Mohawk Broadloom Commercial Carpet Maintenance and Care

Preventative Maintenance

 

KEEP THE DIRT OUT

An often overlooked, but vitally important part of
a maintenance program is preventive maintenance,
which prevents soil from being deposited into the
carpet. The best way to do this is with proper and
adequate walk-off systems at all entrances and other
sources of soil.

Proper walk-off material is able to scrape and hold
large amounts of dry soil as well as absorb water or
oil-based moisture. Mohawk walk-off tiles are made
to do both, or you can use separate mats for soil
containment.

Adequate walk-off material should capture five or six
footsteps (roughly 10-15 feet). This amount has been
shown to trap 80% of the soil and moisture that would
have migrated into your facility.

Along with placing walk-off material at all entrances
to your facility, you can use mats at other sources of
soil, such as break rooms, water fountains and coolers,
to prevent soil from being deposited into the carpet.

For walk-off material to be effective, we recommend
daily vacuuming, just as with your other surfaces.
Actually, walk-off material requires more frequent
cleaning because it is your first line of defense and
accumulates soil much more quickly. If this accumulated soil is not removed, the walk-off material will
become saturated with soil and lose its ability to
prevent soil from entering your facility.

THOROUGH PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INCLUDES

• Keeping sidewalks and parking areas clean
• Using chair pads to prevent casters from grinding
• soil into the carpet
• Placing trashcans in easily accessible areas

 

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FACTS

 

• A 15 ft. walk-off tile area effectively removes about
• 80% of soil and moisture before it reaches the carpet.
• Removing a pound of dirt once it is inside a building is estimated to cost more than $500.
• It is estimated that up to 24 lbs. of dirt can be tracked in by 1,000 people entering a building over a 20-day work period.

 

VACUUMING

When selecting vacuums, a great place to start is the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval list. The vacuums listed at www.carpet-rug.org have been tested in an independent, certified laboratory and have met minimum standards for cleaning efficacy

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE TASK

Frequent and thorough vacuuming is the single most
important component of a carpet maintenance program.
Studies of the soil composition in a facility show that
roughly 80% is dry, insoluble soil, or what most of us
refer to as dirt. The most efficient way to remove this dry,
insoluble soil is with frequent and thorough vacuuming.

Soil accumulation is inevitable if vacuuming isn’t planned at
routine intervals. The best way to plan your vacuuming is
to identify high-, medium- and low-traffic areas. Continually
monitor these areas for changes in carpet performance and
make adjustments to the maintenance schedule as needed.

It is important to note that carpet is a three-dimensional
product. Unlike hard, two-dimensional flooring, carpet has
depth and the ability to hide soiling. Carpet can trap and
hold up to one pound of dirt per square foot before it appears
dirty, which is a major advantage that carpet has over other
flooring types. Even though it may not appear dirty, carpet
requires routine maintenance, particularly vacuuming, to
remove soiling and keep it looking beautiful for years.

VACUUMING TIPS

 

• Vacuum with slow, deliberate passes in length and width for maximum effectiveness.

• Heavy traffic areas require multiple passes back and forth to sufficiently extract embedded soil.
• A vacuum with a brush roller will provide agitation to help with soil removal.

• Slow movement allows time for air to circulate through the face yarn and extract soil.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
To adequately remove dry soil with routine vacuuming,
you will need to ensure that you use the proper equipment.

Mohawk recommends:

 

An upright, dual-motor vacuum with a brush roller and
high-efficiency filtration for the bulk of your vacuuming needs. Dual-motor vacuums have one motor for the
vacuum suction and one for the brush roller.

A wide-area vacuum for large corridors and other
wide-open areas.

A backpack or canister vacuum for stairs.

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Just as you maintain the floor, you need to perform routine
maintenance on your vacuums. The crucial parts to pay
special attention to are the bags, belts and brush rollers.

Bags should not get more than two-thirds full before
being replaced. The vacuum loses suction significantly
and will not pick up much dirt when the bag is too full.

Vacuum belts stretch out over time and become loose.
They need to be changed regularly to keep the vacuum
in good working condition.

