| In order to understand how to clean carpet, we | | | | the carpet that makes it seem like it's dirty. Busy |
| need to know what soil is and the problems it | | | | hallways often have wear patterns and scratches in |
| presents. Soil in carpet is any substance that is | | | | the fibers that simply can't be restored with cleaning. |
| foreign to the carpet's construction. Soil includes | | | | When carpet cleaning contractors see carpets with |
| substances such as dirt, sand, food, oil, hair, dust, and | | | | these conditions, it's best to explain it to the |
| anything else that finds its way onto carpet. Carpet | | | | customer before work begins so they understand |
| not only traps soils that fall onto it, but it also acts as | | | | that you won't be able to repair the wear patterns. |
| a filter for the environment. Dust, dander, soot, | | | | Following are the steps needed to remove soil from |
| gases and odors are all trapped in carpet. | | | | carpet: |
| Most soil found in carpet is sand and dirt tracked in | | | | 1. Remove the dry soil, sand and solids by vacuuming. |
| by foot traffic. This type of soil is abrasive to the | | | | 2. Suspend the soil. This means separating the soil |
| carpet and is what causes the carpet to wear. The | | | | from the carpet so it can be removed. There are 4 |
| gritty matter actually cuts and scratches the fibers | | | | keys to soil suspension: temperature, agitation, |
| of the carpet, resulting in a dull, worn appearance. | | | | chemical action, and time. If one of these four are |
| The rest of the soil found in the carpet is usually | | | | missing or decreased, then you need to compensate |
| grease and oils. This type of soil is acidic, which is | | | | for it by increasing one of the other three. For |
| why most carpet cleaning chemicals are alkaline | | | | example, if you don't have enough heated water, |
| cleaners. Alkaline cleaners neutralize the acids in order | | | | then you can compensate with additional agitation. |
| to remove the grease and oils. | | | | 3. Soil removal (extraction). This is accomplished by |
| Soil and dirt are considered "soluble" whereas oil, | | | | rinsing (steam cleaning or hot water extraction |
| grease and solids are considered "insoluble", which | | | | method), absorption (spin bonneting), or after-drying |
| means they can't be dissolved in water or solvents. | | | | (dry powders that are vacuumed up). |
| Because soil and dirt are soluble, they are more easily | | | | 4. Rake the carpet so that wand marks or swirl |
| removed with vacuuming and extraction. However it's | | | | marks are removed. |
| the insoluble matter that professional carpet cleaners | | | | 5. The last step is drying the carpet. This needs to |
| are more concerned about. | | | | happen as quickly as possible in order to avoid |
| One of the problems inexperienced carpet cleaners | | | | problems such as re-soiling, mildew and odor. The |
| have is leaving residue in carpet. This is one of the | | | | fastest way to dry carpet is with fans or air movers. |
| main reasons they're often called back to the job -- | | | | Understanding soil and what it takes to remove it |
| residue causes rapid re-soiling, prompting phone calls | | | | properly from carpet is the first step to providing |
| from unhappy customers. | | | | carpet cleaning services in your business. And when |
| What about "apparent" soil? Apparent soil isn't | | | | removed properly, results in satisfied customers. |
| actually soil at all. It's simply the worn appearance of | | | | |