June 7, 2010

Reoccuring Spots – Wicking Explained

I’ve visited  strata buildings and homes and spoken with frustrated managers or owners regarding unusually stubborn spots and stains.   The spots seem better or to even have disappeared when the carpet is freshly cleaned, then reappear a day or so later.  Here is some information regarding why that can happen, and what to do about it when it does.

The first step: don’t panic.

The second step: call ServiceMaster Residential (604-435-1135).  We’ll take care of it –  if it can be taken care of.

Here’s what we’re dealing with.

Spots may reappear on carpet for several reasons.  The most immediate reason involves a process called wicking.   Soil wicking can be caused by a heavy accumulation of residue at the base of the carpet yarns.  As the carpet dries, the soil hidden at the base of the fibers is drawn back upward toward the surface.  In this case the best way to combat the stain is:

  1. Extra vacuuming in the area before hand to remove as much of that soil as possible
  2. After steam cleaning, make extra drying passes over the stain with carpet cleaning wand, or through use of a post bonnet clean
  3. Use a weighted towel or other absorbent material to collect the residue as it wicks to the surface.

This can also be an issue if whatever soil was embedded in the carpet, soaked through the fibers and into the backing or underlay.  The surface may appear clean after the servicing, but that residual soil which can’t be attacked from above may wick its way back up afterward as the carpet dries.  Repeat attacking of the stain is necessary in this case.

Other approaches may be necessary as well.  Our technicians may need to identify what type of soil has become embedded in the carpet.  Then the appropriate spotting agents can be utilized.  It is advised not to use bleaches or strong chemicals on site if the soil hasn’t been identified – this can bleach the carpet fibers, or, if the wrong PH level product is used, further adhere the soil to the fibers, making it a permanent stain.

The other unfortunate issue may be uncorrectable: it isn’t really a stain.  In the past few months I’ve seen the following uncorrectable issues, some of which could have been avoided:

  • Tenant cut the carpet fibers to remove a wax spill.  The resulting divot in the carpet disrupts the reflection of light, making a small shadowy patch that appears to be a stain
  • Burned carpet fibers.  Did someone drop a cigarette inside?
  • Lighter spots.  Bleaching of carpet fibers.  A tenant used a ‘mystery cleaning agent’ in an attempt to remove the stain.  When the carpet was cleaned, the water reacted to the residue of the ‘mystery cleaning agent’, activating bleaching agents.  As the carpet dried, light scrubbing spots appeared.

So, in conclusion, if a stain on your carpet seems to disappear when your carpet is professionally cleaned, then reappears, call our office.  We can always identify the problem.   We are often able to combat the stain and correct the situation.

June 7, 2010

Who Is ServiceMaster?

“You guys are just a small outfit, right?”
Annual Revenues exceed $5.5 billion. (But that’s not just the Burnaby office)

“If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.”
Marion E. Wade.
Founder of ServiceMaster


ServiceMaster Quick Facts:

  • 1947, the original company is incorporated by Marion Wade, a former minor league baseball player
  • 1952, services expanded to include carpet cleaning
  • 1984, Fortune Magazine rates ServiceMaster #1 among the “Service 500”
  • 1998, Success Magazine names ServiceMaster the “#1 Best-Run Franchise Company in the Country”.
  • 1998, Financial Times ranks ServiceMaster the “Sixth Most Respected Company in The World”.
  • Present: ServiceMaster ranked #3, in “Top 5 In Its’ Industry” by Fortune 500

But what does that mean to YOU, in regards to dealing with

ServiceMaster Clean Residential?

  • You’re working with a locally owned company that draws upon the resources, research, and experience of a $5.5 billion dollar organization.
  • ServiceMaster holds us accountable for quality standards.
  • We’re also provided with cleansers and equipment that is researched, designed and available only to ServiceMaster operators, including the Green product line.


But Who Are You Guys At
ServiceMaster Clean Residential?

David Benoit is the owner and operator of the residential franchise servicing the GVRD.  His background is in business, and operating a successful company is his passion.  He purchased the Residential franchise – servicing stratas and property management companies and homeowners for building maintenance needs in 1998.  He cares about people, quality, and commitment to growth through excellence, which has grown this branch of ServiceMaster since he stepped in.

“If there’s a problem, we’ll always go back and see if we can fix it.  We’ll take care of it.”
David Benoit.

ServiceMaster Clean Residential in 2010 has grown again to service its customers even better:

  • Customer follow up and satisfaction program.
  • Addition of another carpet cleaning technician to keep up with demand
  • New Service: dryer vent cleaning with our exterior services division
  • High Rise Services: window cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and caulking repair
  • Additional exterior crews added
  • New Office Location at #160 – 21900 Westminster Hwy, acting as central dispatch for the GVRD

Each division provides services from specialists.  For example, our carpet cleaners are trained, career technicians.  They don’t clean windows.  However, we do have window cleaning experts and other professional cleaners in their respective fields.

Everyone at SVM Clean Residential works to fulfill our simple mandate: “We’ll take care of it.”

June 7, 2010

Filtration Marks – What Are They?

Filtration marks occur where a gap under the carpet exists allowing air to pass through. This air flow allows the carpet to act like a filter, trapping and accumulating oily, non-soluble airbourne particulates – cooking oils, smoke, vehicle exhaust, dust, etc.

