1. For the Life of Your Carpet
Carpet Care Program
For the Life of Your Carpet

2. Industry Awareness The most costly part of any maintenance program is:
Labor = 85% - 90% of the total M & O budget
Current “best estimate” cost to remove one pound of dirt from a building is:
$700.00
The most expensive cleaning product at your disposal is:
“Elbow grease” - labor

3. Routine Carpet Maintenance
The three most important cleaning operations to extend the life of carpeting and to maximize its appearance are:
Vacuum
Vacuuming carpet removes grit that works it’s way down to the base of the carpet fibers. This grit has sharp edges that, over time, actually cut the fibers. That’s why older carpeting in entry doors often looks “thin”. It is – the carpet fibers have been cut and are gone. No amount of cleaning and renovation will bring them back – they’re gone.

4. Vacuuming How often does the carpet need to be vacuumed? It depends:
On traffic load
Is it A main hallway?
Or a third floor, in the back, used once a month, conference room?
Location (soil load)
Is it an entry door from outside, to the kindergarten sand box?
Or a room that’s at the end of an 80 foot long carpeted hallway?
Is it a carpeted cafeteria or dining room?
VACUUMING
Basic carpet care begins with vacuuming. A well organized carpet maintenance program depends on optimum scheduling of vacuuming cycles by traffic and soiling patterns. Vacuuming removes much of the loose dirt and sharp-edged grit from the surface of the carpet before it becomes imbedded at the base where it cuts the fibers. The successful removal of loose dirt and grit by vacuuming will greatly reduce the need for more labor intensive cleaning methods and extend the life of the carpet.
As important as vacuuming is to good carpet care, it is not always necessary to vacuum all carpeting on a daily basis. Many lightly trafficked areas need to be vacuumed only on a weekly basis, or to lift the pile. Unnecessary vacuuming in lightly trafficked areas, where soil loads are low, wastes labor and lowers the cost-efficiency of your carpet care program.
Upright and wide-area vacuums provide some form of agitation of the carpet fibers (brushes or beater bars) and are best used in areas where heavy traffic and soil loads require carpeting be vacuumed at least daily.
Before vacuuming an area, remove loose debris that could become lodged in the pickup head of the vacuum or tear a hole in the paper filter bag. In offices, classrooms, unoccupied patient rooms, etc., easily moved furniture may be moved to one side of the room to allow clear access to at least half of the area to be vacuumed.
  With the motor running, adjust the brushes or beater bars down until they just make contact with the surface of the carpet. Brushes that have been adjusted too low do not clean any better, they cause premature wear on brushes, belts, bearings and motors; and to the carpet itself. With upright commercial vacuums, remember to always walk the vacuum back and forth in a straight line. Constant pushing and pulling action is tiring, can irritate aging shoulder and elbow joints, and makes vacuuming more of a chore and more time consuming than it needs to be. Walk-behinds and wide-area vacs will not function at their best if the pace is too fast. Vacuuming should be performed at a slow walking motion allowing the beater bar to work the soil loose from the fibers.
Vacuums without brushes also need time to clean the carpeting.

5. Vacuuming
At building entryways, most soil will be removed from shoes within the first 10 to 20 feet
If you don’t have time to vacuum the entire area, at least vacuum this “walk-off” area
If there is a traffic lane in an area, this should be your next area of focus
Don’t ignore the rest of the area, vacuum it as often as possible
Don’t allow dust and “fuzz” to build up at the baseboard

