| CARPET CARE | |
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The Way You Look At Carpet...
A well programmed maintenance schedule will extend your carpet’s performance,appearance and life...so treat it like it ’s your own.
Preventative Maintenance
Dirt is everywhere.Keeping it out of buildings is easier and less expensive than removing it.Vacuuming
Regular vacuuming is the most important part of any maintenance program.Spot Removal
Spots are inevitable,but they don ’t have to be permanent.Remove a spill quickly and there is less chance it will become a stain.Interim Cleaning
Scheduled pile lifting,vacuuming,spot extraction,or dry cleaning in high traffic areas can help the carpet retain appearance and improve performance.Restorative / Deep Cleaning
No matter how conscientiously you work at it,daily maintenance will still leave some soil behind.Periodic deep cleaning,using hot water extraction,is most effective at removing embedded abrasive soil.
THE WAY YOU LOOK AT CARPET...
Commercial carpet is a sizeable investment. Naturally, you want your carpet to remain attractive and highly functional long after it is installed. A well programmed maintenance schedule will extend your carpet ’s performance,appearance and life...so treat it like it ’s your own.
The longer carpet lasts...the less it costs
Maintenance costs for a carpeted floor,average 30 to 40 percent less than those for hard surfaces.To be truly cost effective, maintenance must be carried out with systematic frequency over the life of the carpet.Therein lies the irony.Today ’s carpets are engineered to disguise soils and stains.This sometimes masks the need to vacuum and clean on a regular basis.A consistent and effective maintenance program can dramatically extend the life of your carpet.
An environmental note
The Mohawk Group,a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries Inc.,is committed to manufacturing processes that have the least impact on our environment.We practice conservation of energy and recycle by-products of manufacturing –thus reducing landfill waste.Protect your investment and be environmentally conscious.The proper maintenance program will keep your carpet out of landfills longer,and provide a healthier environment in which to work.
Clean air
The cleaner the carpet,the better the air.Properly maintained carpet can act as a filter, improving the air in your work environment,resulting in better performance and morale.
Employee ownership
Everyone in your company should treat the carpet as if it were their own.When problems arise from accidents that affect the floor,immediately address the problem. Ignoring a spill creates an even greater problem later for your maintenance staff.
A good reflection on your business
An effective maintenance program will protect your carpet investment.When your carpet looks good it ’s a positive reflection on your company.Click to Return to the Effective Maintenance Menu
Preventative Maintenance
- Walk-off mats trap soil.It is easier to keep soil out and less expensive than removing it.
- The use of walk-off mats will significantly reduce your maintenance costs.
- Place a mat outside,in the vestibule and inside for best results.
- Today mats and removable grates are available to fit any type of entrance situation.
- It has been estimated that removing a pound of dirt,once inside a building,costs more than $500.00.
Mat Facts
- Up to 24 pounds of dirt can be tracked in by just 1,000 people coming through an entrance over a 20-day work period.
- An effective matting system is essential to improve the appearance of your entire building and help reduce maintenance costs.
- Consult your maintenance professional for proper mat selection.
Chair Mats
- The use of chair mats prevents casters from grinding soil into the carpet and breaking down the carpet ’s fibers
HEAVYCOMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
The classification of Heavy Commercial traffic refers to public spaces such as main corridors, lobby and entrance areas,vending machine areas,airports and retail facilities.MEDIUM COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Medium Commercial areas are those that must withstand high foot traffic such as school corridors and classrooms, administrative and general office areas.LIGHT COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Light traffic areas include executive offices,boardrooms and conference rooms.Traffic is minimal,thus reducing the soil in this area.
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Vacuuming Vacuuming is the most effective way to remove soil.How often you vacuum is influenced by soil type and
traffic patterns.Soiling at entry areas and ground floors has high levels of dirt and sand,while executive
offices generally are not as heavily traveled and will require less frequent vacuuming.Please refer to
frequency chart for effective vacuuming.
Train personnel on proper vacuuming methods and techniques.
METHOD
- A slow pass against the carpet pile is more effective than several quick strokes.
- Heavy traffic areas may require multiple passes (forward and backward)to sufficiently extract embedded soil.
- A vacuum brush will open up the tufts.
