Maintenance Guidefor Contract Carpets

Having made the decision to choose carpet as afloor covering for your premises it makes sense toprotect the investment which this represents.

Over 80% of soiling deposited on interior flooring istracked in from outside the building. Barrier mats orbarrier carpets are essential first line defenses againstfoot borne soiling.

Barrier mats trap the majority of soiling before itcan be walked on to the main carpet and thetrapped contaminants should be regularly removedfrom the barrier area in which they are confined.

Not all soiling will be removed by barrier mats andsome street soil will be deposited on the maincarpet area.Regular cleaning and a programme of routinemaintenance are essential to retain the originalvisual effect and allow the carpet to performsatisfactorily.

Vacuum CleaningUpright cleaners with strong suction and driven

brushes are the most effective models for cut pilecarpets, suction only cleaners should be used onloop piles. Your cleaner needs to be maintained ingood working condition and should be inspectedregularly.

Slow passes of the cleaner head in directions atright angles to each other over a given area ofcarpet will allow the suction to remove most surfacesoiling and soil which has penetrated to the base ofthe pile.

Most vacuum cleaners have different height settingsto allow adjustment to different pile heights andconstructions. Experience will show which height settingis most suitable, providing the slight resistance tocleaning passes which is desirable.

Heavy Soiling AreasMain traffic lanes leading from entrances, lobby's,

and reception areas are places where the heaviestsoiling takes place as are those where peoplequeue or stand waiting for lifts etc. These areasrequire daily vacuum cleaning with several passes indifferent directions to expose the pile to maximumsuction action.

Light Soiling AreasThose areas which receive infrequent traffic or

which can only be reached by walking somedistance over other carpeted floors are likely toreceive very little soil contamination and may becleaned less regularly or following use. Examples are

meeting rooms, board rooms and archive storage.Barrier mats and regular vacuum cleaning will keep

soiling to a minimum but eventually some effects ofsoiling will show themselves. The carpets freshappearance may begin to fade and the surfacebecome dull. Stains from spillage may becomeincreasingly evident and at this stage action beyondregular vacuum cleaning is called for.

Wet CleaningThere are several methods of wet cleaning to

choose from. The most effective method is warmwater extraction which flushes out ingrained soilingby injecting and extracting soil retardent detergent.

There are cleaning contractors who specialise inthis type of operation or a suitable machine can bepurchased or hired for the purpose. Manufacturersinstructions for use should be carefully followed andstaff must be trained to operate the machinecorrectly.

The carpet becomes wet during the cleaningcycle and should not be walked on until it isabsolutely dry (24 hours is usual). This time may bereduced significantly by adequate ventilation,ambient temperature and use of air movers (TurboDryers). This disruption to usual business may not beacceptable or possible and an alternative cleaningprocess may be required.

Dry CleaningIn this process a detergent powder is brushed into

the carpet, left for half an hour or so then removedby vacuum extraction. The powder is moist but thecarpet will only become slightly damp with a veryshort drying time. As with wet cleaning, professionalspecialists can be called in or machinery bought orhired, again staff should be trained in correctoperation following manufacturers instructions.

Generally this type of process is not as in-depthhence may need to be undertaken more frequently.

StainingStaining caused by spillage or by the deposit of

adhesive substances to which soiling will stick,usually becomes immediately obvious. It isimportant to treat spillage stains early, preferablybefore they dry out, to reduce pile penetration andremove as much of the spillage as possible. Staffshould be vigilant and report spillage incidentsimmediately so that effective, remedial action canbe initiated.

Wet StainingTea,coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks etc. all

compounds which include a high proportion ofwater, should be blotted with clean dry cloths orabsorbent paper towels, any solid particles shouldbe wiped or scraped up. When most of the liquidspillage has been removed the residual stainingshould be diluted with water applied with a cleancloth or sponge. Care must be taken not to overwet the carpet or to scrub the surface. A gentleaction working from the outside edge of the stain tothe centre will prevent spread and concentrate thestain for removal.

Oil or Grease StainsButter, face and hand creams, wax, cooking oils,

and fats are examples of spillage which can betreated with methylated spirits. An impregnatedcloth is applied to the pile which loosens the grease.Larger deposits of chewing gum, blue tac etc., canbe removed by the application of citrus gels, whichmust be rinsed out. Care must be taken to ensureadequate ventilation, and excessive applicationcan damage certain carpet constructions.Manufacturers instructions must always be followedby staff carrying out the cleaning process.

MaintenanceSummary

1 Protect your carpetPlace barrier mats to trap

soiling walked in from outside.Identify sources of soiling insideyour premises; Canteens,Restaurants, VendingMachines, Workshops etc.Isolate them by fitting barriermatting or barrier carpet.Prohibit eating, drinking andsmoking in carpeted areas.

2 Remove soiling regularlyIdentify your cleaning

needs and formulate a regularand thorough maintenanceschedule with your cleaningstaff or cleaning contractor.

3 Tackle spills earlyEncourage staff to report

spillage & stains immediately,and respond to the problemquickly. Be prepared, ensurethat suitable stain removalmaterials are readily available,that staff know where theyare and how to use them.

4 Professional helpLocate a reputable

professional cleaningcompany, ask them forreferences. Provide them withdetails of carpet specificationand construction, Obtain guarantees & agreeprice quotations in advance.

5 Health and safetyTrain staff, be aware of

chemical content of sprays,shampoos and cleaning fluidsetc. Follow manufacturersinstructions. Inspect equipmentregularly, assess any hazardsand take adequate measuresto avoid them.

6 And finally...This page provides general

guidelines and outlines basiccarpet care, itis offered as aservice to customers. CavalierCarpets Ltd. will not be heldresponsible for damage or injuryarising out of any action takenbased on the advice in thisinformation.

Further advice and assistancecan be obtained from;The National Carpet CleaningAssociation Telephone: 01162 719550or by contacting ourcustomer service department.

Treatment of Stains& Spillage

There are three main categories of stain:-Water Based, Grease Based and acombination of both Water and Grease.

Water Based Stains● Tea ● Fruit Juices● Coffee ● Wine● Beer ● Soft Drinks

MethodBlot the stain, remove any solids, apply

warm water on a clean cloth or sponge, donot over wet. Work from outside of staintowards the centre, repeat if necessary. Treat remaining residues with very dilute milddetergent and rinse. Thoroughly blot, allow todry and then vacuum.

Grease Based Stains● Butter ● Fat● Wax ● Lipstick● Oil ● Face Creams

MethodFirstly remove any solids, blot the affected

area. Apply methylated spirits or citrus gels,rinse thoroughly, allow to dry and thenvacuum. Caution

Follow manufacturers instructions, ensureadequate ventilation and prohibit smoking.Some chemicals may cause damage if usedexcessively.

Combination Stains● Ice Cream ● Milk● Chocolate Drinks ● Gravy

MethodRemove any solids, blot the stain. Apply warm

water on a clean cloth or sponge, do not overwet. Work from outside of stain towards thecentre, repeat if necessary. If stains remain,apply methylated spirits or citrus gels, rinsethoroughly, allow to dry and then vacuum.Caution

Follow manufacturers instructions, ensureadequate ventilation and prohibit smoking.Some chemicals may cause damage if usedexcessively.

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