Carpet Protection Archives | Carpets Wall to Wall

Returning Spots After Carpet Cleaning

Returning Spots After Carpet Cleaning a Manufacturing Issue?

Returning spots after carpet cleaning is a common complaint often heard in the carpet industry. A homeowner or business owner purchases a carpet that is advertised as stain resistant and with use spots get on the carpet. The consumer either cleans the carpet or has it professionally cleaned. As the carpet dries or days later they have returning spots after carpet cleaning. Should a carpet have returning spots after carpet cleaning?

First lets look at the definition of stain resistance. Def: Stain resistance is the ability inherent in a fiber, or a chemical finish applied to the fiber and/or surface that inhibits specific stains from adhering to or dyeing carpet and fabrics. Returning spots after carpet cleaning have little to do with the carpet fibers ability to resist stains.

Why Are There Returning Spots After Carpet Cleaning?

Returning spots after carpet cleaning are rarely a manufacturing issue. Here are the four common reasons commercial cleaning services look for rapidly returning spots after carpet cleaning.

Wicking

Wicking is one of the most common result of returning spots. These type of spots usually start out as a spill, splash of soda, coffee or other sugary beverage. The liquid is able to penetrate low into the carpets face yarn, sometimes into the back of the carpet and at times even into the carpet pad. When the carpet is cleaned the spot appears completely removed from the face of the carpet. Often though the spot remains at the base of the fiber, in the pad or back of the carpet. Carpet dries starting at the top and as it dries the moisture moves up from the bottom and with the moisture comes the residue still at the back and thus you have a returning spot after carpet cleaning.

Even with professional cleaning we see a considerable amount of wicking. A technician who is either in a hurry or does not fully understand wicking will run the cleaning equipment over the spot and the spot magically comes out only to return later. Wicking is also the result of the technician using too much moisture to clean the spot. The excessive moisture forces the spot deeper into the carpet, often into the carpets back or the pad below. If the spot is not dried quickly such as with the use of fans the residue wicks back up and again a returning spot after carpet cleaning.

The solution for spot cleaning returning spots is to Applying the spotter to a towel instead of directly to the carpet, re-clean the area using less moisture. Followed by quick drying by using a fan.

Residue

Another common reason for returning spots after carpet cleaning is residue in the carpet. Common residues from food and beverage that is dropped, dripped, spilled on the carpet are a major cause of spots. Some carpet spot cleaning solutions, especially homemade from soap leave a residue and cause spots.

When the carpet is cleaned the spot appears to have come out but the sticky residue was not fully removed. Household dust and dirt adhere to the sticky residue which is not fully removed by vacuuming and over time the returning spot keeps getting darker and darker. Consider using an air cleaner which can filter out dust mites and various other pollutants which can damage not only your carpet but also your health. Oily, sugary, soapy residues will all picks up soil and the result is often dark returning spots after carpet cleaning.

The solution for this type of returning spot is to use a spot cleaning product that leaves minimum residue. If you are not sure of what you should use, purchase the spotter at a janitorial or carpet cleaning supply house. It can also be helpful to neutralize alkaline spot cleaners after. Use a solution of vinegar and water. Mix 2 parts water to one part white vinegar and mist the solution onto the carpet after spot cleaning. Blot with a clean white towel and repeat. The vinegar which is acid will neutralize the spotter which is usually slightly alkaline.

Repeated or Heavy Use

Returning spots after carpet cleaning are often not returning spots. In actuality they are new spots that are similar appearing. This often occurs in areas with pets, children or heavy use such as a family room or employee lunch room.

The solution for spots created in areas of heavy use, may be to offer the area a bit more protection such as using an area rug to protect the wall to wall carpet that notoriously gets spotted.

Pets

We love our pets, but like kids, those that we love can be pests. If you have a new puppy or older dog that you are still trying to housebreak or an older dog that drips urinates on the carpet, the residue from the urine will attract soil. You clean the spot and it reappears. Often it is not the same urine for dogs and other pets often urinate in the same area creating a new spot.