6. Modern Vacuum Cleaners are designed to pick up Dust !
History of the vacuum cleaner
Suction cleaners
Dust and debris - changing roles
Indoor air quality issues
Empty the bag before it looks full
Inefficiency costs time
No more than 2/3 full
If you think your vacuum isn’t working as well as it used to…
Empty the bag
Clean the filters
Vacuum Cleaners
Modern Vacuum Cleaners are designed to pick up Dust !
When Vacuum Cleaners were invented, carpets were cleaned by hanging them outside and beating them. The first vacuums were not electric. They operated by pushing and pulling a pump handle to create the suction. These contraptions, actually called “Suction Cleaners”, were designed to pick up small bits of debris, tracked in dirt, hair, etc., by straining the air as it was pumped through a fabric bag. This would lengthen the times between taking the carpet outside to beat it clean. Any dust picked up was a bonus. Fine dust passed through the mesh to settle on furniture, which then needed dusting… .
Electrifying the machine necessitated a different kind of bag, one which would accommodate the higher volume of air passing through, and really catch most of the visible dust particles. This was about the time that wall-to-wall carpeting was becoming available.
With indoor air quality becoming more of an issue, modern vacuums are using disposable paper “filter” bags. These modern machines are designed to pick up fine dust; debris that is picked up is a bonus. The notion of ‘waiting for the bag to get full’ before emptying it is no longer cost efficient. The interior surface of the bag and the pores in the paper filter may become sufficiently clogged so as to reduce the vacuum’s performance to an unacceptable level before the bag ‘looks full’. Many models now include an ' idiot light ’ to inform the operator when the air flow has fallen off too far. A Vacuum Cleaner’s performance is best measured by it’s Air Flow - “how much air is passing through the machine” ( volume of air in cubic feet per second) and it’s Water Lift - “the strength of the suction” (how high the motor will pull a column of water in a tube), which are inversely related. As the volume of air falls off, the strength of the vacuum increases - but less is picked up. The vacuum depends on a sufficient quantity of air passing through it to function well. Think of a vacuum as an air filtration device.
Some vacuums require the bag to be shaken out to clean. Always wear a dust mask when cleaning out these bags. Dust itself is a lung irritant, and there are things in dust you don’t want to breathe.

7. Stop!!! GO BACK!!
The last slide shows that a back pack vacuum is at least 3 times more productive than an upright we typically see
THREE TIMES…if you start to add in the savings of dusting time gained by using back pack vacuums you could easily save probably 5 times over a upright by the end of the first month!!

8. Vacuuming Time in Hours
Production Analysis
One person vacuuming x hr. per day. If you cut time in half, you save…
Hourly Rate
Vacuuming Time in Hours 1 2 3 4 5
$6.00
$914.40
$1,828.80
$2,743.20
$3,657.60
$4,572.00
$8.00
$1,219.20
$2,438.40
$4,876.80
$6,096.00
$10.00
$1,524.00
$3,048.00
$7,620.00
$12.00
$5,486.40
$7,315.20
$9,144.00
So, 1 $12/hr., vacuuming 5 hrs ea / day; if their time was cut in half would save $9,144.00/yr. If the vac cost $500, the payback period would be 13.8 days. Labor costs saved for the year would be $8, Labor Hours saved = 635

9. Carpet Problem Family Tree
Physical
Rips & Zips
Seams
Caster Ripples
Tracked in
Dry Soils
Dry Spills
Burns
Gum
Glue / Backing
Thresholds
Shoes, Noses
& Transitions
Chemical
Organic
Grease/Oil
Dissolved Sugars
Food Dyes
Inorganic
Petroleum Base
Mineral Oil Base
Dyes
Waxes & Polymers
Rust
Carpet Problem Family Tree
Considering problems as being grouped into one of two branches is perhaps a little simplistic, but it’s a starting point.
Physical problems fall into two categories. The first being problems with the carpet itself - the fibers, the backing, the glue holding it down or the trim pieces. The second would be dry spills or dry tracked-in soils. Physical problems with the carpet need to be repaired as soon as possible. They are not self-correcting and will lead to larger and more expensive repairs if neglected. Many will create tripping hazards if left uncorrected.
Fibers:
Pulls - Trim off or re-glue (often, a spot of glue will prevent “Zippering”)
Runs/Zippers - Trim off or re-glue
Seam’s ‘fuzz’ - Trim off
Entry Wear - Keep dirt and sand vacuumed and flushed from the base routinely. Use Entry walk-off matting.
Desk Chair Wear - The use of Carpet Protectors will prevent chair casters from wearing and soiling the carpet under desks. Casters will also cause some carpet piles to separate from the backing and some carpet glues will fail under these lateral and compressive forces allowing the carpet to stretch and ripple. Glues injected between the carpet and the slab, weighted until dry will sometimes help flatten slightly rippled carpeting.
Chemical problems are usually the result of something (usually food or beverages) being spilled on the carpet, or being tracked in from the parking lot (petroleum products).

