Carpet maintenance and cleaning
Abstract: This article elaborates on the structure and use of carpets, and provides detailed instructions on the maintenance and cleaning of carpets during use.
Keywords: carpet decoration, maintenance, cleaning
foreword
Carpet is a high-end decorative flooring material widely used in commercial, office, and exhibition settings. According to statistics, in modern hotel and office buildings, carpet coverage accounts for over 60% of the total area. Nowadays, with the improvement of people's living standards, more and more families have carried out decoration. Among the many floor decoration materials, carpets are increasingly used in people's decoration due to their elegant and luxurious appearance, comfortable foot feel, moisture resistance, and many other advantages. However, in people's use, they also feel headache about some of the disadvantages of carpets, such as easy to get dirty and difficult to clean, difficult to store, easy to fade, not resistant to pressure and easy to leave marks, etc. Here are some cleaning methods provided:
1. Carpet selection
When choosing a carpet, the size specifications should be consistent with the size of the floor to be laid. The color and performance are suitable for the intended use.
For channels, anti pollution and wear-resistant carpets should be selected, while for living rooms, high-end synthetic fiber carpets or wool carpets with soft texture and gorgeous appearance should be chosen. Generally speaking, the quality of carpets is greatly influenced by the type of textile fibers used, the quantity and density of carpet fibers, and the height of fibers. Silk and wool have the best comprehensive performance. The high pile carpet is soft, but not easy to clean. In addition, high-quality carpets have a smooth surface, uniform thickness of the carpet body, and can be immediately restored to its original state after gentle pressing. The carpet back is not worn, and if there is a backing, it should be firmly bonded to the carpet back without any detachment. When choosing a carpet, attention should also be paid to whether the price is reasonable. Handmade wool woven carpets are expensive, while synthetic needle punched carpets are cheap.
2. Structure of carpet
First layer: Face screen, usually made of natural fibers and synthetic fibers, with a loose and soft surface.
Second layer: Support layer, usually woven from fibers, plays a supporting role, improves the stability, performance, and durability of the carpet. The surface layer is woven with corresponding yarns and layered materials.
The third layer: the auxiliary support layer, usually woven from hemp or fiber, firmly attached to the entire carpet tissue with adhesive.
Pad layer: Generally a plastic porous structure, its function is to isolate the carpet from the ground, increase breathability and elasticity.
3. Issues to be noted during carpet use
(1) During the initial use of the new velvet carpet, there may be slight frizz, which is a normal phenomenon.
(2) Be cautious of scratching with sharp objects and burns from cigarette butts on the surface of the carpet.
(3) Most carpets have undergone anti insect treatment before leaving the factory, so there is no need to place insect repellents, which can cause harm to the carpet and human body.
(4) Stains scattered on the carpet should be cleaned in a timely manner, as they will be difficult to remove over time.
(5) After the carpet is laid for a period of time, a large number of bacteria and a type of organism called ticks and mites will multiply on it, directly endangering human health. Therefore, comprehensive cleaning and disinfection should be carried out regularly for two to three months.
(6) In order to prevent dust from entering the carpet area, a dust removal blanket pad should be installed at the entrance.
In addition, when carpets come into contact with chemicals, they may produce chemical stains or fade. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid carpets from being contaminated with commonly used chemicals such as strong cleaning agents and skincare products. In addition, carpets should not be exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, otherwise fading may occur.
Carpets need to be regularly vacuumed because dust accumulates inside the carpet, causing wear and tear on the fibers and making the color of the carpet dull. In staircases, halls, corridors, and places with frequent walking, it should be vacuumed two to three times a week, and the bedroom should also be vacuumed at least once a week.
4. Maintenance of carpets
After the carpet is laid, it must be cleaned regularly to maintain its appearance and reduce wear and tear during use. There are two main types of dirt on carpets: dust and other particulate matter, and dirt, oil stains, and other chemicals. The former can be solved by regular vacuuming or cleaning, while the latter requires chemical dissolution and professional guidance. If the method is not appropriate, it may cause stains to spread, and caution should be exercised.
(1) Carpet stains
A. The distribution of stains and dirt on the carpet layers
The multi-layered structure of the carpet makes it easy to bury stains and dirt.
Stains are not only on the surface of the carpet, but can also penetrate deep into the tangled fibrous tissue of the backing layer.
Grey soil and sand particles infiltrate into the second and third support layers, becoming hidden dirt that continuously damages the carpet fibers.
The carpet is constantly rubbed, and stains and dirt will bury deeper and deeper.
