I M P R O V I N G I N D O O R

ENVIRONMENT W I T H P R O F E S S I O N A L C L E A N I N G

FLOORCOVERING TRENDSFloorcovering trends are continuously changing. Before there was wall-to-wall carpet the predominant floor covering was hardwood. Many homeowners in the 1940’s & 1950’s had hardwood floors that they would partially cover in the winter months with rugs to prevent walking on the cold hard surface. The rugs were typically cleaned and stored during summer months.

IN THE 1950’S,when DuPont introduced nylon as a carpet fiber, wall-to-wall carpet became more affordable. So, the trend changed from hardwood to carpet.

PREVIOUSLY, rugs could be rolled up and taken outside, laid over a clothes line and beaten with a whisk to remove the dirt, or taken to a rug cleaning company to be cleaned at their location. Wall-to-wall carpet could not be removed as easily; therefore, there was a need for carpet cleaning equipment, chemicals, and procedures. Carpet cleaning companies began to spring up everywhere, and DIY processes were developed and many were sold door-to-door by vacuum cleaning salesmen.

CARPET IS STILLTHE MOST POPULARand highest percentage of floorcovering sold today. However, residentially the trend is moving to hard surface. This could be for several reasons:

1. Popular TV stations like HGTV tend to promote hard surfaces over carpet.

2. Several different floor covering options are available today.

3. Carpet is often considered as unhealthy.

4. More and more people have multiple pets living in their home, and carpet is not the best floorcovering for untrained dogs & cats.

5. Carpet is not as durable as hard surfacefloor coverings.

RECENTLY, a new floor covering trend has begun. Currently, hard surface floors are being partially covered with a rug shortly after installation. This is a result of the benefits from having a soft surface floor covering and the vast assortment of designs and styles available for today’s rugs.

FLOORCOVERING MAINTENANCE Regardless of one’s preference, all floorcoverings must be maintained. There is no such thing as a self-cleaning floorcovering. The Roomba® is a great invention but has many limitations. Indoor airborne pollutants; such as, dust, dander, pollen, etc. are eventually going to fall out of the air onto horizontal surfaces. Consequently, since flooring is the largest horizontal surface in a home or building, that is where you will most likely find the largest concentration of pollutants along with tracked in soils and other contaminates.

HARD SURFACESwill hold pollutants and soils in cracks and crevices; however, the primary surface does not hold anything. The contaminates can just lay on the hard flat surface until they are swept away, mopped away, or blown away with foot traffic. The challenge is that unless contaminates are captured and contained by a vacuum, they will become airborne and can be inhaled into one’s lungs simple by breathing. This may create a greater chance of allergic reactions. Needless to say, hard surfaces should be maintained with regular vacuuming and cleaning.

CARPET ON THE OTHER HAND,acts as a large filter, capturing and holding all types of contaminates; keeping them from becoming airborne. This is an important benefit when choosing a floor covering to purchase, although it is often not a consideration.

In addition to the benefits of carpet, we must also consider the challenges. Contaminants must be removed or they will cause damage to the carpet fibers and create a breeding ground for bacteria and may cause allergic reactions.

CARPET MANUFACTURES require regular professional carpet cleaning at specific intervals, typically by a certified company that uses Hot Water Extraction to maintain the carpet warranty. These specified cleaning intervals are required to help reduce wear on the carpet. If someone in a home suffers from allergies, carpet may be a more favorable floor covering to consider, along with an aggressive maintenance program by a professional carpet cleaning company. http://www.carpet-rug.org/Documents/Research_Resources/Public/Carpet,-Asthma-and-Allergies-%E2%80%93-Myth-or-Reality.aspx (this cleaning schedule may exceed that of the carpet manufacturer).

WHY IS THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT TOOUR HEALTH?Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 3-5 times, and occasionally, more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.

THE FOLLOWING ARE TEN SUGGESTIONS THAT HOMEOWNERS SHOULD CONSIDER FOR IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR INDOOR ENVIRONMENT:

1. KEEP WALKWAYS AND ENTRIES CLEAN: Start by keeping sidewalks, entry areas, porches, and steps clean. Sweep, dust, vacuum or use a leaf blower to remove soil and debris from entries to eliminate tracking into the home or building.

