprayed on the carpet and immediately extracted (along with
thedissolvedsoil)byawetvacuum.Actualsteamcoulddamagemanmadecarpetfibersorshrinknaturalfiberssuch
as wool. The advantage of the hot water extraction cleaning method is that effective cleaning is possible using only
hot water or hot water with very diluted detergent solutions. This avoids the problems associated with detergent
residues that can remain in the carpet.
Dry Cleaning system or “very low moisture” (VLM) system:
Drymethodsthatusedrychemicalsordryfoamsaregenerallybestforpublicorhightrafficareaswhereamorethor-
ough wetting could be a problem and they are typically used with periodic deep cleaning. The theory is that the liquids
dissolvethesoilandthissoil/detergent/solventmixtureisabsorbedintothecarrierandisthenvacuumedup.Heavily
soiledareasrequiretheapplicationofmanualspotting,orofpretreatments,preconditioners,or“traffic-lanecleaners”,
whicharedetergentsoremulsifiersthatbreakthebindingofdifferentsoilstocarpetfibersoverashortperiodoftime,
commonlysprayedontocarpetpriortotheprimaryuseofthedry-cleaningsystem.
• Dry Chemical or Foam: An absorbent cleaning compound is spread evenly over carpet and brushed or scrubbed
in.Dirtandgrimeisattractedtothecompound,whichisthenafterashortperiodvacuumedoff,leavingcarpet
immediatelycleananddry.Theprocesscanberepeated,ifnecessary,withoutdamagetothecarpetandwillremove
most surface soil. A potential drawback is that if not properly applied and removed the dry materials can act as dirt
attractants.
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Which Cleaning Method for Various Fibers?
Natural fibersmayrequirespecializedcare;thereforerelyonthefollowingrecommendationsforcleaning:
Woolisobviouslyafavoritefiberforcarpetsandbecauseofitsnaturalresiliencywilllastmanyyearsinaresidentialor
contractsetting.Excessiveagitationandexcessiveheatshouldbeavoidedasitmayshrink/felt.Wooliseasilydamaged
bybleachesandalkalis.Cleanwoolwithneutraldetergents(pH5.0-8.0)anddryquicklytolimityellowingorbrowing.
Silkisaverydelicatefibre;thecleaningofsilkfibersisbestlefttocarpet-cleaningprofessionals.Abrasive cleaning will
easilydamageasilkrug,andcaremustbetakentoensurethatcleaningiseffectiveandsafe.Silkshouldbecleanedus-
ing a dry cleaning process with little water and neutral to slightly acidic pH or gently blot with a cloth dampened with
equal parts white vinegar and water and then allow it to dry. Chemical cleaners or stain removers must never be used
forsilkcleaning.Thesefibersmaybedamagedbyhightemperatures,highpH(>9)andsunlight,andwilllosestrength
and may turn yellow when wet.
Cottoniscellulosicfiber.Mostcellulosicfibersaresubjecttobrowningifprolongeddryingoccursorifalkalinesolu-
tionsareused.Cottoncanbedegradedbyacidsandifthesefibersareoverwet,shrinkingmayoccur.Avoidexcessive
agitation.Usefans,airblowersorcarpetdryersforfastdryingsincecottonwilltakelongertodrythanlessabsorbent
fibers.
Linen (flax) isastrongfiberthatdoesn’tstretchwhenpulled.Butbecauseit’sahardfibertoo,itdoesn’treadilystand
uptotraffic.Linencarpetsshouldbecleanedusingadrycleaningmethodandthendriedassoonaspossibletoprevent
mildewandshrinkage.Thesefiberscanbedamagedbybleach.Thecarpetcleaningshouldbeundertakenbyaprofes-
sional carpet cleaner.
Rayon (viscose)isthefirstmanmaderegeneratedcellulosicfiber.Itbreakseasilywhenwetandmustbedriedquickly
topreventmicrobialgrowth.Rayonispronetoshrinkingwhenwatersoakedandhasatendencyto“bleed”dye.Dry
cleaningisanoptiontocleanthistypeofrug.Drythewetareasquicklybyusinganairmoverorfanordehumidifier
to speed the process. Rayon’s tendency to break can leave the rug’s appearance altered after washing. Spot treating
mayresultindiscoloredpatches,orpatchesthatdifferintexture.Ifwashingorspottreatingarayonrug,patdry---
neverscrub.Leavingtherugtodryinthesunwillnotaltertheappearance.However,itisbesttohaveaprofessional
clean a rayon rug.