10. Carpet Fibers Synthetic Natural
Nylons
Acrylics
Commercial
Residential
Synthetic
Natural
Wool or wool blends
Cotton or cotton blends
Silk or silk blends
Most commercial, glue-down and typical residential carpeting is made from some sort of synthetic fiber
Residential
High-end Commercial

11. Carpet Fibers Yarn Dyed Solution Dyed Plastic is melted
Extruded into fibers, spun into yarn
Yarn dipped in a color vat
Solution Dyed
Colorant added to melted plastic
Fibers extruded, spun into yarn

12. The Anatomy of Commercial Carpeting
Slab
Glue
Vinyl/ Rubber Backing
“Burlap” Backing
Carpet Fibers

13. Spotting The difference between a spill and a stain is time.
Blot, don’t rub, with clean cloth
Agitate with a bone scraper or by tapping with a spotting brush
Test any products first (inconspicuous area)
Work from the outside to the center
SPOTTING
The number one enemy of carpet care professionals is stains. To efficiently combat stains, you must remember that most stains start out as simple spills. If detected early and treated correctly, spills and spots can be eliminated before they become stains.
Remove spills as soon as they are discovered by blotting with a clean cloth or paper towel. For spots containing solids, scrape away solids first, then treat with the appropriate cleaning product listed in the Spotting Chart.
  When using any of the products or treatments listed in the Spotting Chart, pretest the treatment on an inconspicuous portion of the carpet to insure the compound will not affect the color of the carpet or damage the fibers.
  NOTE: Although some substances may never be removed, the treatments listed in the chart are our best recommendations. The process required to remove certain carpet spots may weaken or remove some carpet dyes. If the first treatment listed does not remove all of the spot, blot the area as dry as possible and go to the next recommended treatment until the spot is removed.
  After applying the treatment and allowing sufficient time for the treatment to penetrate, use moist toweling in a light brushing/blotting motion working from the outside of the soiled area toward the center. Tough spots may "wick" back to the surface requiring a second treatment. Organic spills, such as blood* and food particles, may be best removed with Hillyard's Liquid Enzyme II, but do not use it on natural fiber carpets.
*Refer to OSHA ruling 29CFR for additional instructions.

14. Spotting Small spots may often be removed with minimal effort.
Spray the spot to moisten
Place a folded,clean cloth over the spot
Place a heavy object on the cloth
Go about cleaning the room, when vacuuming (or after minutes) remove the weight, turn the cloth over and step on it a time or two
Peroxide products such as SUPROX, do a great job with spotting

15. Machine Spotting Conventional bonnet cleaning
Deep Action Bonnets soaked in solution
2 hrs. dry time (more or less)
“Dry” bonnet cleaning – to quickly improve appearance
Thin, terry bonnets – dry
Spray the spot until moist, not wet
Bonnet with dry bonnet, turn over and repeat until soil is gone – change bonnets if necessary
30 min. dry time (more or less)
Carpet is NOT clean – it just looks clean
Clean thoroughly when time permits

16. Machine Spotting Bonnet Spotting Fast Extraction
Carpet Brush
Dirt Napper
Adjust-A-Glide
Fast Extraction
Combine the two for maximum results

17. Recurring Spots Come Back Larger Than the Original
Spills happen
Soaks through to the slab and spreads
Cleaning moistens the carpet - begins to dissolve the material
As it dries, material “wicks” up
Carpet Pile
Backing & Glue
Floor Slab
Recurring Spots Come Back Larger Than the Original

