Carpet Care
While many carpets are treated to be stain resistant, no carpet is com- pletely stain proof, so anything spilled on a carpet should be cleaned up promptly. With spot removal, the first step is to scoop up as much of the spill as you can and then absorb as much of the liquid as possible, using paper towels or clean cloths. Use a blotting action to prevent fuzzing the carpet surface and work from the outside in to prevent spreading the spill. The next step is to identify the stain and find the right process to remove it. There are four basic categories of stains: water-soluble (the most common, including mud, ice cream, sugar, etc.); oil-based (including paint, oil, grease, ink, lipstick, etc.); non- soluble (including sand and grit which can be removed by vacuuming); and special treatment (stain requires a specific chemical change for removal, including rust, dye stains, red wine, etc.). We can recommend the right product for each of these types of stains. Interim Maintenance While vacuuming removes most dry soils from carpet, oily soils from cooking vapors, air pollution and greasy dirt tracked in from outside attract more dirt and cause colors to dull. If not removed, greasy soil can literally glue carpet fibers together and ruin the carpet. Greasy soil is best removed by water extraction, but fast, light, surface cleaning can be effective using absorbent compound (dry extraction or powder cleaning), bonnet or spin cleaning, or shampooing. Absorbent compound cleaning involves applying a dry absorbent clean- ing compound to the carpet, working it in with a powered brushing system and vacuuming soiled compound and dirt away. Bonnet or spin cleaning uses a rotary floor machine with a bonnet or spin cleaning pad sprayed with or dipped into a bonnet or spin cleaning solution. The pad absorbs soil as it is worked over the carpet in tight, overlapping circles. The pad should be cleaned in cool water as it becomes loaded with soil. (This method is not recommended for some kinds of cut pile carpets). Shampooing uses either a dry foam shampoo with a sham- pooing machine or conventional shampoo with a rotary floor machine and carpet brush to work chemical deep into carpet fibers. Suspended soil and residue are then wet-vacuumed away. Surface Extraction New technologies have made soil extraction the preferred method for both interim carpet maintenance and restorative cleaning. There are three basic types of extractors: truckmounted units with long hoses and some type of carpet wand or tool; portable tank-style or “box” units with hoses and a wand or tool; and portable, self-contained units. An extractor sprays cleaning solution into the carpet. Normally the solution is worked in with a rotating brush to dislodge dirt. Then dirt and solution are lifted out through a vacuum head. This method is very
effective and leaves little residue. An operator with a modern extrac- tor can clean up to 18,500 square feet per hour in the low-moisture mode, or up to 8,000 square feet per hour in the restoration mode. Deep Extraction Even when carpets become heavily contaminated with soils, they can usually be restored to good condition with deep extraction. Deep extraction may also improve the general appearance and delay replacement of damaged carpet. This method is very similar to surface extraction, but the equipment is used at a slower cleaning rate. For all interim or restorative methods, you should first vacuum the area and treat spots with spot removers. For best results, traffic lanes and heavily soiled areas should be treated with a pre-spray or pretreatment to loosen and emulsify tough soils and improve the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
E
CARPET CARE MAINTENANCE CYCLE
Please contact us for additional information about the techniques discussed here and make product and equipment recommendations for your specific requirements.
Distributed Exclusively by Envoy Solutions | Carpet Care | 57
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker