June 2007
Cleaning Agents – Good or Bad?
Lately, I’ve heard some interesting comments about the use of cleaning agents in carpet cleaning processes. Some were amusing, some were misleading, and some were just not right.
One that grabbed my attention was that “if you wanted the best type of cleaning you should only have your carpet “steam cleaned” without the use of any cleaning agent. “ It’s an interesting supposition, but is it based on reality? When was the last time you washed clothes without the use of a cleaning agent? How about the dinner dishes? Your hair? Do you notice a pattern? We use cleaning agents primarily to emulsify or break down the surface tension of dirt so it can be easily rinsed away. (Surface tension is the force that allows soil to stick to a surface.) Common sense dictates the appropriate choice of cleaner, based on our knowledge of products and desired results.
Effective cleaning is ...science... applied to an everyday situation. Some science is useful and safe to use. Some is not. There is a wide variety of cleaning agents available to professional cleaners and their clients. The key to peace of mind is finding a reliable source of information. Because Graham’s is called upon to address a very wide range of cleaning issues, we stock a variety of cleaning agents. Some of these are effective in commercial or industrial environments, but may not be appropriate for use in homes.
The only time I would suggest cleaning a carpet with only hot water is if someone in the home has an extreme issue with chemical sensitivities. Simply rinsing a carpet with water will not give you the cleaning results you may be expecting. The amount of water required to emulsify some soils unaided can be extreme.
One of the cleaning agents we use for the homes of our residential clients is a product containing “colloidal micelle technology”. I would encourage you to lookthis up on the Internet. The advantages of this type of cleaning agent are too numerous to summarize here. This particular agent is: bio based/readily biodegradable/non-toxic/non-carcinogenic/non-hazardous/ safe to use -store - & dispose. This solution requires no WHIMIS or safety training and it really works!
While there are wonderful advances in different technologies, it is very time consuming for an average person to keep up with every feature of every product, or process that they might come in contact with in the course of a day. Sooner or later we have to trust proven professionals as sources of good information. If you’re looking for information on carpet or upholstery care, make sure the information you receive comes from experienced, credentialled professionals. In North America, the benchmark for excellence in cleaning professionalism is the IICRC. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving professional standards in the cleaning and restoration industry. (www.iicrc.org)
Most major carpet retailers and manufacturers strongly recommend dealing with such credentialled professionals. Is your carpet & upholstery cleaner an IICRC certified professional?
For further information on proper care of your carpet call us at 952-0318. Les Graham Graham’s Carpet Cleaning 952-0318 An IICRC Certified Firm (2005)
or email your question to question@theexperts.ca