18. Bonnet Cleaning Quick Process - Little Down Time Pre-Spray
Machine Clean
Deep Action Bonnets
Thick – Deep Action Bonnets – for maximum absorption
Thin – Terry for quick light cleaning
Synthetic w/ Scrub Stripe to pre-scrub for extraction
Rinse Frequently - An Absorbing Process
Deep Action Mop, for Hard to Reach Areas
Not Recommended for Cut-pile Carpeting
Follow manufacturer’s recommendations
BONNET CLEANING
Bonnet cleaning has steadily gained in popularity because it is a worker-friendly system that offers low downtime, requires no special equipment (it works with standard floor machines), and it's an economical carpet cleaning system. Bonnet Cleaning is also an excellent method for removing stains.
First, vacuum and remove obstructions from the area to be cleaned. Dilute Deep Action [1:8 for light cleaning (16 oz. per gal.), 1:6 for moderate soils (22 oz. per gal.), and 1:3 for heavy cleaning (42 oz. per gal.)] with cool water in a pump-up sprayer. Pre-treat spots with the Deep Action cleaning solution and apply the solution to the first area to be cleaned. Hold the nozzle 12 to 16 inches above the carpet pile and spray approximately 100 to 150 square feet, then stop and machine clean this section before spraying the next area.
  To prepare for machine cleaning, first soak the cotton-blend pad in a mop bucket filled with cool, clean water. Wring out the excess water. For light cleaning, the pad should be wrung out to where it is just moist. For heavy cleaning, allow the pad to retain more moisture. Lay the pad on the spot where you will start cleaning and center the drive brush on the pad.
  Start working the machine and pad over the carpet in tight, counterclockwise, overlapping circles. It is important to flip the pad to the clean side as soon as the first side becomes loaded with soil. Wring out the pad as necessary, making sure to keep your rinse water clean. It's best to use two pads so one can be cleaned while the other is being used.
  Clean under desks, behind doors and stairs with an absorbent, dampened Deep Action mop in the same fashion. The carpeting should be dry and ready for traffic within an hour depending on humidity, temperature, etc. If you are cleaning heavily soiled areas, more moisture may be retained in the carpet and dry time may be extended.

19. Dry Foam Shampooing Dry Foam Shampoo Machine Surface Process
Traps Dirt in the Foam
Vacuum When Dry
Use Vac With a Brush or Beater Bar
Knocks It Loose – Picks It Up
SHAMPOO CLEANING
Shampooing calls for Hillyard Clean Release. It is a concentrated formula shampoo with deep cleaning foam that contains biodegradable surfactants, is phosphate free, has a neutral pH, has a pleasant evergreen fragrance, and is also suitable for use on fifth generation carpets. Clean Release was designed to work in dry foam machines at economical dilution rates [1:64 for light cleaning (2 oz. per gal.), 1:32 for moderate to heavy cleaning (4 oz. per gal.), and 1:16 for extra heavy cleaning or renovation (8 oz. per gal.)].
  As with any cleaning operation, first vacuum and remove furniture and other obstructions. Pre-spray spots with Deep Action, Unscented Deep Action, or Carpet Spotter before shampooing.
  Operate the shampoo machine in a back and forth motion to insure the foam is adequately worked into the carpet fiber. Work an area of approximately 100 square feet, then stop and pick up the foam with a wet vacuum. Due to the superior foaming properties of Clean Release, you should add Hillyard Defoamer II to the recovery tank to dissipate foam. After the carpet is dry, vacuum to pick up any remaining dried foam residue.

20. Fast Extraction Quick, cleans deeply, 50-75psi, flushes out dirt
Pre-spray
Pull slowly
Let dry
Vacuum to lift pile and remove dislodged soil
FAST EXTRACTION
New, portable, self-contained, or "fast" extractors are designed to shoot a stream of "cool" cleaning solution into the base of the carpet fibers so heavy grit and dirt can be quickly lifted out through the vac head. This fast cleaning action calls for Hillyard's Clean Action or Unscented Clean Action. Clean Action is formulated to work fast, is phosphate free, has a neutral pH, a pleasant herbal fragrance and is suitable for fifth generation carpets.
  For fast extraction, simply mix Clean Action 1:128 in the dispensing tank (1 oz. per gal.). First, vacuum and remove furniture and other obstructions from the area to be cleaned. As always, pre-spray spots first with either Deep Action, Unscented Deep Action, or Carpet Spotter.
  Operate the extractor in a smooth pulling motion while dispensing the solution and picking it up with the vac head. Extraction does an excellent job of breaking loose and lifting the heavy grit that may have been missed by other cleaning methods.
  Fast extraction is designed to pump less water into the carpet and will allow carpeting to dry faster than with normal extraction. However, remember to allow sufficient dry time before opening to traffic.

