June 17, 2010

Spot Cleaning Product Selection

What To Look Out For

Everyone says their cleaning product is the best.  But how do you know what to really use for spot cleaning your carpet? With so many products out there, what should you look for to ensure that you’re using what you should for your carpet.

ServiceMaster Clean Residential product lines are developed by the R&D departments of a $5billion per year company to ensure they meet all necessary standards and requirements for excellence.  That’s how our green line or products was born.  However, you may not have that type of backing when selecting a cleaning agent from the local store.   Here’s what to look for, and a simple residue test if you need a quick solution and you don’t have time to call in the professionals at ServiceMaster Clean.

“WARNING! Do not use chlorinated cleaning solutions, quaternary solutions, petroleum

distillates, solvent-based cleaners, or citrus cleaning solutions.”

– Lees Carpet Manufacturing guide.

Here’s what to watch out for:

PH LEVEL: When selecting a cleaning agent, avoid products with pH levels over 9.5

Avoid – Toxicity: non-toxic, and inflammable solvents.

Avoid – Optical Brighteners:  They can adversely affect the coloration of carpet and lead to premature yellowing and aging.

Avoid – Sticky Residue:  Do not use a product on your carpet which will leave behind a sticky residue.  This will lead to rapid resoiling and the need for more frequent cleanings.

Sticky Residue Test

To test a solution to ensure that it does not leave a sticky residue, you can perform the following simple test:

  • Pour a small amount of the cleaning solution into a clean glass dish.
  • Let the dish stand uncovered to air dry, until all liquid has evaporated
  • Break up any hard residue left on the bottom of the glass dish.  If it is powdery, dry flakes, or dry crystals, this is an acceptable solution, as this can be vaccuumed out of the carpet fiber
  • If it is oily, greasy, sticky, or waxy the solution is not acceptable as this will stick to the carpet fiber and contribute to rapid resoiling
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.