Time is important in spot removal. The faster a Green cleaning Technician can remove a spot, the better chance there is of preventing it from becoming a stain. Spots are concentrated substances lying near the carpet surface. They can often be removed by utilizing a general purpose spotter. Stains however, have penetrated the carpet fibers and are more difficult to remove, requiring specialized and normally toxic removers. An educated Green cleaning Technician must identify if the spot is actually a stain before attempting to remove it. 

Here are some green spot removal tips:

• Spots are normally dry when Technicians encounter them. A ‘Best Practice’ method is to utilize a ‘low moisture’ powder if available. This product can be applied, brushed into the fiber and vacuumed with a CRI approve upright in a very cost efficient and productive manner. Should the spot resist removal, move to a wet spotter product.

• If a spill is wet, blot it out with a dry white cloth and then apply approved spotter to the area. Spray the spot with a certified Green spotter

• Spray spot until fully soaked.

• Agitate with a blunt object or bottom of shoe.

• Place dry white cloth on the spot and press with shoe, repeatedly moving to a clean area of the cloth to absorb liquids.

• Spray spot with water.

• Use another dry white cloth to remove additional liquids by pressing on the cloth with shoe.

Carpet spotting is a daily operation. Spots should be removed as soon as they are noticed. If a spot cannot be removed after several attempts using this method, it may have become a stain, and needs to be reported to the operation’s supervisor or facility management. 

 

David Thompson is a 40-year veteran of the cleaning industry and author of “The New Generation of Cleaning”, a best Practices Guide for Environmental Health Services. Thompson is also president of the Green Clean Institute. His book can be found at www.Janitorkatt.com while the GCI coursework and certification courses have a home at www.GCICertified.com.


posted on 12/6/2013