Check the brush roller periodically for a build-up of
loose items, such as strings or hair, which could impair
its function. Monitor the brush roller to make sure that
it hasn’t worn down to the point that it is no longer
making contact with the carpet face fibers. You can
easily check by running a straight edge, such as a
driver’s license or a credit card, across the vacuum
suction opening to make sure it makes contact with
the brush roller.

 

VACUUMING FREQUENCIES
The table below is provided as a general reference for how
often different types of traffic areas should be vacuumed
during normal situations.

 

*Occupancy and traffic will determine frequency 

*Cleaning frequency for a typical cooperate office 

 

 

HEAVY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
The classification of heavy commercial
traffic refers to public spaces such as
main corridors, lobby and entrance areas,
vending machine areas, airports, casinos,
assisted living and retail facilities.

MEDIUM COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Medium commercial traffic areas are
those that must withstand high foot
traffic such as school corridors and
classrooms, administrative and general
office areas.

LIGHT COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Light commercial traffic areas include
cubicles, executive offices and boardrooms. Traffic is minimal, thus reducing
the soil in this area.

SPILL AND SPOT CLEANING

EFFECTIVE SPOT REMOVAL STARTS WITH
THE PROPER PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

If you specify one of Mohawk Group’s stain resistant fiber
systems Duracolor, SmartStrand or ColorShield you are
specifying the best stain resistant systems available. These
products allow 96% of all spills to be removed with water only,
ensuring that your carpet will last longer, look new longer, be
less expensive and more environmentally friendly to maintain.

SPOT CLEANING IS ESSENTIAL
Dry soil often hides within the carpet pile, but spots and spills
can stand out, depending upon the carpet’s color and pattern.
Therefore, to keep your carpet looking as good as possible it’s
essential that spot cleaning become an important part of your
maintenance program. Since most carpet manufactured today
has mill-applied stain blockers and soil-resist treatments, your
chances for success with spot cleaning are greatly improved if you
act quickly and use the proper products, tools and techniques.

TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
Spot cleaning is often regarded as a cumbersome chore and
very often the same large equipment used to perform deep
cleanings of a large areas ends up being used to clean spots
that should be attended to sooner. Don’t delay cleaning spots
until your regularly scheduled cleaning. The best time to treat
a spot is when you see it, and a simple way to extract it is by
blotting it with a plain, white absorbent towel. If your cleaning
staff has towels at their disposal, they can quickly blot up as
much of a fresh spill as possible.

If the spot has dried, blot it with a towel that has been dampened with plain water or a general-purpose spotter. This is a
great first step to get as much of the contaminant out of the
carpet as possible, and it can remove many common waterborne spots. If a residue remains, a spot extractor can be used
at a more appropriate time and the spot will disappear with
much less effort.

Another simple but effective option for spot cleaning is through
the use of an absorbent compound. This method, often called
dry extraction, uses an absorbent material that is applied to the
affected area. The compound absorbs and dislodges the soil and
is then easily vacuumed away. This cleaning method has the
advantage of no drying time since little water is used.

PROPER TOOLS FOR SPILL AND SPOT CLEANING
We recommend you have a “spot kit” on hand to deal with your
most common spots and spills. You will need the following list
of materials:

• Absorbent towels
• Water
• General purpose spotter or absorbent compound
• Bone spatula or soft bristle brush
• Small extractor or vacuum

MECHANICS OF MOST SPILL REMOVAL FOR DURACOLOR,
SMARTSTRAND AND COLORSHIELD
The spill removal instructions below should work for most spills.

 

MECHANICS OF SPOT REMOVAL.
The spot removal instructions below will work on a majority of
the spots you may encounter.

 

 

TYPES OF SPOTS & HOW TO REMOVE

 
CATEGORY “A” SPOTS

Water based spots such as catsup, fruit juice, etc.

STEP 1: Blot or extract to remove substance. Rinse thoroughly
with clear water. Apply a mild carpet spotter cleaning solution sparingly and gently agitate the discolored area. Blot or extract to remove substance. Rinse
thoroughly with clear water to remove residue. Blot or
extract to remove remaining excess moisture.
STEP 2: Repeat if necessary.

