The Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment has mushroomed in recent weeks, adding several solutions, vacuums, and a cleaning system. There are currently 331 solutions, 300 vacuums, 93 extractors and 89 systems in the SOA program, for a total of 813.
 
In the Solutions category, 3M Building and Commercial Services Division of St. Paul, Minnesota earned certification for its 3M Scotchguard Extraction Cleaner 27H in-tank solution and its 3M Scotchguard Extraction Cleaner 28H pre-spray.
 
Basic Carpet Care of Lawrence, Kansas adds its first solution to the SOA program: Responsible Care Spotter spot remover.
 
Each of these products has passed a series of stringent tests performed by an independent laboratory in order to make the list of cleaning solutions. The tests for spot removers, pre-sprays and in-tank solutions include protocols for efficacy (removing stains), resoiling (whether the product attracts soil at an accelerated rate), pH (excessively acid or alkaline products can affect dyes and fibers), optical brighteners (can adversely affect color, appearance and performance) and colorfastness to light (residues on pile yarn can accelerate color change). 
 
In Vacuums, the Tennant Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, added three new vacuums: The Tennant Lightweight V-LWU-13 commercial upright at the Gold Level; the V-DMU-14 commercial upright at the Silver Level, and V-WA-30 wide-area commercial at the Bronze Level.  
 
PowrFlite, a division of the Tacony Corporation from Fort Worth, Texas adds three commercial wide area vacuum models to the Seal of Approval program at the Bronze Level: the PowrFlite PF2030, PowrFlite PF2008, and PowrFlite PF2004.
 
Tornado, also a division of the Tacony Corporation, and based in Fenton, Missouri, earned certification at the Bronze Level for its Tornado CK 3030 commercial wide-area vacuum.

CleanMax, another division of the Tacony Corporation, added its CleanMax Wide Area Vacuum to the SOA program at the Bronze Level.
 
Oreck Manufacturing of Cookeville, Tennessee adds two household uprights to its growing list of Seal of Approval products: the U 7070 Forever Series Gold enters SOA at the Bronze Level, and the U8210 Edge Forever Series earned Silver-Level certification.

Oreck Commercial, based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, earned Bronze-level approval for its SC240P-CC24 and SV280P-CC28 commercial wide-area vacuums.
 
Mastercraft Industries, a newcomer to the Seal of Approval program based in Newburgh, New York, earned Bronze-Level certification for its SV280P and SV240P commercial wide-area vacuums.
 
To earn the CRI Seal of Approval/Green Label certification, vacuums must pass the following independent laboratory tests:
 
•  Soil removal - CRI uses NASA-enhanced x-ray fluorescence technology to measure the precise amount of soil removed from carpet.
•  Dust containment - The vacuum must release no more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air, keeping dirt and dust locked in the vacuum - not escaping back into the air where it can be breathed.
• Carpet texture retention - The vacuum must not affect the texture of the carpet more than a one-step change based on one year of normal vacuum use.
 
In Systems, Rug Doctor of Fenton, Missouri, earned approval for another deep-cleaning system; its Mighty Pro X3 with Oxy-Steam Green Cleaner Passed SOA testing at the Platinum level.
 
In the Seal of Approval program, the deep-cleaning system is the combination of a machine and a particular cleaning solution, following a set procedure. The cleaning solution is tested under the protocol for the solutions testing and then a set procedure is designated and followed. The product is then tested, like the extractors, for soil removal, water retention and texture retention.
 
Congratulations to all the new SOA participants.