Day: November 7, 2019

The Rudiments of Carpet Cleaning FibersThe Rudiments of Carpet Cleaning Fibers

November 7, 2019| Ramona Fernandez| 0 Comment| 10:17 pm

Carpets can be made of a variety of different types of fibers and each one will have its own set of qualities.

This makes cleaning different types of carpets a different subject depending on which type of fibers they are using. So, a rudimentary guide to carpet cleaning should include a look at the different types of carpet fibers.

Carpet will contain any of the following materials which you see presented here in order of popularity on the markets today; polyester, nylon, olefin and wool. We see most nylon carpets in our line of work but many carpets will include a blend.

There are two important benefits to knowing the type of fibers in your carpet.

The first is that you will now how cleanable your carpet is and the second is that you will have a better idea of what types of cleaning agents will work best with your type of carpet.

Light It Up

While playing with fire is never a good idea around your carpets, or anywhere, they best way to determine the fabrics of your carpets is to remove a small piece and light it up.

match flame

Choose a place where the missing fibers will not be too noticeable and pull your fiber from there. Hold a single strand without pulling it too hard and then snip it with a small pair of scissors. Once you have the fiber in hand you can then move to a safe location and prepare to set it ablaze.

Hold the piece of fiber with your tweezers and use an ordinary butane lighter to set it on fire. You will want to observe the odor, action and appearance of the strand as it burns.

If the strand aches away from the heat of the flame, you know it is synthetic fiber, but if it doesn’t move, it is probably a natural fiber. You can wait for it to cool off after the fire is extinguished and you will see that a synthetic fiber will leave a tar like residue while a natural fiber will leave no residue at all, just ash.

Fiber Predictions

Each of the different fabrics will have some important qualities to look for when they are burning. Once again you will want to observe the burning of the fiber very closely.

Nylon

nylon carpet fiber

If the fiber burns with a blue base and an orange flame with no smoke until the fire has gone out is a carpet fiber made of nylon. After the flame has sputtered out, you will notice a unique smell like celery or wax as it burns and leaves behind a small brown or grey bead.

Nylon can be cleaned very easily and is pretty resistant to staining as well, but it can be damaged by certain carpet cleaners. It is more susceptible to staining than the other synthetic fiber so it would be a good idea to use a fabric protector if possible.

Polyester

polyester carpet fibers

If the flame is all orange and produces a black smoke and a drippy residue, you are burning a polyester fiber. This fiber will release a kind of sweet odor and will leave a hard shiny bead.

Olefin

olefin carpet fiber

Like the nylon fiber, an olefin fiber will burn blue at the base with an orange flame and not release smoke. So the way the flame acts and the smell is an important distinguishing factor between the two. Unlike the sputtering nylon strand, olefin will burn clean and even. The smell will be like tar or asphalt and leave behind a hard round bead that can be brown or tan.
Olefin is a good option because it is so stain resistant. It is also hydrophobic and provides a wicking action that can reveal darker colors when the carpet dries.

Wool

red wool carpet fibers

If the flame is orange and sputters with only a small amount of smoke or none at all, this is a wool fiber. As you may imagine, this will smell like burnt hair when it is burnt and will leave a soft black ash when extinguished.

Wool will not react well if treated with harsh chemicals and will dissolve completely in chlorine bleach. It can be difficult to treat wool and remove stains but it can be easy to clean.

While there is a lot of information to keep track of nowadays, knowing a little more about your carpets fibers will lead to a longer lasting beautiful carpet. This information will allow you to choose the best cleaning agents and approaches to keeping your carpet clean and this means a cleaner brighter atmosphere as well

Carpet Cleaning Methods Commercial Cleaning Companies UseCarpet Cleaning Methods Commercial Cleaning Companies Use

November 7, 2019| Ramona Fernandez| 0 Comment| 9:42 pm

Top Four Carpet Cleaning Methods Commercial Cleaners Use

If you aren’t sure of which carpet cleaning technique would best suit your carpets, then this article is for you. In this piece, we’ll be weighing the pros and cons of each so you can have an easier time deciding which option is right for you.