Plant fibersincludesisal,andjute.Forthesefibers,itisbesttouseacarpet-cleaningprofessional.Itisimportant dur-
ingcleaningtocontroltheamountofmoisture.Itisnotrecommendedthatthenaturalfiberbesteamcleaned,wet
shampooed or any other method that involves water saturation. It is recommended that a dry cleaning process be used.
ThesefibersaresubjecttobrowningifcleanedwithahighpH(>7.5)andmayreleasecolorduringcleaning.
• Sisal is naturally stain resistant and very durable. It also doesn’t build up static electricity. Sisal rugs are also very
durableandwillnotcompressorshowasmanywearpatternsaswall-to-wallcarpeting.Sisalrugshouldnotbeused
inhighhumidityorwetareas,suchasbathroomsorkitchens.Sincesisalisanorganicmaterial,itcandevelopwater
stains.
• Juteisadurablefiberandcanwithstandabrasion.Itiseco-friendlywithinsulatingandantistaticproperties. It is
anefficientlylow-thermalconductivitysubstance.However,thefiberisabsorbent,andtendstoweakenandturn
yellow due to excessive exposure to sunlight. When exposed to moisture it becomes prone to microbes and mildew
growth.Incaseofanaccidentalspill,immediatelyvacuumandcleanassoonaspossibleandthentreatwithsoapy
water,blotandblowdrytoremovemoisture.
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Synthetic fibers may be cleaned with most cleaning methods and products on the market that are safe for synthetic
carpets.
Nylonisknownasadurablefiber.Nyloncarpetscanbecleanedwithmostcleaningagents.Cleansersthathaveahigh
alkaline content may cause a nylon carpet to lose its ability to resist stains. Cleaning agents that work with steam clean-
ersshouldhaveapHlowerthan10toavoidreducingthecarpet’sstainresistance.
Solution Dyed Nylon isayarncolorationprocessinwhichpigmentisaddedtothepolymermeltbeforethefiberis
extrudedintoyarn.Thecolor,therefore,isaninherentpartoftheyarnitself.Althoughsolutiondyeingdoesnotoffer
aswideacolorselectionasotherdyemethods,itscolorsarethemostpermanent.Solutiondyedyarnishighlyresistant
tocolorlossthroughfadingfromsunlight,ozone,orharshcleaningagentsandbleach.
Olefin althougholefindoesnothavethe“strength”ofnylonandtendstomatdownand“uglyout”faster,ithas
someexcellentqualities.Olefinisagoodchoiceinareaswheremoistureisprevalent,suchasinabasementoraround
aswimmingpool.It’snaturallystainresistant,whichmeansit’sagoodchoicewhenchildrenandsoftdrinksarein
abundance.Butit’sabadchoiceforareaswhereoilsandgreaseswillbeprominent,suchasinaroomclosetoagarage
or right off a city street or paved parking area.
Polyesteriseasytocleanandrepelswaterbasedstain.Itisagoodchoiceforlow-trafficareas,andareasthathavespot
andstainconcerns.Polyesterfibershaveatendencytoholddirtandmatdowninhigh-trafficareas.
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Spills and Spots and How to Effectively Treat Them
Spillsandspotsareinevitable,buttheydon’thavetobepermanent.Thereshouldbeanimmediatereactiontoremove
incidentalspills,mud,oil,tar,etc.,fromthesurfaceofthecarpet.Thesecontaminantsshouldberemovedasquicklyas
possible to prevent the spill on the carpet from becoming a permanent stain.
Complete removal of many common spills may require the repeated use of a single solution or the use of a combina-
tionofsolutions.Alwaysusethespot-cleaningsolutionsintheconcentrationsrecommended.
SPOT REMOVAL STEPSSTEP 1
• Act quickly! Thelongerthedelay,thehighertheprobabilityaspillwillbecomeapermanentstain.
• Vacuumalldryspills/solidsthattypicallydonotcausestainsorgentlyscrapeupsemisolidsthatcouldcausestains
witharoundedspoonandvacuum.Ifastainoccurs,followtheproceduresforremovingspotsandstains.Donot
pour any liquid onto a dry spill as it may create additional problems.
