A critical though often neglected responsibility of carpet owners is routine maintenance. Care must begin when the carpet is first put into service. The use-life, appearance and cleaning frequency of carpet are affected substantially by the type, quality and frequency of home maintenance procedures. The following guidelines will help you in maintaining your carpet.

 

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Controlling Soil

Most abrasive particulate soil accumulates initially within the first few feet of a home’s major entries. Once inside, this soil takes its toll on carpet fibers and on the general appearance of the home. It also contributes airborne particles that affect the overall indoor environmental quality.

An effective walk-off mat system is very important in maintaining the appearance of a structure. Walk-off mats can greatly reduce the amount of soil entering a home by normal traffic, since a large percentage of soil is tracked in from the outside on people’s feet. Also, walk-off mats are helpful in removing moisture from shoes and preventing slip-and-fall accidents on hard surface floors. Basically, walk-off mats are the most efficient way of stopping soil at the door.

The placement and maintenance of walk-off mats are critical to their effectiveness. Also, the correct type of mat must be used for each location. For mats to continue to trap soil, they should be vacuumed and cleaned regularly — far more frequently than the carpet. If accumulated soil is not removed, the mat becomes overloaded and unable to perform properly. An overly soiled mat may act as a source of soil introduced indoors.

Dry Soil Removal

Routine vacuuming with properly maintained, quality equipment is the most important step you can take to prolong the life and enhance the appearance of carpet. A top-fill upright vacuum with brush agitation, or a canister vacuum with a power head incorporating brush agitation, should be selected and used with routine frequency. Equally important, soil that is loosened and vacuumed from carpet must be collected in the vacuum’s recovery system and not allowed to reenter the air within the structure. For this reason, a high-efficiency filtering system or bag should be used in any vacuum equipment used indoors.

Immediate Spotting

Most spots can be removed if the excess is lifted or blotted and the soiled area is treated immediately with plain water or spotters containing mild dilute detergents (pH range of 5-9). If ignored, those spots, or components thereof, may bond with fiber dye sites, forming permanent stains. Extreme caution must be observed when spotting carpet on which the manufacturer recommends a minimum moisture method only. Always pre-test an inconspicuous area before proceeding and always follow label directions.

 

This information is taken from The Clean Trust S-100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning. For more information, visit The Clean Trust.