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Carpet Care Tips

Info courtesy of www.Enviro-Solution.com.

Cleaning & Maintenance

  1. Daily vacuuming is one of the most important parts of a good carpet cleaning and maintenance program. Upright vacuums out-perform canister tank vacuums, generally because they add mechanical action to the suction power of the vacuum motor. This mechanical action opens the carpet fibres allowing for more soil to be removed form the second and third dimension of the carpet.
  2. Two-motor and three-motor upright carpet vacuums out-perform single motor upright carpet vacuums, however, the two-motor and three-motor vacuums are designed for straight line push vacuuming and therefore, are best for open, uncontested carpeted areas. Single-motor upright carpet vacuums are usually very lightweight vacuums and are commonly sashayed back and forth over the carpet surface. If a two or three-motor upright carpet vacuum were used in the same manner as a single-motor upright, the operator would become fatigued very quickly.
  3. A carpet pile lifter is a fantastic carpet maintenance and grooming machine. A very aggressive brush loosens deeply embedded dry soil and removes it with a separate high performance vacuum motor. Use against the lay/grain of the carpet, incorporating the use of a carpet pile life in a carpet maintenance program will improve the overall appearance of the carpet dramatically and extend the requirement for interim and restorative wet carpet cleaning procedures.
  4. To maintain a high appearance standard on carpeting, a daily spot and stain removal program must be implemented. Most spots can be removed with a solution of ES88 and water.
  5. Vacuum filters must be cleaned and maintained frequently if the full value and efficiency of the vacuum is to be realized. Never wash a mohair filter with water as it can plug the pores in the filter reducing the airflow. Clean and empty permanent filter bags as and when necessary to ensure that he maximum airflow is provided. Do not overfill disposable paper filter bags. If possible, choose a top-loading filter, be it a permanent or disposable type, for upright carpet vacuum cleaners.
  6. Ensure that electrical carpet cleaning equipment is in good and safe condition. Frayed electrical cords, broken or missing ground plugs, etc., can lead to damage to the equipment, the building site, and jeopardize the operator’s personal safety.
  7. When carpet sprouts are noticed in a carpet, trim them off immediately before the carpeting unravels any further than it already as. These sprouts can also cause a trip hazard.
  8. When choosing any carpet cleaning chemical, ensure that it dries to a ‘Friable Ash’. Carpet cleaning chemicals that leave residuals in the carpet will contribute greatly to serious resoiling problems thus very quickly reducing the appearance of newly cleaned carpets.
  9. Always read MSDS Sheets and chemical labels before using any chemicals and observe the safety requirements. Ensure that decanted chemicals bear proper Work Place labels that are accurate and legible.
  10. Be sure to carefully follow label dilutions and directions at all times as noted.
  11. Never mix cleaning chemicals. Mixing chemicals improperly could lead to poor quality work, harm to the carpet surface, and possible injury or a serious health hazard to the user or others.
  12. Provide adequate Walk Off mats at all entrances. Clean mats frequently to reduce the soil that is walked onto a carpet. If sand mats are used, shake out sand at least daily. Vacuum, flush rinse, and extract nylon, polyester, or olefin absorbent matting frequently.
  13. Always clean equipment after use. Clean equipment will function better and will extend the life of the equipment. Dried-on soil can be very hard to remove.
  14. Always check inventory levels of any chemicals and custodial hardware needed prior to any major carpet cleaning procedure. Order the materials needed in advance of the planned project work.

Daily Vacuuming

  1. Clean and vacuum all walk off entrance mats at least daily and more often if necessary, to help keep soil from entering the building. Flush or extract as necessary. Rotate walk off entrance mats with clean mats in inclement weather and/or as necessary.
  2. Proper and frequent vacuuming is the most important part of any good caret care program. Vacuum carpeted entrance areas, high traffic areas and traffic lanes daily, or more often if soil levels warrant.
  3. Use a rotational vacuuming system for low traffic areas, cleaning all low traffic carpeted areas at least weekly.
    If a Pile Lifter is available, pile lift vacuum heavy traffic areas at chosen intervals. Pile lifting prior to interim and extraction cleaning will enhance these cleaning procedures dramatically.
  4. Use a two-motor upright vacuum on all traffic lane areas and double vacuum heavy traffic areas using a straight line, pushing, overlapping, pattern. Only use a single-motor upright vacuum for low traffic areas. Use an overlapping ‘W’ pattern with this type of vacuum.
  5. Use a backpack or canister vacuum for smaller detail vacuuming requirements and when detail vacuuming is required along baseboards, behind door, etc., and prior to interim or extraction cleaning.
  6. Use an allergy-type H.E.P.A. filter system in vacuums to help improve the indoor air quality.
  7. Empty and clean permanent vacuum filter bags before they are one half full or replace disposable type filter bags before they reach the full line marking.
  8. Keep vacuum equipment safe and in proper working condition.

Spot & Stain Removal

  1. Before treating any spot or stain, if any accumulation of residual is visible, as appropriate, vacuum or scrape as much of the residual from the surface as possible with a whale bone scraper or a wooden paint stir stick. Do not use any type of scraping tool that may cut or break the carpet fibers.
  2. To determine if a spot or stain will come out using the ES88 solution, apply solution to the stain, allow 3 to 5 minutes contact time and then blot it firmly with a dry, white absorbent cloth. If any residual transfers to the cloth, the spot will come out with this dilution. If it does not transfer to the cloth, pre-test the stain with a stronger dilution of ES88.
  3. Apply the appropriate solution to the affected area, 3 to 6 inches larger than the surface size of the spot or stain. Liquids usually fan out under the surface of the spot or stain and may re-appear on the carpet surface outside of the treated area. Tamp in solution with a tamping brush. Do not scrub or brush the spot or stain. Allow 5 minutes contact time. Apply solution to several spots or stains, while allowing contact time.
  4. Blot and wipe the spot or stain with a clean, dry, white absorbent cloth, towards the center of the treated area until all of the affected area is clean.
  5. Re-spray the treated areas with clear water, to rinse out any residual and lot as much of the moisture from the treated areas as possible. Leave a weighted, white cloth over the spot for a period of time to blot out any remaining moisture.
    Wash all white spotting cloths with ES88 in a suitable washing machine and dry for next use.

Preventative Care

  1. Sweep all outside areas daily. Dispose of litter. Remove snow and use an ice melter when necessary.
  2. Clean and/or vacuum all walk off entrance mats daily or more frequently if necessary.
  3. Replace wet and/or dirty mats as necessary. Place soiled mats in appropriate area, vacuum thoroughly, flush with clean water or extract. Place in appropriate area to dry.

It’s estimated that soil costs $500 per pound to remove from a building. For best results, use two types of mats at entrances to reduce the amount of soil entering a building, one to remove sand and gritty soil and the second to remove lighter soil an moisture form the feet.

The number of linear feet of matting used should be a length of a least six adult steps. This equates to 18 to 20 feet of matting. Mats load with sand, dirt and moisture and when they fill they stop working. The type of fibre the mats are made from will determine the amount of soil and moisture removal and overall effectiveness of the entrance mats.

Consider the use of soil, sand and moisture absorbing mats in elevators and in other high soil areas.

Entrances are the first impression areas of a building. Good soil and moisture control will help to make a good first impression as well as reduce possible liability associated with slip/fall accidents.