When pet owners or their children give their dog treats, left over meal scraps or a bone with a bit of meat or fat on it, the dog may carry it onto the carpet. The grease, oil, sugar or other sticky residue in the scrap of food transfers to the carpet. The residue from the dogs treat is not a treat for the carpet owner as it results in spots that may just become the next returning spots after carpet cleaning.

The solution for pet short of not having any is not feed them on the carpet, potty train dogs, make sure they have plenty of outdoor time and treat any spots just like other returning spots after carpet cleaning.

Hint from Shaw Carpets Technical
Thorough removal of both the stain material and the detergent residue is critical to prevent re-soiling. Water extraction is the best way to accomplish this. Many cleaning equipment manufacturers offer small extraction machines specially designed for spot cleaning. These are small, lightweight and highly portable. They do an excellent job of rinsing after spot cleaning. They are also an excellent way to deal with body fluids on the carpet. Place several layers of white towels on the spot to draw out any remaining moisture. Weight them down with a heavy object that will not transfer color, such as a plastic jug of water.

Selecting a Carpet Cleaning Method – CRI

Finding a Qualified Carpet Cleaning Company – IICRC

Which Carpet Cleaning Method is Best?

By Terry Weinheimer 16 Comments

Best Carpet Cleaning Method

What is the best carpet cleaning method? A question that continues to be echoed among both consumers and the industry. There are a number of carpet cleaning methods that you can choose to help you to better care for your carpet. By cleaning a carpet before it becomes too soiled, the task of keeping it looking new will be much easier. While the thorough routine vacuuming of carpet will remove the majority of dry soil, wall to wall carpet still needs to be cleaned to remove the oily, sticky soil that builds up in a carpets pile as the result of tracked in unwanted soil and odors.

There is a false myth that cleaning a carpet before it is necessary will result in rapid resoiling. Many years ago coconut oil shampoos were used for cleaning carpet and some of them did leave residues that resulted in rapid resoiling. Today almost all carpet cleaning products leave very little residue. Most professional carpet cleaning methods have also been improved to reduce rapid resoiling. This improvement in technology came from an advancement made in Upholstery Cleaning, rapid resoiling was a very big issue for the upholsters and thus they found out how to solve their problem. The fact is that carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 – 18 months depending on the number of people and pets living there and the amount of traffic. A good way to tell if a carpet is due for cleaning is by moving a chair or sofa so that the trafficked and non trafficked areas can be compared.

Professional Carpet Cleaners

While there are many do-it-your-self cleaning machines for purchase and rent, it is usually advisable to use a qualified professional carpet cleaner such as those Certified by the Clean Trust, previously IICRC – Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. Professional rug cleaning services will have the experience to advise you of the best carpet cleaning method for your carpet. This experience also enables them to do a much better job than you can do yourself.

Doing it Yourself

If you have made the decision to rent a steam cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you should check on several systems before you make a selection. Most of the units available for rent don’t clean well enough and may end up damaging your carpet. Therefore, you should always consider the following:

A number of rental companies offer cleaning equipment that is similar to what a professional will use. You need equipment that has enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry rapidly, preferably in less than 12 hours. It is best to avoid rental units found in many retail, hardware and grocery stores that don’t have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet fast enough. Over wetting combined with slow drying can be damaging to a carpet.
Avoid over wetting the carpet. Prolonged dampness combined with traffic can cause a separation of the backing. When a carpet remains wet for an extended period of time, this can lead to mildew growth and bacteria in the carpet backing.
After cleaning your carpet place fans to increase air movement and speed the drying.
Today most carpet has stain resistant treatments. Make sure that the carpet cleaning products you purchase are designed for the type of fiber you are cleaning. Failure to properly clean a carpet is action to void a stain resistant or carpet performance warranty.
Never use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches as they can mess up the color of the carpet.
Never use any silicone based treatments on the carpet. Silicone treatments are not needed and not designed for most of the carpet that is manufactured today.

A Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods (Systems)

With all cleaning methods a wall to wall carpet needs to be thoroughly vacuumed prior to cleaning to remove any heavy soil such as silicates (the primary constituent of soil), without this pre-vacuuming, dirt and sand are forced to the backing of the carpet. It is highly recommended that you give your carpet a very thorough vacuuming prior to the arrival of the professional carpet cleaning company. While vacuuming make note of any special areas of concern and point these out to the cleaning crew upon its arrival.