2. USE MATS TO TRAP SOIL AT ENTRIES: Exterior and interior mats to trap and contain particles and moisture should be placed at each entry. This not only extends the life of carpet, but it also greatly reduces the quantity of particles that enter and build up in traffic areas, eventually becoming airborne.

3. CLEAN SHOES AT ENTRIES: Studies conducted by professional engineers on carpet dust samples indicate that fine particles containing lead are reduced by cleaning or removing shoes at the entry.

4. PURCHASE AND USE HIGH QUALITY VACUUM EQUIPMENT: A high quality, durable upright vacuum with brush agitation is a must. Price is not as important as quality. Check trade or consumer magazines, and expect sales persons to provide technically accurate information. Avoid door-to-door sales tactics. Also, check the Carpet and Rug Institute’s list of vacuums that are included in the Green Label Program at www.carpet-rug.com

5. USE HIGH EFFICIENCY VACUUM FILTER BAGS: Use high-efficiency (HEPA-type) double-lined vacuum filter bags that filter out 99% of particles that easily pass through paper filter bags and are a major source of respiratory irritation as well as household dust.

6. VACUUM FREQUENCY: Increase frequency of vacuuming before soils sift downward and become embedded in the carpet pile. Vacuuming should be done more slowly in entry areas where most particle soils accumulate. Traffic areas should be passed over slowly two or three times.

7. HVAC FILTERS: At a minimum, use high-quality disposable filters. However, consider using high-quality reusable electrostatic filters for HVAC systems. These filters create static electricity that charges soil particles, thereby attracting them to the filter. These filters should be removed and flushed to remove collected soils on a monthly basis.

8. HAVE CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANED BY A PROFESSIONAL ON A REGULAR BASIS: Professional cleaning compounds lift and suspend fine particles of soil leaving behind minimum residue. Then, extraction using a hot water rinse flushes the soil from the carpet fibers. (See recommended carpet cleaning frequency chart above).

9. CLEAN OTHER SOFT SURFACES: Clean draperies, upholstery, rugs, and other fabric surfaces. Wash linens weekly.

10. CONTROL MOISTURE AND HUMIDITY: Dust mites and mold are the two most common allergens present in higher humidity climates. According to studies conducted at Wright State University, dust mite infestation will be eliminated if the relative humidity of the building, not just a particular area, is maintained below 50%. Molds, which are classified as fungi, require humidity of 70% or higher and a food source of organic-based material to grow. Cooler surfaces, which may have a relative humidity near 100%, create a perfect breeding area for mold. By reducing and maintaining the relative humidity of a structure below 50%, both dust mite infestation and mold growth will be prevented.

COMMERCIAL CARPET CLEANINGFREQUENCY CHART

Reference: ANSI/IICRC Reference Guide For Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings (IICRC S100)

TRAFFIC SOIL RATING* VACUUM 1ST

FLOOR**VACUUM ABOVE

1ST FLOOR SPOT CLEANING INTERIM CLEANING RESTORATIVE CLEANING

LIGHT DAILY 2-3X WEEKLY DAILY OR AS NEEDED 1-2X ANNUALLY 1-3X ANNUALLY

MEDIUM DAILY*** DAILY DAILY OR AS NEEDED 6-12X ANNUALLY 3-6X ANNUALLY

HEAVY DAILY OVERALL;2X DAILY IN TRAFFIC AREAS

DAILY DAILY OR AS NEEDED 12-52X ANNUALLY 6-26X ANNUALLY

RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL®

AND INNOVATORRainbow International provides “best practices” with integrity and the highest of standards in restoration and cleaning services. Utilizing the most advanced equipment, innovative technologies and a built-in accountability system, our professional emergency crews complete every job rapidly to assure an uncompromising commitment to service excellence and customer satisfaction. Ultimately, we don’t just restore homes and businesses; we restore value, stability, and peace of mind.

Established in 1981, Rainbow International, a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group®, offers over 300 global service locations. As a premier provider of restoration and cleaning services, Rainbow International deploys professional emergency response crews with advanced equipment, state-of-the-art technology and training to restore property, contents and ultimately, peace of mind. Insurance, commercial and residential customers depend on Rainbow International to mitigate damage and restore contents for businesses and homes suffering from water, fire, smoke, odor and mold situations.

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