Spots on new carpet and other mysterious soiling can be disturbing, especially when it starts showing up soon after installation. You know that you did not cause these spot on your new carpet but how did they get there? A number of manufacturing related causes can result to spots on new carpet along with streaks and overall soiling.
Black Spots on New Carpet
Grease Spots
Black grease spots on new carpet. Manufacturing related, will be visible when the carpet is first unrolled. Grease spots not there when the carpet is first unrolled are not grease from a manufacturing machine. Dark grease that developed at a later date are rarely manufacturing related. Note: Grease is thick and should be visible. Machine Oil spots discussed next are different than grease.
Machine Oil Spots
Spots on new carpet that start showing within days or a few weeks of installation could be drops of clear machine oil that is now attracting soil. In such a situation the spots will become darker with time as they attract soil. Oil-like substances dripping on the carpet from other equipment or furniture can react in the same way.
Grease and oil from machinery can come in contact with the carpet during manufacturing. Occurs when the carpet comes in contact with bearings, or from leaking seals on equipment. Dark grease most always removed at the manufacturers plant. They will sometimes slip by.
Manufacturer related grease and oil spots on new carpet is a manufacturing related concern and not considered a defect. Grease spots can be cleaned off using a solvent based cleaner.
Mysteriously Developing Spots on New Carpet Showing as Dark Streaks – Loom Oil
Loom oil streaks are one of the most mysterious types of spots on new carpet. Loom oil carpet streaks may take days or weeks following installation before they show up.
These narrow loom oil streaks will always be in a linear direction, either lengthwise or widthwise. The streaks show up mysteriously. They start out as lightly soiled lines or bands and become darker as they attract airborne and walked on soil.
These latent streaks, caused by clear machine oil coming in contact with the carpets pile yarn during manufacturing.
Loom oil streaks spots on new carpet are usually a correctable manufacturing concern and not a defect. Loom oil removed from the carpets pile with a solvent based cleaner.
Over / Under Application of Soil Retardant
Even with carpet they’re can be too much of a good thing. This is especially true with the over application of fluorochemical soil retardant at the time of manufacturing.
While the purpose of a soil and stain repellent finish is to protect the carpet, there are times when an over application will make the carpet sticky and attract soil.
This problem can also occur when jets clogs during application of chemical. Unprotected bands up to several inches wide are left on the carpet and these portions of the carpet will soil more quickly.
An over or under application of fluorochemical can be corrected by a professional carpet cleaner who will first perform an extraction cleaning. The cleaning will remove the excess treatment and much of the remaining retardant and soil. The carpet cleaner can then re-apply the soil retardant or stain resist agent to the carpet.
To check for missing fluorochemical place a few drops of water on the the carpet in both the clean appearing areas and in the soiled appearing areas. Where present the water should bead up and where applied it will soak in. If sticky and attracting soil it will be felt. A cutting from an uninstalled remnant may need to be sent to the manufacturer for verification.
An over or under application of fluorochemical that is leaving spots on new carpet is considered a manufacturing problem but not a defect.
Excess Yarn Lubricant Poor Scouring
When excessive yarn lubricant is found it will usually be on a carpet manufactured with polypropylene (olefin) yarn. This excess lubricant can result in rapid overall soiling.
During manufacturing excessive, residual solvent soluble material (soap like substance) may be left on the carpet fiber. Scouring is an operation to remove the sizing and tint used on the warp yarn in weaving and, in general, to clean the fabric prior to dyeing.
To test for excess lubricant agitate a few drops of water into the pile surface. It is important that this be performed in an area that has never been cleaned including spot cleaning.
Excess yarn lubricant is a manufacturing related condition that is easily corrected by rinsing the carpet with a hot water extraction process, NO CLEANING AGENT IS TO BE USED. Yarn lubricant has surfactants (soap-like) in it and therefore the soap that is already in the carpet will clean the carpet and the clear water rinse will remove the soil and soap.
Properly cleaned, future soiling will not be caused by excess yarn lubricant. This is a manufacturing problem but not a defect.
Will the Manufacturer Replace My Carpet?
While all of the listed conditions are manufacturing related, the manufacturer does not consider any of them defects.
Since these conditions are related to the manufacturing process, the manufacturer will pay for the correction of these conditions. Most manufacturers will first want to have the carpet inspected and verified that it is a manufacturing related concern.
If a consumer is insistent the carpet be replaced, they may be entitled to a replacement. Many carpet manufacturers may insist on a correction before they will even consider a replacement.
For more information on cleaning and maintenance of new carpet visit the Carpet and Rug Institute website.
Need help with a floorcovering problems? Contact the Floor Covering Experts. Nationally recognized carpet and flooring inspectors serving Oregon and Washington.
New carpet was installed in one room of my home April 30th, 2015. Viewing the different pictures posted, the dark streaks example is what I”m seeing in the carpet…The information provided stated….. after the carpet is inspected by a qualified person, and concluded …. it is a manufacturer issue..the manufacturer will pay for carpet correction…What if I prefer not to have it corrected (cleaned) and insist on replacement of the carpet….Can the manufacturer legally deny my request..LL( extremely disappointed with carpet appearance) Thank You…..
I am not an attorney so I cannot offer legal advice. Strictly from what I have experienced, the manufacturer does have the right to attempt a correction before they consider replacement.
Terry
I have a newly fitted cream carpet that now has peach spots and small streak like lines appearing everywhere what could be causing this fault I have new ones appearing daily? They look like bleach marks but there obviously not.
Do these spots and streaks change in appearance when you vacuum your carpet? If so they may be shading. Feel free to contact us and email images so that we may be able to tell you what is going on.
Can the manufacture say what is wrong with a carpet merely from a picture on a phone
Hi, I have the same problem as D. Ross
They look like bleach spots but are not
And appear suddenly in different areas, independently of floor, room
We have tested white spirit, wipes, bleach and it is not the same marks
I would really appreciate if you could help
thanks
With some problems they can. With most concerns there are a variety of causes and a picture or phone call alone is not sufficient.
I had new carpet installed on 12/17/18 and within a few weeks dark stripes and splotches started to appear. We sent a sample back to the manufacturer and they said there were no oils but they replaced the carpet anyway. The new carpet looks the same though and I still don’t know what the defect is, can you help?
Without inspecting the carpet we will not be able to determine the cause as there are several possible causes. To schedule a carpet inspection go to TheWeinheimerGroup.com and click on the request inspection link.
Hi, I had a new pearl white carpet fitted Apr 18 and after a couple weeks had black spots appear on both sides of my bed, they don’t appear to be under my bed, I’ve gently cleaned it twice and they keep coming back, what might this be?
Simon
The way you describe the black spots on your new carpet, it sounds like it may be machine oil. Machine oil can get on a carpet during manufacturing. In exposed areas such as at the side of the bed, traffic and airborne soil attaches to the oily residue. Under the bed there is less exposure so the area may not become dark. Clean the areas with a bit of dry cleaning solvent followed by a carpet spot cleaner and/or a clear water rinse. DO NOT PUT THE SOLVENT DIRECTLY ON THE CARPET as you do not want it to get to the back of the carpet where it could cause delamination. Apply the solvent to a clean cloth and blot the dark areas to remove the oil. Follow by the carpet spot cleaner and rinse to clean the remaining soil. You may need to repeat two or three times.
We have a mauve rug installed in our bedroom. We do not wear shoes, or eat or drink in our bedroom. Yesterday I went to vacuum and I saw spots throughout the room in sporadic areas. What are your thoughts regarding this?