Absorbent Powder / Dry Extraction Cleaning

An absorbent granular material that has been incorporated into a mixture of detergent, solvent and water is brushed into the carpet pile with a machine incorporating a double cylindrical brush. Once the material has dried the carpet is vacuumed to remove the powder and the soil that it has captured. The best use for the absorbent powder cleaning method is the commercial installation where the carpet is cleaned regularly and requires quick drying.

Bonnet/Spin Pad

This carpet cleaning method in appearance is similar to the rotary shampoo method. The machine used is essentially the same. A detergent is usually sprayed onto the carpet. A rotating absorbent pad spins and agitates the carpet fibers as the soil is collected into the pad. This method improperly preferred on cut pile carpet can cause untwisting of the face pile. While this method is reasonably quick drying it must be done more often as it is more of a surface cleaning. The best use for this method of cleaning is the commercial installation where they clean regularly and require quick drying.

Cylindrical Foam Shampoo

The cylindrical foam method uses a machine with an air compressor that whips the shampoo solution into heavy foam. The foam is brushed into the carpet with a cylindrical brush. Once the carpet has dried it is vacuumed to remove the shampoo and the particles that have theoretically bonded to it. Not all of the shampoo and soil is actually captured but instead much of it is forced deeper into the pile. While this method is reasonably quick drying it must be done more often as it is more of a surface cleaning. The cylindrical foam carpet cleaning method is best in the commercial installation where they clean regularly and require quick drying.

Rotary Shampoo

The Rotary shampoo carpet cleaning method uses chemicals similar to those used with cylindrical foam. The rotary floor machine usually has an attached solution tank for the shampoo solution. The diluted solution is fed through a tub to a “shower-feed” where it is applied to the carpet. While the shampoo is being applied a round brush on the machine is scrubbing the carpet. This shampoo method uses more moisture than the cylindrical brush method. The rotary shampoo method is not recommended for use on cut pile carpet as it can cause untwisting of the face pile.

Steam Cleaning or Hot Water Extraction

With this carpet cleaning method a non-foaming detergent is injected into the carpet fibers and is almost simultaneously vacuumed out of the carpet taking the dirt and soil with it. The extraction method when performed a skilled technician and quality chemicals will leave very little residue to attract to soil. You can use a truck mounted unit or a portable self contained unit as well. In the hands of an unskilled person a carpet can be over-wet during extraction cleaning so be sure to take extra dry passes when cleaning it yourself.

Today, many carpet manufacturers require that carpets be maintained by the hot water extraction carpet cleaning method. If you have concerns with the performance of your carpet it is suggested to have a thorough professional carpet cleaned by the preferred method of the carpet manufacturer, prior to submitting a claim. While you cannot expect a 5 year old carpet to look brand new in traffic areas a Certified Carpet Inspector will be able to draw a fairer conclusion as to a carpets performance if they are inspecting a clean carpet.

Is Carpet Cushion Carpet Pad?

By Terry Weinheimer Leave a Comment

Carpet Cushion, Carpet Pad, What’s the Difference?

Is carpet cushion carpet pad? Cushion, pad, lining, or underlay are all synonymous terms used to describe any type of material that is placed under the carpet. A cushion carpet pad adds comfort, absorb shock, reduce noise, increase insulation, and improve the performance of a carpet. While all of these names are synonymous and all of them are used, the preferred term in the carpet industry is cushion. [Read more…]

Carpet Choices for Wall to Wall Carpet

By Terry Weinheimer 2 Comments

Carpet Choice is almost Limitless

Carpet choices are almost limitless for wall to wall carpet. There are carpet choices in color, carpet choices in style, carpet choices in texture and carpet choices in fiber. Carpet is also manufactured in many different qualities from those designed for no more than a quick cover up, to qualities designed for excellent performance and those where a particular appearance is the most important feature. As you can see, there are many carpet choices and these are all considerations that you will want to make when considering the carpet options available to you.

