Spills, sloshes, seepage, slips, trips, drops, mistakes and mishaps: All are nearly impossible to prevent — especially in facilities that have heavy traffic. And schools, nursing homes and office buildings — anywhere with carpet — are highly susceptible to the types of carpet spotting that can lead to unsightly, permanent stains. Stained carpets, in turn, can trigger a negative impression among visitors or occupants of the building. That’s why it’s so vital to keep carpets clean and attractive.

Distributors’ customers play an integral part in keeping facilities’ carpets clean. Not only must they educate the building’s occupants or customers on how to treat spots immediately, they’re often relied upon to “fix” whatever problem a facility experiences. It’s surprising just how little people know about quick and effective spot treatment. A distributor becomes an invaluable resource when he or she can help customers choose the correct products and processes for keeping carpets looking brand-new.

And it’s quite possible to remove most spots. However, there’s one thing to remember: It’s important for carpet cleaning contractors to “pre-qualify” customers as to the level of cleaning needed to remove a spot from their carpet, according to Steve Bigelow, owner and president of Bigelow Carpet Cleaning Inc., Traverse City, Mich. Some spots are tougher than others, and some just keep popping back up.

“There are a lot of problems with reoccurring spots, and the cleaners get blamed for it when the spot comes back,” he says. “A lot of people figure, ‘I paid you to take care of the spot and now you own it,’ and that’s not fair,” says Bigelow, who is also a certified member of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and a carpet inspector.

Reoccurring spots — second to actual stains — are a huge problem for facilities and contractors. At the root of many of these problems are the makeup of the carpet itself. Sometimes spills penetrate the carpet so deeply that they can’t be removed entirely the first time they’re treated. As the carpet’s upper portions dry, the upper fibers wick the moisture from the still-wet fibers beneath to the surface. Hence, the stain “reappears,” often after repeated cleanings.

So cleaners must inform the facility manager that the spot has the potential to wick back up, and that if it does, inadequate cleaning is not to blame. The customer must know that another visit will require another charge, says Bigelow.

Get there fast
There is good news for those in charge of carpet maintenance, however. Most substances that make their way onto carpets can be removed with timely and proper cleaning techniques. If it can’t be removed, it’s no longer a spot — it’s a stain, which requires color treating or touch-up work.

Different spots require different treatments, but it’s especially important to recognize that spots are different than general soiling, says G. Wentworth Smith, a Madison-based consultant to the floor covering industry. General soiling requires regimented, regular cleanings. With spots, there’s a timeliness factor involved.

“Almost anything that comes in contact [with carpet] can be successfully removed if it’s treated in 24 hours,” says Smith. If it’s not, it will set.

Regardless of whether it’s soda, food, coffee, etc., most spots require the same set of cleaning basics.

“The first thing you want to do is scrape up all the excess material working toward the center of the spot. Secondly, you want to blot it with cloth or paper towels,” says Smith.

After blotting out as much of the material as possible, the cleaner will need to determine what type of spot they’re treating. The spot could be oil-based, but it’s more likely an acid-based food of some type, he continues.

Oil-based spots require some type of dry-cleaning agent — a distillate to cut the oil and allow the cleaner to absorb it out of the carpet. Smith cautions cleaners to use the distillate sparingly, and apply it with a cloth rather than directly onto the carpet — direct contact can damage the backing of the carpet.

Non-oil-based spots require a cleaning agent or detergent, water, and repeated pressing to transfer the spot onto a cloth.

“Some people like to take a rag or towel and start stomping on it,” says Smith. “Oftentimes, it will drive the material deeper.” And the deeper the material is ground into the carpet, the greater chance for a reoccurring spot.

The chemical itself, dwell time, agitation and temperature — the four parts of a chemical reaction — all can be used to help cleaners remove spots from carpet, says Bigelow.

“It’s always good to start out with something safe. Hot, hot water gets a lot of stains out. If you get to a spot within three minutes, hot water will usually pull it out,” he says.

Bigelow also recommends rinsing the area thoroughly after cleaning the spot using a rinsing agent. “You don’t want to leave the residue in there,” he says.

“Then put a fan or air movement on it. Even if it feels dry, leave it.” The deepest fibers in the carpet might still not be dry.

Reoccurring spots make for reoccurring frustration — and added costs for the facility manager. Though it may be impossible to prevent instances of reoccurrence entirely, proper cleaning techniques will get the job done sooner than later. For nagging, reoccurring spots, Bigelow has a secret weapon.

“One of the best tools to pull a hard spot out is temperature, like a steam iron on the lowest setting over a towel.” This technique works especially well for especially stubborn spots like tea, Kool-Aid, orange soda (or other sodas with color in them), and even wine, says Bigelow. Often, he uses heat in conjunction with a red-removing cleaning agent.

Difficult jobs come at a price. When specialized cleaning agents and specialized procedures are used, Bigelow says there’s always an extra charge.

Best to know
There are many other factors to consider related to spot removal. Cleaners want to remove the spot entirely, without damaging the carpet fibers. The materials the carpet is made of are important, since different types react to spots and cleaning in different ways.

Neutralizing the pH of a spot is important, too.

“The secret about spotting techniques is you find out the pH of the spot,” says Bigelow. A neutral pH is 7 and anything lower than that is acidic. So, for instance if the pH of a spot was a 6 (acidic) a cleaner would need to use an agent one point over 7 to neutralize it. Generally, most spots are acidic, says Bigelow. Cleaners should also be aware of any warranties that exist for the carpet. Using certain products can void the warranty.

Smith says to keep carpets looking their best, it’s also important for building managers to convey to their occupants that they should report any spills. As mentioned earlier, time is of the essence. For instance, if a person spills white soda on the carpet, then forgets about it, the spot is never cleaned, resulting in a dirty-looking spot.

“With the wicking action and the high sugar content it’s going to be a magnet for dirt,” he adds.

Bigelow gives his customers a flyer that discusses common-sense spotting techniques, hoping it will urge them to respond to carpet spots immediately. But the brochure is useless unless cleaners have patience when cleaning a spot. Getting out as much of the material as possible — the sooner the better — is key to ensuring that spot doesn’t become a stain.

Distributors will be well-served to know the ins and outs of basic carpet care, including spot removal. Their customers depend on them for the answers.




POSTED ON: 1/1/2002