Just a stab in the dark but it sounds like someone had a beverage or other sticky liquid in the room and it dripped on the carpet. Sticky residue is attracting soil. Clean the areas and rinse thoroughly with clear water. Do not overwet. Place white cloth or paper towels on top of the cleaned spots, weight them down and as the carpet dries, the towels will absorb residues that wick to the surface.
New carpet 2 weeks oid and round mark not a stain what couid it be
There are many causes of spots that appear on carpet. Please resubmit your question along with uploading an image.
My family just moved into a new house that was newly built. We’ve been here for about a month and noticed faded, purple-ish stains starting to appear in random places on the floor. Could this be a manufacturing issue?
You don’t say what the floor is, wood, vinyl, laminate or something else. Often times a purplish stain is something coming from below. You will probably want to have the floor looked at by an independent flooring inspector.
Brand new fitted cream carpet today.
Put the vacuum on to get up all the bits and grey staining in places.
Like small blocthes and they will not come out with vacuum.
Please can you advise.
They could be topical, dye or another concern. Unfortunately we are unable to positively determine this from a photo. Since you just had the carpet installed, the best advice we can give you is to report it immediately to the dealer.
Carpet installed in April.. these lines are popping up all over. What can it be?
Thanks for the help
Unfortunately your image does not show the lines clear enough to provide you an accurate answer.
Brand new carpet fitted. A week or so after I have been getting bleach like spots appearing. Please help
Prissy, this appears to be shading. Rub the side of your had across the carpet in different directions. If the carpet becomes darker and matches the surrounding pile in some directions, this is shading. If it is staying light or has a yellow tinge that is only in these areas they may be bleach areas.
Shading is normal and considered a characteristic of many carpets. Seen most on longer and/or softer piled carpets.
This carpet is less than a year old, was professionally installed by Luna along with new mats under the carpet, and was their top line for not staining. We have a high-end filtration and humidity control system and own our home (we are very neat and clean). This carpet is barely ever walked on except to vacuum it regularly. These are NOT pet stains or from spills. They seem to be popping up in round patches everywhere, but only in this one room. Luna re-carpeted most of our house but it’s only happening on this brand/color of carpet. Any idea what’s going on?
You say they are not spills though the images give the appearance of splashes from above. While it is possible that an oily residue got onto the carpet sometime between manufacturing and the time they occurred, I would expect them to be much darker if manufacturer related. To better determine a cause, onsite testing would be required.
I just had new carpeting installed in my bedroom. Lately, I have been seeing black spots on the rug and they seem to be increasing more and more. Please tell me what do you think is causing this problem? A new pad was installed and the rug is wall to wall.
Barbara, this may be machine oil. Machine oil is a factory related concern where a clear oil gets on the carpet and over time it starts to pick up both trafficked and airborne soil with the spots becoming darker and darker over time. If it is machine oil it will transfer to a light-colored cloth that has a dry-cleaning solvent on it. DO NOT APPLY SOLVENT DIRECTY TO THE CARPET OR YOU MAY CAUSE A DELAMINATION CONCERN.
This problem can also occur from beverages that have sugar in them that drip on to the carpet or pet urine. You may want to report this concern to your dealer. Beverage and urine will transfer to a cloth that has a detergent base rug cleaning spotter on it. Both require thorough extraction, using detergent, followed by a clear water rinse, to completely remove.
I’ve had a brand new carpet fitted. New good foam underlay too. After hoovering black spots stated to appear. I believevthesevto be oik marks from manufacturer..I understand that while the oil is clear that once airborne and starts to collect dust these oik marks turn black. However a week later in now stating to see pink and blue spotting in my carpet? What could this possibly be please. Although the manufacturer has agreed to change my carpet I really curious what these blue and pink bits are. Msny thanks
You are correct that the black spots that appeared on the carpet may be machine oil. The pink and blue spots may be a color loss from an unidentified chemical. To know for sure what the black spots and pink and blue spots on are, testing would need to be performed. It is good that your manufacturer has authorized a replacement of your carpet.