21. Combine Bonnet Cleaning With Fast Extraction
Follow bonnet cleaning with fast extraction
Bonnet clean with Deep Action or Carpet Pre-Spray
Extract with Clean Action II
Heavy soils
Entrances
Heavy traffic lanes
Or pre-spray with cleaner & extract with Nutra-Rinse
To restore pH – removes product residues
To minimize clogged jets
BONNET OR SHAMPOO CLEANING COMBINED WITH FAST EXTRACTION
For carpeted areas that are subject to heavy soil loads and traffic, bonnet or shampoo cleaning, followed by fast extraction, offers an efficient method of insuring your carpets stay clean, bright, and free from buildup. This unique approach cleans the carpet fibers as well as removes heavy grit and soil which may have accumulated at the base of the fiber.
  Follow these steps when combining fast extraction with bonnet or shampoo cleaning.
  As with any cleaning operation, vacuum and remove furniture and other obstructions from the area to be cleaned. Pre-spray all spots, as well as traffic lanes to loosen greasy soil buildup with Deep Action, Unscented Deep Action, or Carpet Spotter.
  If utilizing a bonnet system, apply Deep Action as described earlier and machine pad the area. Immediately after cleaning with Deep Action, follow with a portable extractor using Clean Action or Unscented Clean Action diluted 1:128 in the dispensing tank. Allow sufficient time for the carpet to dry before opening to traffic.
 If you are utilizing a shampoo system, use Clean Release and shampoo your carpet as described earlier. Follow with fast extraction using a 1:128 dilution of Clean Action. Due to the superior foaming properties of Clean Release, you should add Hillyard Defoamer II to the recovery tank to dissipate foam. Allow sufficient time for the carpet to dry before opening to traffic.

22. Deep Extraction Large tanks – high pressure 100 – 200psi
Some have a brush in a ‘ power head’
Extra pressure flushes to the base of carpet
Pre-spray spots
Can pre-spray entire area
Break up surface soil
Use alone or after bonnet cleaning or dry foam shampooing
Will renovate badly soiled or neglected carpet
DEEP EXTRACTION
Deep extraction is similar to fast extraction except the equipment utilized is larger, more powerful with larger dispensing and recovery tanks. Large truck-mounted extraction units are sometimes utilized to accommodate larger pump motors and tanks. Deep extraction is ideal where sand or heavy grit is tracked in on carpets or where extra heavy cleaning and/or renovation is necessary. When combined with bonnet or shampoo cleaning, deep extraction can renovate carpeting that has been subjected to excessive soil loads and neglect.
  Before extracting, vacuum and remove furniture and other obstruction from the area to be cleaned. Pre-pray spots with either Deep Action, Unscented Deep Action, or Carpet Spotter.
  For regular extraction, mix regular Clean Action or Unscented Clean Action (1:128) in the dispensing tank of the extractor. For added cleaning action, pre-spray the entire area to be extracted with Deep Action or Unscented Deep Action. This will help emulsify surface soils, allowing for more efficient cleaning.
  Operate the extractor in a smooth pulling motion while dispensing the solution and picking it up with the vac head. Do not stop or dwell on one spot to try to "flood out" built-up areas of dirt or spots. Remember, deep extraction will cause a greater wetting action on the carpet. Allow sufficient time for the carpet to dry before opening to traffic.

23. Labor Comparisons For Interim Cleaning Procedures
Time, In Minutes,
Per 1,000 Square Feet
Dry
Powder
Bonnet
16"
Extractor 48
34.8
62.8 29 20 40 60 80
Dry Foam

24. Precautions Do not over-wet carpeting Adjust brushes at correct height
May separate pile from backing
May dissolve glue
Wrinkles
Ripples
Bubbles
Adjust brushes at correct height
Just until contact is made
Do not dwell too long in one spot
Use wet floor signs
Precautions
Some things to watch out for in wet-process carpet cleaning.
Over-wetting the carpet: can make the pile pull loose from the backing; dissolve the glue holding the carpet to the floor.
Over-wetting can cause wrinkles, ripples and bubbles.
Dwelling too long in one spot with the brush running can wear a burn mark in the carpet.
Adjusting the brushes too low wears them out prematurely.
Storing the machine with the bushes down will cause flat spots in the bristles.
Lint, hair, strings etc., will stick to the inside of heads, wands and hoses and if not cleaned out will make suction fall off, limiting dirty water recovery.
Extractors may drip dirty water back into the carpet if turned off and left standing. Clean up as soon as an area is finished.

