FAQs

This is a question best answered with another question. How much traffic and use does your carpet receive? Footfalls, which are the number of steps a carpet gets in a given day, will determine the best course of action needed to maintain your carpets. With a high level of foot traffic, you can always anticipate an increased chance of food and beverage spills. It should also be pointed out that in a commercial building, a common area or hallway will often receive far more use than an office or cubical. Therefore, this section might require far more maintenance and cleaning.

The one aspect of maintaining your carpets that should be used without fail is vacuuming. Daily vacuuming of high traffic areas and weekly vacuuming in lower use areas will significantly increase any carpet’s appearance and life cycle. Please note that vacuuming is not to be confused with using a dustpan and broom or a Swiffer. Vacuuming requires using a motorized unit with a beater bar and vacuum pressure to lift out all debris and contaminants properly. 80% of the appearance retention and the life cycle of a carpet are determined on the vacuum schedule.

When discussing the professional cleaning process, this again varies with the use of the location. A restaurant, for example, might require a weekly or bi-weekly cleaning schedule using different types of cleaning processes (type of carpet cleaning options). A heavily walked-on area with a high chance of food and drink spills might need a monthly cleaning schedule. One with less chance of food and drink use might be a good candidate for quarterly cleaning. It is safe to say that all carpets should be professionally cleaned at minimum annually.

Carpet can act like a filter trapping many dust mites and debris, contributing to an unhealthy environment. By properly cleaning your carpets, you aid in the carpet‘s ability to provide you and your employees a healthy working environment.

For example, the Norovirus (stomach flu) has been known to survive on inanimate objects for as long as a month. When dealing with Covid or any other pathogen, a clean carpet assists you in maintaining a healthy building, but only if the carpet acts like your filter is properly cleaned and maintained.

There is also the benefit of odor sensitivity in properly cleaning your carpets. Many people have some kind of sensitivity to odor. Carpet is often said to contain odors, and without proper attention to spills, this can certainly be the case. However, many commercial carpets such as carpet tiles used today have non–flow–through backings, which make it much more possible to remove spills and odors. 

There are two primary reasons that spots reappear on carpet. The first is often the use of re-soiling chemistries. Believe it or not, the very act of cleaning a spot can, in some cases, make the situation worse. Many products sold for the exact purpose of cleaning spots leave behind a sticky residue that will attract dirt and re-soil the area in many cases worse than the original issue.

Using a product with Surfactants that leave a soapy or sticky residue can and will make matters worse. Many of these products do a wonderful job of removing a spot but require the end-user to properly flush out the area with enough clean water to remove all traces from the carpet. This, by the way, is also a major issue on hard surfaces. If the chemistry is used to clean a floor and leaves behind a sticky residue, it will often make the floor dirtier once it receives foot traffic.

These issues can be resolved by using a non-resoiling product (those with this characteristic will be clearly advertised as a benefit of the product) or properly flushing the product out of the carpet once it has done its job of removing the spot. If you are unsure if the product you are using has re-soiling characteristics, simply place some of the product on a dish and place it near a window where it can get sunlight. Allow the product to dry or evaporate, and then test the product by feeling it. If it is sticky, there is a good chance it will leave your floor in the same condition.

The second possible reason is based on the type of carpet you are cleaning. This issue is far more relevant in residential carpet, but if your carpet has a flow-through backing, the second possible reason might be the process of “wicking.” If a spill is allowed to work its way down to the backing, then an attempt is made to clean the floors with water. A natural process of drying the carpet allows for the migration of contaminants up to the surface as the water evaporates.

Wicking can be minimized by instituting several variations to your cleaning method. For one, if you are using a steam cleaning or wet process, additional dry passes will significantly reduce the chances of wicking. Using air movers and fans to create a faster drying environment might also reduce wicking chances. Lastly, you can also allow wicking to occur and then return with a restorative cleaning process using a topical cleaning method to remove the remaining dirt and debris.

For starters, let me say that I haven’t tested every product on the market and therefore I am quite hesitant to make recommendations on all products. We test at least four products a year in the hopes of finding a better option. We are also fortunate enough to have the proper equipment to use a product that might, let’s say, be good at taking out blood, but if left on the carpet would re-soil like crazy. However, since we have the proper equipment to rinse the product we do not have a great deal of re-soiling issues.

What I can recommend is first looking for products that advertise non-resoiling characteristics. Look for products that are non-detergent and nonsolvent based (solvent-based products can damage the backing or fibers of the carpet it left behind), and non-bleach based (it can take the color out of your carpet).

Lastly, be careful that the product does not contain Naphthalene. In its concentrated form it is a known carcinogen and can cause breathing issues, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Unfortunately, Naphthalene can be found in many over-the-counter carpet cleaning products.

I know what you’re thinking. That pretty much eliminates every product. I know it can be a challenge, but sometimes old school methods work best. A 50/50 solution of water and vinegar can work wonders on non-organic spills. On Organic spills (urine, blood, red wine), the use of Hydrogen Peroxide (which can be purchased at the drugstore) can help address these types of issues.

Before you try anything on your carpets, keep in mind these two pointers: test whatever you plan on using in a corner where the carpet is not seen and make sure it does not negatively affect the carpet.

Next, pour a dime-size amount of product on the spot and use a clean towel to dab it. Make sure you minimize any aggressive scrubbing. Use a second clean towel and place it on the spot, applying pressure by stepping on it in an effort to remove as much product out of the carpet as possible. Lastly, minimize any foot traffic on the spot until completely dried.

This is the one question that will create the most dissension in the carpet cleaning industry, as each manufacturer and each company will oftentimes promote their own product as the best possible solution.

The truth is there are several options and the carpet itself will be the best in determining the cleaning practice.

There are a few truths in each cleaning process — both good and bad — that must be identified and taken into consideration when determining the best course of action.

Let’s start with Water Extraction, Hot Water Extraction, often referred to as steam cleaning. This is by far the most popular used process by professional companies. The term steam cleaning effectively tells you all you need to know about the process: water is heated and creates steam. There is always some amount of water introduced into the carpet.

Steam cleaning requires the use of specialized equipment. Yes, you can rent carpet cleaning machines but in order to produce water temperatures over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need equipment that requires a fairly large investment. The best type of this equipment is typically associated with what they call a truck-mounted unit. It provides the optimal amount of water pressure, heat, and vacuum to give you the desired results. This does require the running of both a vacuum hose (typically 3”) and a water solution hose through the building. It also requires the use of a wand to apply and remove the excess water (there are several types of wands).

Some very general pros and cons associated with Steam Cleaning:

Pros:

• Best equipment providing the best possible results
• The hot water and steam greatly aids in the cleaning and sanitizing of the carpet for health benefits.
• Provides the best deep cleaning option.

Cons:

• Does require the running of hoses through the building and outside (Portable units can be used but do not have the same ability to heat the water and provide sufficient water pressure)
• Even with steam cleaning a certain amount of water is used.

The second most viable option is what is referred to as low moisture cleaning or encapsulation. This is the process of using a low amount of water and specialty chemistry that topically cleans the carpet as well as leaving an engineered chemistry that helps in the reduction of resoiling. This process is fairly new to the industry and was introduced by the carpet manufacturers in an attempt to reduce the amount of water used in cleaning broadloom carpets. Flow-through carpet with a mesh backing typically adheres to carpet fibers with Latex adhesive. Latex adhesive will release over time with the use of water and soap (latex paint is cleaned with soapy water).

The process of low moisture cleaning hopes to find a happy balance between maintaining the appearance of the carpet and extending its life.

Some very general pros and cons of Low Moisture cleaning:

Pros:

• Less water is used to prevent any possible delamination of the carpet backing while providing a surface cleaning. This allows for the process to be used more often without damaging the carpet.
• Allows for the removal of spotting and greatly reduces the chance of wicking.
• Can be done with equipment that does not require a high level of skill or running of hoses.

Cons:

• Does not provide deep cleaning and therefore is not the best method when it comes to disinfecting and deodorizing.
• Will create a build–up of product over time that will at some point require the use of extraction to remove.

The last method that has recently picked up some steam and is a dry cleaning method. It uses a powder that can be introduced to the carpet with a brush and then vacuumed out. This process, like low moisture cleaning, was largely created by carpet manufacturers to extend the life of their carpets. You can even find some at-home products that use this method and its roots trace back to the use of sawdust for dealing with oil-related spills.

Some very general pros and cons of dry cleaning methods:

Pros:

• Fairly easy to apply and not dependent on operators skill level.
• Easier to complete in an occupied space.

Cons:

• Will create a build–up of product over time, especially if the carpet has a flow–through backing.
• Provides little or no disinfecting quality.