(Agitation will loosen the soil. Slow movement allows time for air to circulate through the face yarn and extract soil.)Vacuuming Frequency To Properly Remove Soil
Area Traffic Condition Vacuuming Frequency Entry Heavy Daily Ground Floor Halls Heavy Daily Above Ground Halls Medium 3 times per week Administrative Offices Medium 3 times per week Classrooms Medium 3 times per week General Office Areas Medium 3 times per week School Corridors Medium 3 times per week Boardrooms Light Weekly Conference Rooms Light Weekly Executive Offices Light Weekly RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
2 Motor Upright Vacuum with Rotary Brush
- Proper vacuum set up should extend the rotary brushes 1/8 ”below the casing.
- Periodically check brushes for wear.
- For maximum efficiency,change disposable bag when it is half full.
(When a vacuum bag is over half full it loses 80%efficiency.)
Carpet is more efficiently cleaned when using a vacuum with a beater bar.
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Spot Removal
Stain Category Stain Category Asphalt B * Copier Toner Vacuum Only Ball Point Pen A Cosmetics B Beer A Glue, Latex A Bleach A Grass A Blood A Grease B * Brass Stain A Ink, Copying B Betadine B * Ink, Permanent B Butter B Mildew A Calcium Chloride (De-Icer) A Oil B * Candle B Paint, Latex A Candy A Paint, Oil B * Carbolic Acid (Disinfectant) A Peanut Butter A Carbon,Black B Perfume A Catsup A Salad Dressing B Cement, Building A Shoe Polish B Cement, Contact B Soy Sauce B Chewing Gum A Tea C * Children’s Drink Mix A Tomato Juice A Chocolate A Tomato Paste A Cigarette Burn A Urine C * Clay A Vomit C * Coffee C * Wine A Coke A *These difficult stains must be treated immediately to ensure removal of the stain.
CATEGORY “A ”STAINS
Step 1
Blot or extract to remove substance.Rinse thoroughly with clear water.Apply an all-purpose cleaning solution sparingly,and gently agitate the stained area. Blot or extract to remove substance.Rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove residue.Blot or extract to remove excess moisture.
Step 2
Repeat if necessary.
CATEGORY “B ”STAINS
Step 1
Blot or extract to remove substance.Try implementing cleaning procedure for Category “A ”stain using an all-purpose cleaner.
Step 2
Blot or extract to remove substance.Apply only enough cleaning fluid to dampen the stained area.Gently agitate.Blot or extract to remove substance.Rinse thoroughly with clear water.Repeat as long as the stain continues to transfer from the carpet to the towel.Rinse thoroughly with clear water.Blot or extract to remove excess moisture.
Step 3
Apply a specific POG (Paint,Oil and Grease)Cleaner sparingly to the stained area.Gently agitate.Blot or extract to remove substance.Rinse thoroughly with clear water.Blot or extract to remove excess moisture.
CATEGORY “C ”STAINS
Step 1
Blot or extract to remove substance.Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Apply a tannin remover according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove residue.Blot or extract to remove excess moisture.
Work from the edge towards the center of the spill.Never rub,it may spread the stain. If these methods fail, contact your local certified cleaning company for recommendations.
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Interim A well planned maintenance program includes regular interim and deep cleaning methods.
Effective interim cleaning includes:
- Pile lifting & vacuuming
- Wet or dry spot cleaning
- Dry cleaning or hot water extraction in high traffic areas
METHOD
For interim cleaning Mohawk recognizes that there are many dry cleaning methods available in the marketplace.We suggest that you analyze several methods for effectiveness and cost,to determine which best suits your facility.
An effective dry cleaning method involves the application of a dry cleaning substance that dissolves and absorbs both water and oil based soils,holding them until they are removed by vacuuming.The cleaning agent contacts all surfaces of the soiled carpet fibers,breaking down the bond that causes the soil to stick to the carpet fibers.
- Thoroughly pre-vacuum all areas,paying particular attention to the heavily soiled areas.
- Apply cleaner only to soiled areas.
- Brush the cleaner gently through the carpet to remove stains and soil.
- Vacuum up the loose soil and the cleaning agent.
DRYEXTRACTION METHOD -“Can work well to remove stains and spots ”.