Professional commercial cleaning companies employ several carpet cleaning techniques to clean different types of carpets. Each method used has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. With that being said, how does one choose between the options available? This list of pros and cons should help you decide which cleaning method would best suit your carpet(s).

Carpet cleaning methods can be categorized in one of two cleaning techniques: dry or wet cleaning. The latter involves hot water extraction and may include cleaning with absorbent pads. Dry carpet cleaning, on the other hand, involves the application of chemical foams or powders by special cleaning machines with counter-rotating cylinders, brushes, or pads.

demo of man brushing carpet

1. Wet Cleaning

How It Works

Also known as steam cleaning or hot water extraction, this technique involves pre-conditioning the carpet with a chemical reagent that dissolves oil-based substances and soils present in the fibers of the carpet. The water inside the cleaning machine is heated to a point near its boiling point before being pressurized and getting injected into the rug or carpet. After about ten to fifteen minutes, the solution is extracted from the carpet using a vacuum.

Pros
– Eliminates dirt and stains that sit deep in the carpet
– Allows the use of chemical concentrates, high temperatures, and high pressure
– Allows for cleaning solvents to sit for an extended period so they can react with soils, particles, and other stains inside the carpet
– Chemical reactivity is facilitated by agitation using an extraction wand or grooming tool.
– Most commonly used carpet cleaning technique
– Recommended carpet cleaning method by industry cleaning professionals/experts and carpet manufacturers

Cons
– Requires the use of expensive equipment for maximum efficiency
– Relatively-long drying periods (however, this can be reduced by powerful drying equipment operated by competent cleaning technicians)
– Relatively-high cost factors

2. Cleaning with Absorbent Pads

How It Works

This cleaning technique is also known as bonnet cleaning and is generally used for light, routine maintenance. However, it can still be used as a regular carpet cleaning method. The process involves vacuuming the carpet first before spraying a chemical solution on to it using either an electric sprayer or a hand-held pump. The solution is then left to sit on the carpet for some time, so it reacts with the dirt, grime, and stains inside the carpet.

The bonnet or absorbent pad, which looks like a regular towel, is then placed on a rotary floor machine’s drive block and spun over the surface of the carpet at 100 to 300 rounds per minute. This action impregnates the carpet’s fibers with the cleaning agent before picking it up with the soils and grime.

Pros
– Excellent results with lightly-soiled carpets
– Simple, fast, and inexpensive

Cons
– Only cleans the carpet’s top one-third – it cannot reach any deeper
– Leaves chemicals and dirt on the carpet causing them to accumulate at the bottom

3. Dry Cleaning with Absorbent Compounds

How It Works

A powder that’s been mixed with special cleaning agents and solvents is spread over the surface of the carpet before being worked deep into the carpet’s fibers using a carpet scrubbing machine fitted with counter-rotating cleaning brushes. The unique powder, which is left to sit in the carpet for about ten to fifteen minutes, absorbs all the dirt and particles trapped inside the carpet before it is vacuumed up.

Pros
– A simple cleaning system that requires no specialized technical training
– Faster drying times. The carpet should be ready for use within about 20 minutes

Cons
– Can cause dust build up inside your home
– The absorbent powder could end up getting trapped inside your carpet, building up over time if not taken care of properly
– This technique is not suitable for deep cleaning a carpet

4. Rotary Shampoo/Dry Foam Cleaning

How It Works

A cleaning agent that helps suspend dirt and dust particles is first applied to the carpet before it is whipped up into a soapy froth and worked into the fibers by the rotating brushes of a unique cleaning machine. The foam is left to sit in the carpet for a while before it’s extracted using a vacuum.

Pros
– Rotating brushes agitate dirt and particles very well
– Fast and simple to apply
– The carpet dries much quicker as it is exposed to minimal amounts of moisture
– It is inexpensive

Cons
– This technique cannot achieve thorough soil and particle extraction below the carpet’s surface
– High temperatures are often not achieved
– High chances of excessive wetting i.e., should the equipment malfunction

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