Air flows down walls through cracks in concrete flooring, and crevices, joints in the wood flooring, etc as the building breathes. The more movement of the air there is, the more this occurs. Look for filtration marks in areas with electric baseboard heating, ceiling heat, wood or pellet stoves, HVAC with no air return vent, etc, (perhaps it’s time to c all in a HVAC Company). In any well sealed structure return air must come from somewhere as a vacuum is formed when air is forced out or around a space. This results in the air being drawn through cracks and crevices – sucked in under and around doorways, gaps in the carpet as we mentioned above.

What to do about it?: an alternate source of air return must be made. This can include having a new Fargo air conditioner installed, adding an air vent near to an existing HVAC unit, or leaving a window slightly open so that air can be drawn in from outside rather than sucked in wherever possible.

In buildings with HVAC in the hallways, no vents, or windows to open: install carpet with dark edges near the walls. White carpet or light colored carpet will make this issue highly visible. Or you may be able to enquire about a ventilation system that can reach areas like this with a company in air conditioning repair Denver CO area, because perhaps your AC is not working properly. You may also want a new updated model to meet your house’s demands.

Cleaning filtration marks will require several steps.

1) Vacuuming to remove loose soil. This needs to be accomplished with an edging wand as normal vacuum attachments won’t get close enough to the wall. Infrequent vacuuming with an edging tool can lend to the development of filtration marks in buildings prone to this problem. Edging must be a frequent part of the vacuuming maintenance process.

2) Several applications of pre-spray and hand agitation may be necessary to loosen the non-soluble materials. The chemicals will need to be worked into the fibers of the carpet to loosen the bonds along the length of the fibers in order to improve the appearance when finished. Thoroughly shampoo and extract the area.

3) Repeat.

This will be a lengthy process, involving a lot of kneeling and hand scrubbing, using edging tools and working the carpet. The appearance will likely be improved, but is likely to remain discolored.

Note: in my personal experience, this will lighten the markings by aprox. 50 – 80%. The longer they are present the more permanent they become.

June 7, 2010

Carpet Abrasion – Real Soil vs. Apparent Soil

Abrasion of carpet fibers negatively affects the carpets appearance – it causes permanent damage and gives the illusion of  “Apparent Soil”.

Abrasion: “Dull, dark areas caused by scratching of the fibers from particulate soils.  This will appear to improve when the carpet is wet.”

There are two types of soil according to the ESTEAM Cleaning Schools Carpet Cleaner’s Handbook – Real Soil, and Apparent Soil.

Real Soil is defined as “…any matter that is foreign to the construction of the carpet and which can actually be removed from the carpet.  Remember, carpet acts as a filter in the indoor environment by trapping soil, such as animal and human dander, gases, and soils such as sand, grit, food, hair, and ashes, etc.”

Apparent Soil:  “Appears as soil but cannot be removed because it is not really soil.”

During the snowy winter conditions in Vancouver, sand and salt are used outside building entrances to prevent slipping.  This soil is tracked into the building and trapped in the carpet fibers.   This ‘Real Soil’ should be removed as much as possible with frequent vacuuming.  A beater bar vacuum cleaner will give best performance.   This will reduce abrasion of the carpet fibers.

The longer the soil is allowed to sit on the carpet, the more it will become distributed throughout the building due to the mechanics of soiling.

“Most soil that accumulates in carpets is from the soles of shoes, specifically in the main entrance of the home.  Soil is transferred to the carpet from the shoe sole until the carpet is as soiled as the sole of the shoe.  At this point, some soil will transfer to the shoe sole and be re-deposited on a less soiled area of the carpet.  This is how traffic areas develop and spread… It is estimated that 74% to 79% of the soil in most carpet is dry particulate matter.”

That percentage will be much higher after the type of winter we’ve just had – thanks to the sand and grit from outside the building.

The Solution: Deep extraction carpet cleaning.  Get the abrasive particles out of the carpet, especially before they become redistributed, spreading the problem.  Waiting to clean carpets that are heavily soiled will result in larger areas of the carpet becoming permanently damaged with wear patterns.  Scratched and cut carpet fibers cannot be repaired through cleaning.

How else can this be reduced?  Use of entrance mats, removal of shoes, and frequent vacuuming.

May 26, 2010

Fern Barker – Senior Property Manager CROSBY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LTD.

As a Property Manager I have worked with ServiceMaster for approximately 14-15 years in a variety properties. The quarterly carpet maintenance service they offer has been extremely well received by my clients and has been most beneficial in extending the life and look of the carpets. ServiceMaster staff have always ensured that my clients have been well serviced and in some cases gone out of their way to look after a problem I thought could not be fixed. I can truly say that I have found the pricing as being well within the market range and the service to be excellent; And working with David and many of the other staff members over the years has been a supportive and pleasant and co-operative arrangement.

May 26, 2010

Dave Olafsson – Property Manager Crosby Property Management Ltd.

I have been in the property management business for 13 years. When I need work done, … either carpet cleaning, window cleaning service, difficult or tricky projects, ServiceMaster has always been able to help. They are quick to respond to any request or problem, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them.

May 26, 2010

Andrew Achtymichuk – Property Manager AWM Alliance Real Estate Group

I have been using ServiceMaster for the past 2 years for cleaning the gutter, windows, ducts and carpets. They have always done an excellent job, very professional and if there has ever been a problem, they rectify it immediately. If I ever have a question that is in their field, their knowledge is second to none, ServiceMaster knows their job, inside and out.