B. Classification of carpet stains and dirt:
a. Water based and dry stains and dirt
Most carpet stains belong to water-based and dry substances, including dust, sand, starch, soft drinks, tea juice, and fruit juice, which account for about 80% -85% of all stains and dirt, especially fine dust, work and life debris, which mostly adhere to the surface of the carpet. Larger dirt particles will slide off the support layer.
b. Oil based stains, dirt (including animal and vegetable oils, cosmetics, shoe polish, ballpoint pen oil), etc.
c. Protein based stains and dirt (including blood, vomit, urine, and food) account for about 15/20% of the total
(2) Treatment of specific carpet stains during use
Methods for removing common stains from carpets:
Edible oil stains: Use volatile solvents such as gasoline or carbon tetrachloride to remove them, and clean the remaining parts with alcohol.
Sauce stains: Brush the new stains with cold water first, then wash them with detergent to remove them. Chen stains can be washed with warm water mixed with detergent and ammonia solution, and then rinsed with clean water.
Shoe oil stains: Use gasoline, turpentine, or alcohol to wipe off, and then wash with soap.
Urinary stains: New stains can be washed away with warm water or 10% ammonia solution. Chen Hu first washed with detergent, then washed with ammonia water, and pure wool carpets should be pickled with lemon acid.
Juice stains: First clean with 5% ammonia solution, then use detergent again. However, ammonia water has a damaging effect on the fibers of pure wool carpets, so its use should be minimized as much as possible. Generally, citric acid or soap can be used for cleaning, and alcohol can also be used.
Ice cream stains: wipe with gasoline.
Wine stains: Clean the new stains with water. Chen stains need to be removed with an aqueous solution of ammonia and borax. If it is a carpet made of wool or silk material, it can be cleaned with oxalic acid.
Coffee stains and tea stains: Wash off with ammonia water. Silk and wool carpets should be soaked in oxalic acid cleaner for 10-20 minutes before washing off, or cleaned with a 10% glycerol solution.
Vomit stains: One method is to wipe with gasoline, then wipe with 5% ammonia water, and finally rinse with warm water. Another method is to wet the vomit with 10% ammonia water, then wipe it with soap solution containing alcohol, and finally clean it with detergent.
The correct wiping method is also necessary to remove the above-mentioned stains, so as not to damage the carpet and expand the stain area in one step. So, when wiping, the following points should be noted:
1. Start by wiping from the edge of the stain and gradually shrink towards the center to prevent the stain from spreading outward.
2. Carpets made of silk or wool should not be cleaned with ammonia or alkaline water.
3. Oxalic acid is toxic and should be diluted in warm water when used, as concentrated acid can easily damage fibers.
4. When wiping, do not apply too much force, otherwise it will damage the fiber tissue and surface.
Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidant that can damage the color of carpets, so it should be used with caution.
6. Turpentine, gasoline, and other flammable materials should be used close to fire.
Alcohol cannot be used for fiberglass.
(3) Cleaning steps
1) Vacuum cleaning: Before cleaning, the carpet should be thoroughly cleaned for future work.
2) Cleaning: Use a floor scrubber for proper scrubbing, adding an appropriate amount of cleaning agent during scrubbing.
3) Water absorption: Use a professional water absorption machine to absorb water and reduce the amount of cleaning agent in the carpet that was just wiped with a floor scrubber.
4) Scrubbing: Use clean water to scrub and add deodorizing agent to the water to remove any odors from the carpet.
5) Water absorption: Continue the water absorption work as described above. After wiping the carpet with clean water, use a clean towel to absorb the moisture and try to air dry the carpet as soon as possible, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading.
6) Smooth out: Use a hair brush to straighten out and roll out the remaining hair in the carpet
7) Blow drying: In order to quickly dry the carpet, it is necessary to perform a blow drying job, using a professional blow dryer to dry the carpet. Ensure fast drying of the carpet.
(4) Methods for carpet cleaning
1) Wet washed carpet
It uses special carpet equipment and anti mildew high foam carpet cleaner, and uses professional cleaner to deal with different stains. After the vacuum suction machine absorbs the dirt, it uses anti fouling agent spray to form a waterproof film on the carpet surface to achieve waterproof and dust-proof effect.
General program
1. Vacuum cleaning
2. Local treatment refers to the separate treatment of stains, which can be done using the following methods:
1) Spray detergent or water on the carpet, scrub with a towel, and then absorb with a dry towel;
2) Sprinkle the cleaning powder on the carpet, brush it with a brush, and then vacuum it;
3) Spray the prepared detergent onto the carpet and use a cleaning machine with a nozzle and vacuum cleaner for vacuuming.