• Liquidspillsshouldbeblottedwithadry,white,absorbentclothorplain,whitepapertowels.Donotscrubthearea!
Continuetoblotuntiltheareaiscompletelydry.Ifastainoccurs,followtheproceduresforremovingspotsand
stains.
STEP 2
• Applywatertothespillfirst.Especiallyifthespotisfresh,watermaybeallthatisneededtoremovethespill.Ifwater
doesn’tremovethespill,proceedasfollows.
• Locatethespillonthespotremovalchart(Figure4)andfollowthedirectionscarefully.
• Pretestanyspotremovalagentinaninconspicuousareatomakecertainthesolutionwillnotdamagethefiberor
thedye.Afterapplyingseveraldropstothetestingarea,holdawhiteclothonthewetareafortenseconds.Examine
thecarpetandclothforcolortransfer,colorchange,ordamagetothecarpet.Ifachangeoccurs,anothercleaning
solution must be selected.
STEP 3
• Applyasmallamountoftheselectedcleaningsolutiontoawhiteclothandblot.Workfromtheedgesofthespillto
thecentertopreventthespillfromspreading.Donotscrub!Blot,absorbingasmuchaspossible,andrepeat,ifnec-
essary.
• Continueusingthefirstcleaningsolutionaslongasthereisatransferofthespilltothecloth.Itisnotnecessaryto
useallofthecleaningsolutionsifthefirstsolutionremovesthespill.Bepatient!Completeremovalofthespillmay
require repeating the same step several times.
STEP 4
• Rinsetheaffectedareathoroughlywithclearwaterafterthespillhasbeenremoved.Blotwithadryclothuntilall
of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely
removed.Smallextractionmachinesdesignedforrinsingafterspotcleaningareanexcellentinvestment.Dryab-
sorbent polymer can also be used to absorb and remove any residues left behind by the spot cleaning agent.
• Placeaone-halfinchlayerofwhitepapertowelsovertheaffectedareatoabsorballthemoistureandweighdown
withaflat,heavyobjectthatwillnottransfercolor.Continuetochangepapertowelsasneeded.
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Descriptions of Spot Removal Solutions
Dry Cleaning Fluid/ Solvent:
Volatile Solvent(Afast-evaporatingdrycleaningfluid)–Exercisecautionwhenusingasolvent.Anon-flammablespot
removalsolutionispreferred.Neverpouravolatilecleaningsolventdirectlyontothecarpet.Volatilecleaningsolvents
will destroy the latex that holds the carpet components together.
Non-volatile Solvents(Referredtoaspaint,oilandgreaseremovers)–Thistypeofcleaningsolventevaporatesslower
formoreeffectivecleaning.Non-volatilesolventscanleaveresiduesthatmaycauserapidsoiling.Whenusinganon-
volatileremover,alwaysrinsetheareathoroughlywithavolatilesolvent.
Nail Polish Remover–Usenailpolishremoverswithoutconditioners.Nailpolishremoverscontainingamylorethyl
acetate and also contain alcohol to assist in rinsing residues.
Detergent Solution –Mix¼teaspoonliquid(non-lanolin,
non-bleachthatdestroydyes,noopticalbrightenersthatdyethefiber)handdishwashingdetergentwithonecup
warmwater(orvolumemixingratioof1:200),ormixprofessionallyformulateddetergentsolutionsaccordingtothe
manufacturer’srecommendations.AlwaysuseadetergentwithapHoflessthan10.Careshouldbeusedinselectinga
detergent.Aprofessionallyformulatedneutraldetergentsolution,specificallydesignedforuseoncarpet,shouldalso
beconsideredforconsistentspotremovalresults.Allowthedetergentsolutiontoremainontheaffectedareafor10to
15 minutes to lift the stain. Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling.
You may need to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues.
Warm Water Rinse –Uselukewarmtapwaterinmostcases(exceptthebloodspot)torinsethespottingagentfrom
thefiber.Failuretocompletelyrinsethesolutionsfromthefibermaycauseacceleratedsoiling,alsowickingwilloccur
if contaminate is not totally removed.
White Vinegar Solution–Mixequalpartswhitevinegar(a5%aceticacidsolution)andwater.Thisisusedmostoften
to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills removing residue. A professional solution may
also be used (available from sanitation suppliers).
