Basics of Carpet Care

Get to know the basics of carpet care.

Read the following to get a well rounded perspective on issues that have an affect on commercial carpet maintenance.

Facility managers face different issues around maintenance.

    • Indoor air quality.
    • Safety.
    • Product damage.
    • Appearance.
    • Scheduling.
    • Budgets.
    • Other health concerns.

Proper maintenance will:

    • Improve indoor air quality.
    • Improve carpet appearance.
    • Improve facility appearance.
    • Extend the life of your investment.

Problems include:

    • Poor indoor air quality.
    • Inadequate removal of soil.
    • Recurring spills and stains.
    • Product destruction.
    • Poor overall appearance.

Four steps to improvement:

    • Prevention (Barrier system).
    • Proper product selection.
    • Regular vacuuming.
    • A maintenance program.

Factors affecting carpet performance:

    • Fiber & construction.
    • Pattern & color selection.
    • Installation.
    • Maintenance schedule.
    • Maintenance system & the people who perform the work.

Soil is the chief problem:

    • It is tracked in.
    • Deposited from the air.
    • Brought in by other methods.
    • Prevention (it is easier to keep dirt out than to remove it):
    • Clean sidewalks and entrance ways.
    • Use effective walk off systems.
    • Vacuum regularly.
    • Food/beverage restrictions.
    • HVAC maintenance.

Vacuuming is the best form of maintenance

    • Vacuum regularly.
    • Select appropriate equipment.
    • Keep equipment well maintained.

Effective maintenance systems extend the life of the investment

    • Use methods that will not cause resoiling.
    • Skill & technology go hand-in-hand.
    • Provider should be trained in indoor air quality and use only products that are safe and effective.
    • Provider should be certified.
    • Unless it is removed, soil will discolor and eventually destroy any carpet.
      Soil has tiny hard, razor-sharp edges that can pierce a carpet fiber.

Fact: The longer carpet lasts, the less it costs.
Fact: Regular maintenance makes carpet last longer.
Fact: Carpet costs less to maintain than other types of floorcoverings.
Fact: Good environmental sense = good business sense.
Fact: Soil is a destructive force.

The soil that does the most damage is the soil you can’t see

    • Advantage of carpet is that it can look good on the surface, but can hide the worst conditions.
    • Soil ground in below the surface is hidden or may not be visible.
    • Unless hidden soil is removed it will continue to attract more soil.
    • Sharp abrasive particles and friction (foot traffic) will flatten carpet tufts.

A planned consistent maintenance program will:

    • Remove abrasive particles before they damage fibers.
    • Result in the carpet retaining it’s original appearance longer.
    • Reduce cost.

Where soil comes from:

    • Tracked in from sidewalks, parking lots, or from the street.
    • Airborne (the same pollutants that are found outdoors work their way inside).
    • Spills (they occur wherever you find people).

Variables that effect soiling:

    • Types of soil may vary.
    • Traffic patterns and traffic volume.
    • The carpet you specify.

Carpet selection is important for long term appearance:

    • Choose the correct color/pattern.
    • Choose the right construction.
    • Insist on soil resistant treatments.
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