carpet maintenance guidelines commercial...see steps of effective restorative cleaning and...

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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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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