Ammonia Solution–Mixonetablespoonofhouseholdammoniaandonecupofwater(orvolumemixingratioof
1:16),oruseaprofessionalproteinspotter(availablefromcleaningsuppliers).
Spot Removal Kit–Availablefrommostcarpetretailstoresandprofessionalcarpetcleaningsuppliers.Followdirec-
tionsclosely!Somespotremovalkitscontainadetergentsolutionandastain-resistsolution.Useofthestain-resist
solution prior to the complete removal of the spill may cause a permanent stain. (Other spot removal kits may have dry
absorbent cleaning products for fast spot removal). It is suggested that a professional spotting kit be purchased and that
a portable spot extractor be used.
Spot Removal Residue Precautions!
Althoughyourdetergentselectionisimportant,itisevenmoreimportanttoremoveallthedetergentyouputintothe
carpet.Adetergent’sabilitytobindtoparticlesofsoilandoiliswhatmakescleaninghappen.However,thedetergent
residue continues to attract and hold soil even after drying. Increasing the amount of detergent beyond the recom-
mendedleveldoesnotincreasecleaningperformancebutmakesthecompleteremovalofdetergentmoredifficult.A
small,portableextractorisrecommendedforefficientrinsingandspotremoval.Asolutionofequalpartswhitevinegar
(5%aceticacidsolution)andwatercanbeusedtoremoveheavydetergentresidue.Remember:Neveruseanyofthe
solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended.
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Avoid Overwetting –Prolongeddampnessmaycausediscoloration,promotegrowthofmoldandbacteriainthe
carpet,orcauseseparationofthebacking.
NOTE: *Useonlycoldwaterwhenremovingbloodstains.
**Freezechewinggumorcandlewaxwithicebyplacingtheiceinametalpanandsettingpanontopofwax
orgum.Allowtositforabout10minutes,untilfrozen.Breakwithabluntinstrument(e.g.aknifehandle).Vacuumup
thepieces.Repeatuntilremoved.Usingalcoholoradrycleaningsolventonawhiteabsorbentcloth,blotthespotto
dissolvetheremainingresidueandremovewithfingers.
How to use the Spot Removal Chart
1. Look on the left side of the chart to locate the type of spot or stain to be removed.
2. Acrossthetopofthechart,seetheappropriatemethodsofremovingaspotorstain.
3. Oncetypeofspotorstainislocated,lookinthecenterofthechartandfollowalongthetypeofspotorstaindoing
step1first.
4.Ifthefirststepremovesthespotorstain,continueusingthisaslongasthereisimprovementinremovingspot,it
isn’t necessary to move to the next step.
5.Ifnoimprovement,proceedtostep2.Followthestepsinorderuntilspotorstainisremoved.
6. Rinse with water and blot with a dry cloth to remove any residues of cleaning agent every time before changing the
cleaning solution.
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Troubleshooting
Followingcarpetinstallation,questionsmayarisepertainingtocommoncharacteristicsofcarpet.Thesecharacteristics
are usually for a short duration or are easily remedied.
Burns
Burndamagecanberemediedonlybyreweaving,retufting,orresectioningthedamagedarea.However,insomecases,
the appearance of an area of charred carpet can be improved by carefully clipping off blackened ends of tufts using
small,sharpscissors.Trimsurroundingtuftstominimizeindention.
Crushing
Crushingisthelossofpilethicknessduetofoottraffic.Itisnotamanufacturingdefect.Regularvacuumingcanhelp
reduce crushing.
Depressions
The weight of heavy pieces of furniture can put indentions in carpet. Use furniture glides or cups under the legs of
heavypieces,oroccasionallymoveyourfurnitureafewinchesbackwardorsidewayssothattheweightisnotcon-
centratedinoneplace.Ifdepressionsdooccur,saturatetheindentionswithwaterbyaspraybottle.Applyheattothe
indention with a hairdryer set on high. Hold the hairdryer a few inches above the indention. Continue applying heat
anduseyourfingerstogentlyworkthepileuprightandintheoppositedirectionuntilcompletelydry.
Fading or Color Loss
Protect carpet from direct sunlight to minimize fading or color loss. Fading can be caused by emissions from heating
fuelsorchemicals,suchaspesticides,householdcleaningagents,andotherhouseholditems.