25. Products Clean Action II HD Extraction Cleaner Deep Action
Pre-Spray & Traffic Lane Cleaner
Carpet Booster
Gum-Go
Liquid Gum-Go
Carpet Spotter
Carpet Spotter Gel
Nutra-Rinse

26. SPECIAL HILLYARD CARPET TREATMENTS
Specialty Products
Soil Stop
Carpet Anti-Stat
Carpet Sanitizer
Rust Spotter Gel
Carpet Debrowner
Defoamer II
Take Down
Liquid Enzyme II
SPECIAL HILLYARD CARPET TREATMENTS
Hillyard offers a full array of special carpet care products to meet special needs. Soil Stop will provide protection from spills and reduce vacuuming time. To protect sensitive electrical equipment, Carpet Anti-Stat stops annoying static shock in carpets. Carpet Sanitizer will help control odor causing bacteria. Carpet Spotter is a versatile cleaner/spotter for general spotting and spots removal while Carpet Debrowner helps remove spots from light color carpets caused from coffee, tea, water, etc. Use Hillyard Nutra-Rinse to dissolve and remove tracked in ice-melt residue from carpeting. Nutra-Rinse will also neutralize residues left from other products, spilled liquids, soils and hard water deposits. Defoamer II is designed to dissipate foam in recovery tanks. For carpeted areas with recurring odor problems, Hillyard Odor Counteractant is the perfect solution. To remove organic spots, rely on Hillyard Liquid Enzyme II ...the bacterial digestant that deodorizes as it works.  

27. Clean-up of Body Fluid Spills on Carpet
Block off area
Put on PPE (double disposable)
Contain the spill – apply absorbent material
Pick up and dispose of waste including any absorbent materials used & outer gloves
Red bag if your facility has a red bag program
Double trash can liner
Sanitize the area - which product? Which method?
Discard or decontaminate PPE as appropriate
Seal and dispose of red bags or liners properly
Decontaminate equipment (use PPE)
Remove & discard PPE; wash your hands
Communicate with super-visor

28. Upholstery Test solution in an inconspicuous area
If no extractor tool, hand spot
Upholstery/stair tools
Metal or plastic
Semi-variable and low flow triggers & jets
Cold water only
Do NOT over wet fabric or padding
Do NOT wet wood arms, trim etc.
Allow plenty of time to dry
Upholstery Cleaning
Upholstery care has much in common with carpet care. Fabric covered furniture needs to be vacuumed frequently, and cleaned regularly to maintain its appearance and to prolong the life of the fabric. Upholstered chairs in Schools, Hospitals and Hotels usually tend to be in highly visible locations used by the general public, and have been placed in these locations to convey a sense of warmth, ease and comfort. Nothing will ruin this image faster than inviting someone to sit on a dirty chair.
Frequency of vacuuming depends on location and use. A chair in a high-traffic public lobby, a waiting room or in someone’s office will need to be vacuumed and cleaned more often than a chair in a private conference room used only once or twice a month. Spills and spots will also occur in the lobby more often than in the conference room.
Vacuuming should be done with an upholstery tool and, depending on the furniture style, possibly with an edging tool. Finish by vacuuming in one direction to avoid leaving color variations in the fabric. Some fabrics will tend to trap hairs and little bits of “stuff”that the vacuum will not remove. Pick these off by hand. Use caution around woodwork to avoid scratching .
Clean fabric by blotting or with an extractor equipped with an upholstery tool (test the fabric in an inconspicuous spot first). Take care not to over-wet the fabric or the padding, and to avoid contact with polished wood trim. Allow plenty of drying time. Sitting in a damp chair will cast a shadow on even the most mild mannered person’s day.