CATEGORY “B” SPOTS
Petroleum based spots such as grease, oil, shoe polish, etc.

STEP 1: Blot or extract to remove substance. Try implementing
cleaning procedure for Category “A” spots using a
mild carpet spotter.
STEP 2: Blot or extract to remove substance. Apply only
enough cleaning fluid to dampen the discolored area.
Gently agitate. Blot or extract to remove substance.
Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Repeat as long
as the spot continues to transfer from the carpet to
the towel. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Blot or
extract to remove remaining excess moisture.
STEP 3: Apply a specific POG (Paint, Oil and Grease)
Dry Solvent Cleaner sparingly to a clean white towel
or paper towel and apply to the discolored area. Gently
agitate. Blot or extract to remove substance. Rinse
thoroughly with clear water. Blot or extract to remove
remaining excess moisture.

CATEGORY “C” SPOTS
Coffee and tea based spots.

STEP 1: Blot or extract to remove substance. Rinse thoroughly
with clear water. Apply coffee stain remover according
to manufacturer’s recommendations. Rinse thoroughly
with clear water to remove residue. Blot or extract to
remove remaining excess moisture.

CATEGORY “D” SPOTS

Biological spots such as blood, urine, vomit, etc.

STEP 1: If solids are present, first remove these with a
Bone Spatula.
STEP 2: Blot or extract to remove substance. Rinse thoroughly
with clear water. Apply an alkaline disinfectant type
cleaner (below 10 pH) according to manufacturer’s
recommendations. Rinse thoroughly with clear water
to remove residue. Blot or extract to remove remaining
excess moisture.

Most Common Spots and Thier Categories 

 

*These difficult spots must be treated immediately yo endure removal of the spot

Interim Cleaning 

When selecting chemicals and equipment, a great place to start is the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval list. The chemicals and equipment listed at www.carpet-rug.org have been tested in an independent, certified laboratory and have met minimum standards for cleaning efficacy.

 

INTERIM CLEANING METHODS
Interim cleaning is a cost effective way to keep your carpet attractive
and odor free between hot water/wet extractions. Mohawk recommends two different methods of interim cleaning. The absorbent
compound cleaning method, and the low moisture encapsulation
cleaning method. Both methods use various chemicals to dissolve
and absorb water and oil based soils, holding them until they are
removed by vacuuming (dry extraction).

ABSORBENT COMPOUND CLEANING METHOD
This cleaning method uses an absorbent compound moistened with
water and other cleaning agents. The compound absorbs the soil
and spots as they are brushed into the carpet, and then removed by
vacuuming.

ABSORBENT COMPOUND PROCESS

1. Vacuum thoroughly to remove as much dry soil as possible.
(Pile lifter will help remove embedded soil)
2. Apply the absorbent cleaning compound to the carpet.
This may include the use of as pre-spray, depending on
the type and severity of soiling.
3. Agitate with a counter-rotating brush machine, working
the absorbent compound throughout the carpet to suspend
and absorb the soil.
4. Vacuum thoroughly to remove the soil and dirty compound.

LOW MOISTURE ENCAPSULATION CLEANING METHOD
Low moisture encapsulation uses special chemistry formulated
to encapsulate the soil and dry it into a crystalline form, which
is then removed by vacuuming.

LOW MOISTURE ENCAPSULATION PROCESS

1. Vacuum thoroughly to remove as much dry soil
as possible. (Pile lifter will help remove embedded soil)
2. Apply the encapsulation pre-spray to the carpet.
3. Agitate the area with a counter-rotating brush machine.
4. Vacuum thoroughly once the carpet is dry.

INTERIM CLEANING TIPS
Operate equipment with slow, deliberate passes in length and
width for maximum effectiveness.
Heavy traffic areas may require multiple passes back and forth to
sufficiently extract embedded soil.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
For interim cleaning the Mohawk Group recognizes that there
are many absorbent compound and low moisture cleaning brands
available in the marketplace. We suggest that you analyze several
brands for effectiveness and cost, to determine which best suits
the needs of your facility.

