It’s Just Carpet
It’s just carpet! How many times have you heard that statement? It’s just carpet, why do I have to vacuum it so often? It’s just carpet, why does it need cleaned so often? While we would like to think all it has to do is lay on the floor and look pretty, carpet needs proper care to maintain the indoor environment and get the longest, best-looking life out of it.
SOME HISTORY
I have been in this industry since 1977 (when I had more hair than brains), I have seen a lot of things happen in this industry over those years. ‘Back in the day’ there was a whole lot of what you might call “bathtub chemistry” and machines that were built to take on huge cleaning jobs. I had one, where we could operate two cleaning wands off one machine. My brother Chuck and I were in Atlanta in 1987 at what was called “The Market” for the flooring industry. That year three stain resist nylon fibers were introduced such as “DuPont Certified STAINMASTER”, “Anso V Worry Free”, and “Monsanto with Locked-In Stain Blocker”. Remember this commercial?
Immediately after the introduction of these advanced nylon fibers, carpet cleaning detergent formulators had to reformulate their detergents to have a pH of 10 or less. There was a scramble for all those companies who cleaned residential carpet, but it did not affect my cleaning company that much, because 80+% of the carpet we cleaned was multi-family housing and commercial.
On day one of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) classes I teach, I tell my students that I could teach them how to clean carpet in just a few hours. The reasons why we clean carpet the way we do, takes a bit longer. On day two of the class, I will start by asking the students what one or two things they learned new or will make their jobs easier. More often than not, students reply, “I had no idea there was this much to know about carpet!” Because it’s just carpet. Also, the class is taught according to ANSI/IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings. Did you know there was such a document? The very first carpet cleaning standard was published November 1, 1991. This came about after what some may say was a condescending challenge to what some at the time called us ”rug-suckers and shampoo slingers.” It came from the carpet manufacturers through their spokespeople of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) at an event where the IICUC (the predecessor of the IICRC) board of directors and other who‘s who of the carpet cleaning industry were gathered in St. Pete Beach, FL. for a Board of Directors meeting. The challenge came across, in my opinion, as more of a threat when the CRI said, in essence, ”you folks come up with a standard on how carpet should be cleaned, or we will.“ Within one year, the standard was published and updates to that standard have been made over the years with the 7th edition published in 2021. There is a lot more history I could cover such as the CRI Seal of Approval program that started testing the efficacy of detergents, equipment and methods of cleaning, but that is another article in and of itself. Bottom line, professional carpet cleaning is rocket science, even though It’s just carpet.
THE CARPET CLEANING TECHNICIAN MANUAL
In the manual I use, there are 14 chapters not including all the subchapters and sections, which include:
The Fiber Basics
Characteristics of Fiber Types
Fiber Identification
Fiber/Carpet Dyeing
Identifying Dye or Color Problems
Carpet Construction
Carpet Soiling
Cleaning: Practical Application
pH Specifications
Principles of Cleaning
Cleaning Methods
Deodorizing Techniques
Potential Problems and Challenges
Advanced Spot and Stain Removal
Who would have thought there is this much to learn about carpet, let alone cleaning it, because of course, it’s just carpet.
I am now going to give the highlights of the two-day Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) class.
THE FIBER BASICS
The class starts with fiber basics. Even though we talk a smidge about wool, because it’s out there, there are three main synthetic fibers (Nylon, Polyester and Polypropylene) used in the manufacture of carpet. Each of these fibers have unique characteristics on the way they take dye, perform, accept/resist stains, and how easily they will clean. Knowing these things about the fiber helps the technician properly clean the carpet. I teach how to perform a burn test to confirm the fiber type.
Then we start talking about dirt and the reason why cleaners are an essential element to the health and safety of occupants in homes and business. Properly maintained carpet is good for the environment, and makes homes and businesses healthier to live and work in.
THE CHEMISTRY OF CLEANING
We talk about the chemicals we use to perform cleaning carpet. Within the chemistry of cleaning section we talk about solutions, emulsions, suspension, surfactants, and pH. A good chemical can help you reduce the time and effort it takes to clean. Each fiber can use a bit different chemistry to get the best results. Following the CHAT (Chemical, Heat, Agitation, Time) principles of soil suspension will guide you further. (Want to learn more about CHAT?
See this article:
SOIL REMOVAL STEP
The phrase, “cleaning doesn’t happen until the dirt goes someplace” comes into play now. With the shampoo method, the suspended soil is removed by wet vacuuming and subsequent vacuuming. The bonnet cleaning method, the soil is absorbed into the bonnet. The absorbent compound method, the soil is absorbed into the compound. The water rinse (hot water) extraction method, the soil is rinsed off the carpet using the cleaning wand or large commercial walk behind machines.
SPOT STAIN AND WICKING
I have written articles about this
The class teaches cleaners the difference between a spot, stain, discoloration and wicking.
Spot - substance added to the carpet (beverage, plate of food, tar, paint, etc.)
Stain - color added to the carpet (coffee, sport drink, wine, etc.
Discoloration - color removed from the carpet (bleach, benzoyl peroxide, etc.)
Wicking - occurs as the carpet dries and unremoved substances wick up the fibers to reappear again.
GROOM AND DRY
Once the carpet has been cleaned, it may need groomed or brushed to lift the pile and set it so it looks its best and dries well. Tabs and blocks are used to protect furniture from moisture and the carpet from stains.
There are numerous other discussions regarding potential problems with the cleaning which is why I created a Pre-Cleaning Check Assessment for a cleaner to use
BOTTOM LINE
As you can see from this brief overview there is a lot more that goes into owning and caring for carpet. Carpet is an investment like any other large purchase. Even though It’s just carpet, maintaining it properly will help you keep the indoor environment healthier and get the longest, best-looking life out of it.