February 2004

Question: We have carpets in our office. They represented a fair sized investment. They came with a 15 year guarantee and the boss wants to see that they last that long. What can be done to be sure that happens?

Educate yourself. Go to www.iicrc.org and just browse. There is a lot of information on carpet care. Check out manufacturer web pages - they all have sections on care and maintenance.

Briefly, I'm going to outline some general steps that are accepted by the industry as important.

1- Choose the right carpet for your situation. Different fabrics and constructions are made to suit different tastes and needs. Be sure you carefully explain the location of your business, the type of work carried on there, and the amount of traffic your new carpet will have, to the flooring representative you are working with.

2- Make sure you have the right equipment for daily maintenance. A vacuum with a beater bar is a must. Central vacs vented to the outside are considered the most effective at keeping the indoor environment at its best. If you choose a different style, try to get one with hepa capacity.

3- Treat spills and spots quickly. New carpets almost always come with a factory applied Teflon coating. This will make stain removal very easy for the first year or two. Have a white terry cloth to sponge up spills. A trigger sprayer with warm water can help moisten spots that have dried. Do not overwet a spill. Never use
bleach or bleach fortified detergents on a carpet. If you are unsure of what to do, call a cleaning professional, it's cheaper than replacement.

4- Make a schedule for regular carpet cleaning. Carpets, by nature of their size, and because an area has to be vacant for installation, are expensive things to replace.
Everyone recognizes the value of preventative maintenance on vehicles, and the same rule of value applies to carpets. If you take the time maintain them, they will have a long service life. Qualify the cleaner you choose (see www.iicrc.org).

Commercial carpet care is a specialized field. Not all cleaners have the equipment, training, or experience to offer these services. That is why there are specific in-
dustry credentials for commercial carpet care. In fact many problems with premature soiling are tied to poor cleaning techniques. Be sure to qualify the company you choose.

A good knowledge of carpet construction, cleaning principles and applications is an
absolute must! Ask questions such as: What are my carpets made of? What does the mfgr suggest for cleaning? What method(s) do you use (there are five - what are they?) What cleaning agents do you use? Why? How will drying concerns and air quality be addressed?

Always remember to ask about formal industry accepted credentials. Why put your floor covering investment at risk by someone whose only training might be learning
from their mistakes?

For more information please feel welcome to contact:
Les Graham - Graham's Carpet Cleaning (403) 952-0318
IICRC Certified / Master Textile Cleaner /
Master Restoration Tech