Filtration Soiling
Filtrationsoilingmayappearasdarkorgrayishlinesoncarpetalongwalls,stairways,aroundvents,andunderdoors.
Itiscausedbyairflowoverandthroughthecarpetthatallowsfine,airbornesoilstosettleonthecarpetsurface.This
typeofsoiling,whilesometimespermanent,requiresspecialtreatmentsforeffectiveremoval.Contactacarpetclean-
ing professional for assistance.
Fluffing or Shedding
Theballsofflufffoundoncarpetorinthevacuumcleanerbag,aremerelyloosebitsoffiberleftinthecarpetfromthe
manufacturingprocess.Theremovalofloosefibersdoesnotaffectthecarpetlifeorquality.Withpropervacuuming,
usingaqualityvacuumcleaner,mostsheddinggraduallydisappearswithinthefirstyearafterinstallation.
Matting
Matting,theuntwistingofthefiberandinterminglingoftheyarntips,isusuallytheresultofconcentratedfoottraffic
andpossiblyinadequatemaintenance.Butotherfactors,includingimproperlyspecifiedcushionorcushionfailure,
can also be the cause. Matting is not considered a manufacturing defect.
Shading, Pile Reversal, “Watermarking” or “Pooling”
Shadingisnotachangeincolor,butachangeinpiledirectionthatsometimesrandomlyappearsinacarpetorrug.It
may look darker or lighter from different directions. Shading may be more prevalent in a solid color cut pile carpet than
in patterned and textured styles. This is not considered a manufacturing defect and is usually permanent and has no
knowncausesliketransportrubbing,static.
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Soiling
The secret to maintaining the beauty of your carpet is to vacuum often and clean it regularly before it becomes exces-
sivelysoiled.Dullingiscausedbythedepositsofalltypesofsoilthatabradethecarpet’sfibers.Still,theoriginalcolor
isnotlost,butispresentunderthesoilfilm.Ifthesoilisallowedtoremain,thecarpetismuchmoredifficulttoclean.
Frequent cleanings are important to avoid excessive soiling.
Sprouting
Occasionallyayarntuftwillriseabovethepilesurfaceofacarpet.Justsnipthesetuftsofflevelwiththetufts.Donot
pullthemout.Ifalongrunhasoccurred,consultoursalesrepresentative,installer,orprofessionalcleanerpromptly.
It is frequently possible for the yarn to be retufted (reburled) or glued back into place.
Moth and Beetle Control
Woolandwool-blendcarpetmadebyTaiPingistreatedtobepermanentlymothresistant.Carpetandrugsmadeof
man-madefibersarenaturallyresistanttoinsects.Syntheticcarpetfiberisresistanttobeetles,commonlycalled“carpet
beetles,”becauseitisnotafoodsource.However,beetlesalreadyinthehomemaylayeggsinthecarpetpile,andhatch
ineighttofifteendays.Forassistanceinremovingcarpetbeetles,contactaprofessionalpestcontrolspecialist.
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Carpet Maintenance GuidelinesCommercial
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References
1. ‘CarpetMaintenanceGuidelinesforCommercialApplications’,TheCarpetandRugInstitute
2. ‘CarpetandRugCareGuide’,TheCarpetandRugInstitute
3. ‘HowtoVacuumingCarpetPileCare,SizeorType’,www.ecovacuumcleaner.com
4. ‘Carpetfibercharacteristics’,byJeffCrossCleanfaxmagazine
5. ‘PropertiesofNaturalFibers’,CAMEO:ConservationandArtMaterialsEncyclopediaOnline
6. ‘SolutionDyedCarpet’,http://www.floorbiz.com
7. ‘Carpet,AsthmaandAllergies–MythorReality’,byMitchelW.Sauerhoff,Ph.D.,DABT
8. ‘ClearingTheAirAboutCleanCarpet’,TheCarpetandRugInstitute
9. ‘CarpetCleaning’,Wikipedia
10. ‘ComparisonofCarpetCleaningMethods’,www.homehintsenews.com
11. ‘CarpetCleaningBasics’,www.allabouthome.com
IfthereareanyquestionsconcerningthecareandmaintenanceofyourTaiPingcarpetorrug,pleasecontactyourlocal
Tai Ping representative.
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