The Dry Extraction Method utilizes small porous particles saturated with cleaning solvent and/or detergent that absorb soil and grime from carpet fiber.It can be used to keep traffic lanes clean between water extraction cleaning,and where constant traffic doesn’t allow ample drying time for a wet system.Closely follow the manufacturer ’s user instructions for dry extraction system.As with other systems,dry extraction improperly carried out can lead to poorly maintained and damaged carpet.Click to Return to the Effective Maintenance Menu
Deep Cleaning Deep Cleaning is restoring the carpet ’s appearance by extracting soil and substances that can damage your carpet.
Mohawk recommends hot water extraction as the most effective method to give restorative deep cleaning results.
METHOD
Hot water extraction is the industry ’s most frequently used method of deep cleaning.A hot water and light cleaning
solution,in the manufacturer ’s recommended mix,is sprayed into the carpet.This solution mixes with the soil as powerful
extraction removes the solution and the loosened soil in the process.
Caution must be used with this method to avoid over wetting.
HOT WATER METHOD
- Test the cleaning chemical to be sure it dries without stickiness,otherwise,it can cause rapid re-soiling.Simply put some detergent in a saucer and allow to dry.If sticky to the touch,do not use.
- Use only detergents that have a ph factor below 10 and contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- With proper hot water extraction equipment,carpet should be dry within 4-6 hours.Extractors incorporating a brush between the water jet and vacuum are recommended.
- If a pre-spray is needed to address spots prior to deep cleaning,use a product specifically formulated to remove detergent residue and mineral deposits.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
- 120 PSI (pounds per square inch)or more of water delivery.
- 150 inches of mercury lift or more vacuum.
- Should have a clear sight glass to observe the return water.If the equipment does not have observation glass,this can be easily installed in the return hose.
- Must be able to reach all carpeted area.
Spin Bonnets, or rotating brush equipment should not be used as a recommended cleaning procedure, as it may damage the fibers of the carpet. Use of this equipment voids our warranty.
Cleaning Frequency Foot Traffic Location 9 Times/year Heavy Ground Floor Entrances 6 Times/year Medium Classrooms & General Office 3 Times/year Light Executive Offices & Boardrooms
*Please consult your local cleaning professional for more specific instructions.COLOR,PATTERN AND CONSTRUCTION
Color,pattern and construction all help determine how well your carpeting stands up to daily use.The best carpet selection takes both performance and aesthetics into account.No maintenance program can overcome a poor carpet choice.Improper color selection could increase your maintenance costs.
Many factors govern a carpet ’s life and appearance from the fiber and construction to the way the carpet is installed.However,none pay more dividends than proper care.The small amount of time that it takes to implement a well planned maintenance program can dramatically extend the life of your carpet.And remember...the longer it lasts, the less it costs.
Observe the appearance of the carpet for a period of time.If soiling is apparent,increase the frequency of vacuum cleaning in that area.
CARPET TILE
The selection of carpet tile for your facility necessitates the implementation of programmed rotation in your maintenance schedule.
CAUTION:Over wetting carpet tile can cause dirt and detergent to be carried to the backing,which could affect the pressure sensitive adhesive bond.
CARE OF WOOL CARPET
The most important elements of maintaining your wool carpet investment includes the steps of thorough vacuuming,interim dry cleaning in high traffic areas and deep cleaning with warm (not hot)water.
Vacuuming of wool cut pile carpets is most effective with the use of a rotary beater bar/brush.For loop pile constructions,a suction only vacuum should be used to prevent fuzzing.
There are many cleaning agents,both dry and wet,that are suitable for use on wool carpet.Consult your local cleaning professional when selecting an approved cleaning agent for wool carpet.Your last step in deep cleaning must include a rinse with clear water.
Do not apply stain repellent treatments that contain silicone because they will accelerate soiling.
Care must be taken to not over wet wool carpet.
Immediate attention to spills will prevent the development of a stain.Remove the solid spill and use white absorbent cloth/towel to absorb all of the spilled substance.Apply spot cleaning agent sparingly as defined in the spot removal section of this maintenance guide.Work from the edge towards the center of the spill.Never rub,it may spread the stain.
Test all spot and cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area to be sure it will not remove the carpet color.
Always test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area.
Test all cleaning agents by evaporating some solution in a clear glass container. Residues should not feel sticky, or they can cause rapid re-soiling.
MAINTENANCE HOTLINE
800.553.6045 X-62347