Two popular carpet choices are tufted loop pile and tufted cut pile. With a loop pile the yarn is tufted or pulled through the backing of the carpet creating a loop. With cut pile carpet the loop is tufted or pulled through the back and the loop is cut which leaves the cut ends standing erect.

Many people consider cut pile to be the best carpet choice as they find it to be more stylish and a looped carpet to be more casual. Cut piles come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony, and velvet. Loop pile choices include Berber, cable, or sisal. For high traffic areas, loop pile is an excellent choice.

One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the cost. For years wool carpet has been considered the hallmark for style. Unfortunately a good quality wool carpet is more expensive than most of us can afford. And the cleaning takes time too. Manufactures have made it a practice to emulate wool in many of their synthetic products creating a good-looking and good performing product and affordable costs.

Carpet choices for synthetic carpet yarns are available in continuous filament and spun yarns. While a spun yarn will look more like wool it will also shed more. Many people find their vacuum bags and canisters filling up with carpet fuzz. This is normally because the carpet is manufactured from a spun yarn and is a normal characteristic and not a defect.

If you are able to afford good quality wool carpeting,this can be an excellent carpet choice. You’ll find that even though it costs of wool carpet is more to purchase and install, it will prove to be far more superior to any other type of carpeting. While there is some wonderful man-made carpet fibers that come close to the durability, rich look, or even the feel of wool they still have a ways to go before they are perfected to the quality of a wool carpet which can both last and look good for 30 years or more.

Nylon carpeting is also a popular carpet choices, recommended for high traffic areas. Nylon is an easy to work with fiber enabling manufacturers to created unlimited styles, patterns and colors. Nylon is one of the most expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it is still cheaper than wool.

Olefin is a low-cost carpet material, often used for indoor or outdoor carpeting. Olefin is colorfast and strong, very easy to clean. One of the draw backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you’ll have is the color and patterns of the carpet. Light carpeting colors help to create a spacious effect, making the room appear to be larger. Since light color carpet reflects light it will show soil and foot prints easier than your darker colors.

When looking for soil hiding qualities for homes with pets and children your darker colors are usually a better choice. Fortunately there are many carpet choices in dark colors, which is great for those interested in style. Dark colors are ideal for stains or pets, as they don’t show soiled areas near as much as light-colored carpets.

Don’t let the fact that a carpet has been treated for stain resistance make you comfortable in selecting a light-colored carpet. If you have children and pets and must have a lighter colored carpet be prepared for the extra care when it comes to stains and spots.

Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

By Terry Weinheimer 3 Comments

Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning, is it for me?

Dry foam carpet cleaning is a very low moisture cleaning procedure consisting of about 90% air and 10% liquid.

The dry foam carpet cleaning machine is equipped with a pressure tank in which a mixture of water and shampoo is placed. A compressor on the machine converts the solution into foam which is then dispensed onto the carpet with a revolving cylindrical brush. The brush works bubble of uniformed size foam into the pile of the carpet so that each individual fiber of the carpet is cleaned. Once the foam has dried, the carpet needs to be thoroughly vacuumed to remove the dried crystals of dirt that have been left behind.

Dry Foam Cleaning Steps

Vacuum the carpet and spot clean to remove spots and stains.
Mix the dry foam solution following the directions of the manufacturer. Using too little or too much chemical can result in poor results so stick with the measurements stated in the directions.
Shampoo the carpet.
If the carpet is a cut pile or shag, groom the pile to speed the drying process and leave the pile running in the same direction.
Place aluminum foil or furniture blocks under the furniture legs to prevent wood stains or rust.
Once the carpet has dried thoroughly vacuum it.

Advantages of Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

The process of dry foam cleaning is capable of covering a lot of area in a very short amount of time.
There is little danger of saturating the carpet simply because the moisture content is low. This will also help you to minimize the problems that are commonly associated with over wetting.
Dry foam is a good choice if you have older, more soiled carpet that you want to get as clean as possible.
You can rent a machine at many hardware or equipment rental stores.
They don’t cost that much to rent, which is great for those who just want to give it a shot and see what happens.
Dry foam carpet cleaning isn’t that hard to do, as you’ll be fine even if you have no experience with these types of machines.

