There are many factors to consider in maintaining carpet.  In this article we are going to look at chemicals, frequency and time.  

Let’s consider time first.  A worker in a rush will vacuum over a carpeted surface with such great speed that the results can be unsatisfactory.  Workers need to be trained to pace themselves for the area they are vacuuming.  For instance, an entranceway that has heavy traffic should be vacuumed more slowly and more often than a back area that sees little foot traffic or soils.  If the vacuum cleaner is used correctly, it can have the time to pick up much more of the ground in soils rather than simply picking up surface dust.  

When we think of frequency, we need to consider how many times per day or week that an area is vacuumed with a focus on that 20 percent  that is exposed to 80 percent of the traffic and soils.  

We also need to understand the importance of slowing down, not speeding up, based on how often the carpet is vacuumed.  For instance, if a carpeted area is vacuumed daily, the worker can go faster than if it is only vacuumed weekly.  The other part of frequency is that there are times when the carpet should be vacuumed in a cross hatch fashion that allows the fibers to release more soil.

Chemistry comes into play when we realize the importance of using the correct cleaners and spotters to deal with spills and spots before they become stains.  Caution must be taken since using the wrong product can do more harm than good.  Understanding pH, petroleum based stains and carpet construction can be rewarded by keeping simple spots from becoming permanent stains.  

Knowledge is the key keeping carpet looking great and lasting a long time.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean.

 

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.

 


posted on 3/14/2013