3. Comprehensive cleaning, professional personnel operate professional equipment, use cleaning agents to carefully scrub the carpet, and then absorb the cleaning solution and dirt. Depending on the degree of dirt on the carpet, it can be repeated several times.
Process Flow Reference Table
Equipment: Floor cleaning machine (pure wool requires a three in one carpet cleaning machine), water suction machine, blow dryer.
Tools: Water bucket, small hand brush (for heavily soiled areas) Consumables: Carpet cleaner, stain remover, 84 disinfectant
Process flow: Floor washing - Water absorption - Floor washing - Water absorption - Disinfection - Blow drying
2) Dry cleaning carpet
Imported dry cleaning equipment together with carpet dry cleaning agent is specially used for the cleaning of high-grade woolen carpets, central carpets, silk carpets, and pure wool carpets in senior writing rooms. After cleaning, antifouling agent spray is used to form a waterproof film on the carpet surface to achieve the effect of waterproof and dust-proof. General procedure:
1. Vacuum cleaning
2. For local treatment, professional stain removers are used to treat stains separately. There are several methods available:
1) Spray detergent or water on the carpet, scrub with a towel, and then absorb with a dry towel;
2) Sprinkle the cleaning powder on the carpet, brush it with a brush, and then vacuum it;
3) Spray the prepared detergent onto the carpet and use a cleaning machine with a nozzle and vacuum cleaner for vacuuming.
3. Comprehensive cleaning, professional personnel operate professional dry cleaning equipment, carefully scrub, and repeat several times depending on the degree of dirt on the carpet.
Advantages: No need to wash with water, protect indoor furniture and electrical equipment, deeply rinse to eliminate mites and mold, extend service life, and improve air quality.
Process flow reference table:
Equipment: Dry cleaning machine, water suction machine, blow dryer
Tools: Water bucket, brush (for heavily soiled areas)
Consumables: dry cleaning agent, stain remover, cleaning powder, stain remover, 84 disinfectant
Process: uniform dry cleaning - local stain treatment - dry cleaning carpet - water absorption - dry cleaning carpet - water absorption - disinfection - drying - antifouling spray
5. Cleaning procedures for several types of carpets
(1) Dry foam cleaning (suitable for pure wool carpets)
1. Use of equipment and tools: single disc floor scrubber with carpet brush and frother, carpet comb or rake, vacuum cleaner.
2. Use material: carpet high foam cleaner.
3. Operation method:
(1) Fully vacuum with a vacuum cleaner;
(2) Use wiping method to remove stains and spots;
(3) Dilute the carpet foam cleaner and inject it into the foam box;
(4) Use hand brushes to handle the edges, corners, and areas where the machine cannot push the carpet;
(5) Use a single disc floor sweeper equipped with a frother and carpet brush to dry soak and wash carpets;
(6) Act for a while, then repeat;
(7) Using a carpet comb or rake to comb up the cilia of the carpet is very important for the appearance of the carpet, especially for cotton wool carpets with longer fibers, and it can accelerate the drying of the carpet;
(8) Let the carpet hair dry completely;
(9) Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dry foam crystals.
(2) Water washing (suitable for synthetic fiber carpets)
1. Equipment used: carpet brush, spray, water absorber, carpet cleaner;
2. Ingredients used: carpet shampoo;
3. Operation method:
(1) Fully vacuum with a vacuum cleaner;
(2) Dilute the detergent and pour it into the spray (or into the water tank);
(3) Spray cleaning agents comprehensively on the carpet;
(4) After 10-15 minutes of action, the stain will detach from the fiber;
(5) Use a floor scrubber to draw and wash the floor, walking backwards to ensure that each operating line overlaps, with at least two draws;
(6) While cleaning the carpet, use a water suction machine to clean the already washed carpet;
(7) Let the carpet dry completely. To speed up the drying of the carpet, you can start the carpet dryer.
Attention: Continuous use of high concentration strong cleaning agents can have negative effects on the carpet backing and fibers themselves. Therefore, bleach should be used last to ensure the lifespan of the carpet. The key to preventing stains from turning into permanent scars is to handle them quickly. Any liquid spilled on the carpet should be dried with white soft paper. Spread a few more layers on top, gently wipe, then step on it and repeat this step until the wiping material is saturated. Sticky things should be scraped gently with a smooth object, such as a spoon. Solid or powdered objects are most effective with a vacuum cleaner.