Disadvantages of Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

The dry foam carpet cleaning method is capable of removing average levels of soil.
There is the possibility of excessive residue and soil build up if the machine you are using has inadequate extraction capabilities.

Carpet Spot Removal Steps

By Terry Weinheimer Leave a Comment

Tips for Carpet Spot Removal

Again we’re faced with spot removal from our new carpet, one of those unexpected accidents of life! As aggravating as these accidents can be at times they are often easier to overcome than we would expect. This is especially true when it comes to spot removal of those dirty spots and spills on our carpet. Sure it is upsetting to install a new wall to wall carpet only to have your child or husband track in mud or spill a beverage. Now you are faced with spot removal to remove those spots that you should not have had in your newly carpeted room in the first place. The good news is that those disturbing spots from mud to milk or even blood are usually easier to clean from the carpet than you think. With only a small amount of effort at spot removal, even stubborn spots and spills can usually be removed. Here are several spot removal tips that will help you keep your carpet looking great. [Read more…]

7 Easy Carpet Care Tips

By Terry Weinheimer 6 Comments

Seven Carpet Care Tips

For house cleaners, here are seven easy care tips that will make your life easier when it comes to caring for your carpet. Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches. Keeping a carpet clean will extend its life while keep it looking new for a longer period of time. A clean carpet will also reduce household allergens and dust helping to protect the health of your family.

Carpet Care Tip 1 Vacuuming

The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet. Since vacuums can become overwhelmed by too much dirt. Regular thorough, deep vacuuming is surely the most important step when it comes to carpet care. While non-traffic areas can be vacuumed quickly major traffic areas should be vacuumed in more than one direction as you run the vacuum slowly giving it time to pick up the deeper soil. Not all vacuum cleaners are equal. The best hardwood floor vacuums will do a better job of cleaning a carpet than even a specialized carpet vacuum, if it is of poor quality. A good quality vacuum is not necessarily the most expensive.

Carpet Care Tip 2 Walk Off Mats

Keep those dry and gritty outdoor soils from being tracked on to your wall to wall carpet. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to use walk off mats and area rugs at entrances. Always use entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter. Where possible also use an area rug or walk off mat inside your door to help trap soil missed by the outside mats. All mats and rugs need to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly so that they are trapping dirt and not placing dirt on to your shoes.

Carpet Care Tip 3 Shoes

Many people prefer that their family and guest go shoeless on their carpet. This can be helpful, especially if you have slippers that are only worn indoors that you slip into upon entering. The oils from oily bare feet will transfer from ones feet to the carpet.

Carpet Care Tip 4 Pets

If you have pets you need to understand that oil does transfer from pet hair to carpet. Placing an area rug in areas where your pets like to lay will provide excellent protection for your carpet.

Carpet Care Tip 5 Spots and Spills

Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Most spots and spills can be easily cleaned by blotting with no more than clean tap water and a towel. If water does not work you will need to use a cleaning product for the specific type of spot you are experiencing problems with.

Carpet Care Tip 6 Deep Cleaning

Have your carpet professionally deep cleaned. A good thorough cleaning for your higher traffic areas should be performed at least every 12 to 18 months.

A well maintained home and clean carpet will not only add value to your home it will also extend the life of your carpet, protect your carpet warranty, reduce household and pet odors, assist you in keeping your family healthy and your friends and other visitors will be impressed at how nice your home looks.

Carpet Care Tip 7 Optical Brighteners

While optical brighteners can make a carpet appear cleaner, they have a harmful effect on carpet fibers. Technical people in the carpet industry have unanimously taken a stand against the use of brightening agents in the cleaning process. But, even with all of the adverse publicity, optical brighteners or color brighteners, as they are often called, are still used in some spot cleaning products, shampoo, dry-foam and extraction detergents.

Optical brighteners are actually dyes, which reflect the light and eventually cause yellowing in carpet fibers. For this reason alone, every legitimate carpet cleaning company should outlaw their use.

Follow these 7 easy Carpet Care tips and your carpet will stay looking new longer.