29. Stairways & Landings Normal traffic soil
Tracked in substances & spills
Upholstery/stair tool
Blot, blot, blot…
Asap
The difference between a spill and a stain, is TIME
Carpeted Stairways
Approach carpet care on stairways the same as any other high traffic carpeted areas. Vacuum daily, quite thoroughly. Carpeting on stairways will wear out as quickly as entry ways, as all traffic is concentrated into two lanes.
Carpeting may be cleaned either by blotting or by using an extractor with an upholstery/stair tool. Applying Soil-Stop will help prevent minor spills from becoming major stains.

30. Gum Removal Do it daily! Gum-Go Aerosol – for new gum on the surface
Spray, let frost develop
Chip away with dull scraper
Pick up pieces before they soften & stick
Liquid Gum-Go – for old gum (walked-in)
Apply
Agitate and remove with dull scraper or bone knife

31. Walk-Off Mats/ Carpet Protectors
Fabric mats (carpet-like)
Vacuum daily
Extract regularly & frequently
Some “rubber” backings discolor VCT
Highly effective strategy for cutting cleaning time in buildings
Getting two steps on a mat will catch 50% of the dirt brought in a building
For $2.00 a week you can have a 4 X 6 mat in most cities
Do you think you can save $2 a week in labor if you have a mat that catches 50% of the dirt we bring in? ABSOLUTELY
Walk-Off Mats and Carpet Protectors
Walk-off mats made of carpet-like material should be treated in the same manner as entryway carpeting. Vacuum daily, and clean frequently. Extraction cleaning works best to remove sand and grit. If no extractor is available, the mats may be taken outside, hung up (over a fence or wall) and hosed off. Dry with a wet-vac or let air dry. Interior mats cleaned in this manner should be allowed to dry overnight before replacing.
Most mats have rubber or vinyl backing. This backing when used on VCT may stain the tile by either starving the tile of air (usually yellows), or by actual dye transfer from the back to the tile. Dye transfer stains will usually come out when refinishing the tile. Many yellow stains (from lack of air) may become permanent, having actually discolored the tile itself.
Plastic Under-Chair Carpet Protectors need to be repositioned daily to prevent user frustration and tripping hazards. They should be mopped weekly to maintain their appearance, and at least monthly should be removed so the carpet underneath can be vacuumed and repilated if necessary before replacing. If mopping fails to restore their appearance they may be scrubbed lightly with a white or red buffing pad, or a light or medium duty scrub brush with a neutral cleaning solution.

32. Other Mats Under-chair protectors & runners
Fabric - treat like a walk-off mat
Plastic/vinyl
Reposition daily - mop weekly
Remove, vacuum carpet - monthly

33. Are there any Questions?
Carpet Care
Are there any
Questions?

34. Quiz The difference between a spill and a stain is .
The first line of defense against premature carpet soiling and wear is .
(T/F) All carpeting needs to be vacuumed daily.
Empty the vacuum bag
The method of interim cleaning that requires the least drying time is

35. Quiz (T/F) You can’t use too much water to clean carpeting.
Using a neutralizer in an extractor will remove and keep the jets from clogging.
(T/F) Walk-off mats only need to be vacuumed to maintain them.
(T/F) It is possible to clean carpeting too often.
Carpeting requires a) more b) less labor to maintain than tile.

36. Answers The difference between a spill and a stain is time .
The first line of defense against premature carpet soiling and wear is vacuuming .
(F) All carpeting needs to be vacuumed daily.
Empty the vacuum bag daily or when 2/3 full.
The method of interim cleaning that requires the least drying time is bonnet cleaning.

37. Answers (F) You can’t use too much water to clean carpeting.
Using a neutralizer in an extractor will remove residues or mineral deposits and keep the jets from clogging.
(F) Walk-off mats only need to be vacuumed to maintain them.
(T) It is possible to clean carpeting too often.
Carpeting requires a) more b) less labor to maintain than tile.

38. Thank you for your participation
Carpet Care
Thank you for your participation