These options should all be considered when addressing your carpet cleaning concerns. Please note that in many cases a combination of all three techniques can be the best option. For example, teaching your employees how to properly use a dry cleaning method is a great first step in addressing spills. Pairing that with low moisture cleaning quarterly in non–high traffic areas can also help reduce the cost of extraction. Lastly, using a bi–annual extraction on traffic areas and annual extraction on the balance of the carpet might provide you with the best and most economical results.

This question, in many ways, is similar to the returning of spots, so please refer to that answer. However, if the larger question is why, after cleaning, your carpets seem to get dirty faster, then continue reading.

This again is because of two major reasons which parallel those of spot cleaning. First, the incorrect chemistry is used and therefore leaves a sticky residue that is actually cleaning the people’s feet as they walk.

This problem can be mitigated if the carpet receives a clean water rinse in order to remove any possible re-soiling chemistry.

The industry has moved away from the term “Shampooing” because it gives the connotation that soap is used in the cleaning process.

Please refer to the answer above for the various types of cleaning methods.

I would like to reinforce the importance of proper vacuuming. As previously mentioned, vacuuming is the most important process in maintaining the appearance and life cycle of your carpet.

I can’t tell you the number of times that I have been called into a commercial building to look at a carpet in a high traffic area, where the only conceivable problem was the lack of regular vacuuming.

Dirt and, in particular, sand can ruin a carpet faster than you can imagine by abrading the fibers and causing deterioration. If this happens it can oftentimes be uncorrectable because the actual carpet fibers are damaged and laid down causing its ability to reflect the light differently. Therefore, causing your eyes to see it as brown or dirty even when it’s not. As you can see, vacuuming is vital to the long-term maintenance of your carpet.

In the commercial sector, I often see a custodial or janitorial company hired to vacuum a carpet, but if they run short on time, they will simply pan and broom the debris. It can be difficult for the property manager or owner to be able to tell if the carpet has been vacuumed, particularly in a commercial carpet with very little pile direction. (These are the carpet lines you might see in your home when vacuuming). Additionally, many of the employees will take the vacuum and raise the beater bar as high as possible so that it is easier to run the vacuum.

The best type of vacuum is one that has two motors. One to provide the suction and the other to move the beater bar. The carpet needs to be agitated in order to properly remove all embedded dirt and debris. If it’s too easy to vacuum it’s not doing its job.

Light-colored carpet, in particular, can be affected by a phenomenon called “filtration soiling.” This is created when forced air is passed through a gap between the carpet and the baseboards but can also happen under closed doors. As the air passes through the edge of the carpet, microscopic soiling is deposited and collected in these areas.

This process occurs over long periods of time and is typically the result of an unbalanced HVAC System. This cleaning can be very difficult as they are typically much smaller than the dirt and debris located within the carpet.

The use of specialized chemistry and extra elbow grease can help absolve this issue. Adding to my diatribe on vacuuming, if the proper wand is passed over these areas on a regular basis it will greatly reduce build-up over time.

Odor is tricky because each person has a different level of sensitivity to smell. The process can be made more difficult with a flow-through carpet that allows the source of the smell to soak into the backing and in some cases into the subfloor.

The process of odor detection can also be a challenge because sometimes the smell is not coming from the exact location that you might have first anticipated. For example, we were once asked to help at a nursing home. There was a room in particular where they had cleaned the carpet several times but the smell would not vanish.

Although the carpets appeared to be clean, we used a black light to determine there were traces of urine in the drapes, walls, plants and many other areas.

I tell this story only to say that a spot on the carpet that smells strongly might only be the metaphorical icing on the cake and often requires cleaning of a much larger area in scale.

The first and perhaps most important step is to try and address the spill as soon as it happens.

1. Use the spotting method listed above.
2. Use the proper chemistry and agitate it into the carpet with the appropriate equipment.
3. Then the one thing that is typically very difficult for most carpet cleaners: allow the chemistry to dwell. 
4. Allow the chemistry to dwell on the carpet for the recommended time. You cannot introduce chemistry and remove it immediately; this is terribly ineffective.  Most chemistries have a sweet spot of a ten–minute dwell time to allow it to properly work. Once the chemistry has dwelled the recommended time, fully flushing the area with hot water should in most cases help eliminate the smell.

It should also be noted — so as not to come as a surprise — if your carpet has a backing and the product or spill has reached the back and to the subfloor, it might require the removal and replacement of the carpet.