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Does your cleaning method create liability?
Analyze each cleaning job and choose what's best for the carpet.
By James (Jim) B. Smith
From the November 2004 edition of Cleanfax magazine.
The change in appearance of carpet as you clean is exciting, both to you as the technician and to your customer.
But when the change is in the fiber texture instead of removing soils and stains « you have a problem.
Many cleaners, when they first enter the carpet and furniture cleaning industry, want the most powerful truckmount and detergents available. And that's perfectly understandable.
They get great results and many happy customers.
But then a technician discovers woven wool with a cotton/jute backing and it bleeds and shrinks. The last three months (maybe years?) profits have disappeared.
Suddenly an investigation into other methods seems like a good idea.
Are alternate cleaning systems bulletproof?
At last, the well-seasoned cleaner acquires a bonnet or an oscillating pad machine.
Some of the detergents are now neutral or acids.
It seems we have covered all of our bases. There should not be any more problems.
Wrong way of thinking.
Not all carpets can take this type of agitation, so some begin to fuzz and other lose their twist, while many experience spouting and blooming.
Are there ways to predict these problems?
In times past, some manufacturers of residential carpet have forbidden some if not all forms of agitation over and beyond what is common with hot water extraction.
Usually these exclusions could be found in their warranties.
More recently, most fiber producers and carpet manufacturers have backed off on excluding methods.
But never forget: In most cases, if there is a problem, the decision will go against the technicians.
When some manufacturers say they prefer hot water extraction, they are really saying they will deny claims for pile distortions when any form of agitation is used.
For many, the most important issue is to properly determine the right method for each cleaning task.
Fundamentals of soil suspension
For some carpet types and fibers, a delicate balance of the following must be considered:
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