Closely follow all the manufacturer’s user instructions for the
cleaning method you choose. Any cleaning method improperly
carried out can lead to poorly maintained and damaged carpet.

 

INTERIM CLEANING FREQUENCIES
The table below is provided as a general reference for how often
different types of traffic areas should be Interim cleaned during
normal situations.

 

 

HEAVY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
The classification of heavy commercial traffic refers to public spaces
such as main corridors, lobby and entrance areas, vending machine
areas, airports, casinos, assisted living and retail facilities.

MEDIUM COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Medium commercial traffic areas are those that must withstand
high foot traffic such as school corridors and classrooms, administrative and general office areas.

LIGHT COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
Light commercial traffic areas include cubicles, executive offices and
boardrooms. Traffic is minimal, thus reducing the soil in this area.

 

Deep Cleaning 

When selecting chemicals and equipment, a great place to start is the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval list. The chemicals and equipment listed at www.carpet-rug.org have been tested in an independent, certified laboratory and have met minimum standards for cleaning efficacy.

 

HOT WATER EXTRACTION TIPS
Test the cleaning agent to be sure it dries without stickiness
or residue; otherwise it can cause rapid re-soiling.

Use only cleaning agents that have a pH factor below 10 and
contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

When preformed properly, carpet should be dry within 4-6 hours.

We recommend the use of portable or truck-mounted equipment or
self-contained extractors. Extractors incorporating a brush between
the water jet and vacuum are recommended.

Remove as much moisture as possible with dry passes.

Enhance drying time by using air movers and, if possible, do not
permit traffic on the carpet until it is dry.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Presprays are a vital part of a good hot water extraction.
Dual cylinder brush scrubber is recommended to agitate and
pile lift the yarn.

All equipment and chemicals must be CRI approved.

 

BEYOND VACUUMING AND ROUTINE SPOT CLEANING
In addition to preventive maintenance, proper vacuuming and spot
cleaning, a planned program of both interim and deep cleaning is the
best approach to maintain your carpet’s appearance by extracting soil
and substances that can damage your carpet.

When deciding on the right carpet for your business, it was necessary
to consider many factors unique to your own needs. The same is true
when considering the most appropriate cleaning method for your carpet.
Just as there is no “one-size-fits-all” carpet, there is no “one-size-fits-all”
maintenance program.

However, there are cleaning principles that apply across the spectrum,
and apply to carpet the same way they apply to cleaning any other object.
We refer to these principles as TACT…

TIME AGITATION CHEMISTRY TEMPERATURE

TIME is for dwell time, allowing the cleaning agent to do its work in
breaking the bond between the soil and fiber and either dissolving it,
absorbing or encapsulating it. Just as we don’t apply toothpaste to our
teeth and immediately spit it out, we can’t expect good results if we
apply cleaning agents to the carpet and then immediately remove them.

AGITATION is for mechanical agitation, which serves to work the cleaning agent throughout the carpet pile and to help break the bond between
the soil and the carpet fibers.

CHEMISTRY is any carpet-appropriate cleaning agent that is used to
remove soil. Different types of soiling require different types of cleaning
agents. We use chemistry in cleaning every day of our lives and should
not be afraid to use it appropriately when cleaning carpet.

TEMPERATURE means using the appropriate temperature for the type
of soiling. This mainly applies to wet extraction and does not always
mean heat. Heat is a catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions and aids
in the cleaning process by helping to lower surface tension and loosen
most soiling bonds.

These principles apply regardless of the cleaning method you employ.
Optimal cleaning results will be achieved when using all of these
principles together. Should you find that one of the principles is not
available to you such as lack of hot water, you will need to increase the
use of the other principles, i.e., more agitation or dwell time to achieve
equitable results.

 

 

ANNUAL INTERIM & DEEP CLEANING FREQUENCIES
The table below is provided as a general reference for how often the
three different types of traffic areas (Heavy, Medium & Light) should
be cleaned during normal situations.