Handling cleaning chemicals is a big responsibility. When it comes to floor- and carpet-care chemicals, misuse can lead to costly problems: productivity loss, damage to carpet and floor surfaces, and even worse — accidents or injuries.

Chemical-related mishaps are preventable if cleaning workers follow proper floor- and carpet-care techniques. That sounds obvious, but some industry veterans were quick to point out some common mistakes that housekeeping workers often make:

Using the wrong chemical for the application. “If you’re using a degreaser on a kitchen floor and then continue to use the same [solution] in the hallway, you could take the finish right off the hallway floor,” says William R. Griffin, president, Cleaning Consultants, Inc., Seattle, Wash. He adds that a cleaning product typically used in hallways would not be appropriate for restrooms, where a disinfectant is best. He advises that workers check to make sure they are using each product according to its intended use.

Not reading the label. Product labels include important information such as safety precautions, instructions for spill cleanup, directions for use, and a list of suitable and unsuitable surface applications.

“The label on the bottle is the legal document, not the MSDS [material safety data sheet],” says Jeff Bishop, technical advisor for the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). “If you don’t comply with the label instructions and use the product incorrectly, and someone gets hurt, you’re liable.” However, Bishop adds that MSDS sheets must be on site for each product, according to mandates from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Association.

Mixing misjudgments. Improper mixing of chemicals will affect cleaning results. If the mixture is too strong, the chemical could damage the surface, create residue and attract soil, or cause a safety issue by making the floor slippery, Griffin says. “The best thing to do is install a dilution system so you get the proper ratio [of chemical to water],” he says. Griffin advises against the “glug-glug-glug method.”

Over the years, Bishop has quizzed cleaning workers on measuring chemicals. “People think they can judge the right amount because they’ve done it the last 10 years,” he says. “On average, when asked to fill a cup with four ounces of liquid, people put in anywhere from one to 12 ounces. They have no clue. Everyone should invest in a measuring cup.”

Overdoing the job. More is not better when it comes to floor- and carpet-care chemicals — or cleaning chemicals in general. “Increasing the concentration is almost always a mistake,” says Carroll Turner, technical services manager for the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). “We have found that the actual cleaning is actually increased very little, if any, by increasing the concentration over the recommended amount. It is also wasteful and adds to expense of maintenance.”

In addition to chemical overindulgences, too much agitation can damage surfaces. Rubbing too hard on carpet can change the appearance and texture of the carpet, Griffin says.

“Sometimes people use a certain product and if it doesn’t work, they put more on,” Griffin says. A cleaning worker once called him after overusing an ineffective product on a carpet coffee spill. As the worker added more and more of the product to the spill with little success, the spot grew from 1 foot in diameter to an 8-foot spot.

Incorrect dwell time. Chemicals need time to pre-condition surfaces and separate the soil from the floor surface or carpet fiber. Bishop recommends a 5- to 10-minute dwell time for hard floors and 10 to 15 minutes for carpet. Once the soil is suspended, a mop or carpet extractor can remove it. If the chemical is removed too quickly, it doesn’t have a chance to do its job.

Too long of a dwell time can result in redeposition of soil on the surface.

“Particularly with hard floors, if you’re trying to strip the floor and you wait too long, the surface can reharden, and then you have to start the process all over again,” Bishop says.

Inadequate rinsing. Resoiling can be avoided with proper rinsing of surfaces. Rinsing is especially important — and a more challenging task — when spot-cleaning carpet. Spills and carpet spotters often sink into carpet backings, making removal difficult. What is underneath the carpet surface inevitably comes wicking back up.

“Commercial facilities often get reappearing spots because what you see on the surface is only about 20 percent of the spill,” Bishop says. “The secret is to understand what is happening beneath the surface.”

He recommends cleaning workers try one of two techniques when spotting carpet:

  • Saturate the entire spot and perimeter, soak with water and then extract the liquid.
  • Clean the surface and use a dry powder designed for carpet spotting to absorb the moisture. Then vacuum the area.

Cleaning managers will get the best results if they test chemicals before they buy them to make sure the product works with their facilities and surfaces. “It doesn’t matter how big or small the organization, you have to try products with your people, your facility and your dirt and soil to see if they will work for you,” Bishop says.

Finally, training and retraining of workers is essential. “Proper and constant training and supervision is necessary,” Griffin says. “Otherwise workers fall off the wagon and start using [chemicals] improperly.”




POSTED ON: 9/1/2004