Carpet care
This guide is provided as a guide only and we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to a carpet as a result of using this guide. In all cases, the advice of a professional is necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact us to obtain their contact details.
Carpet is a textile product, and it is the interior decoration that suffers the worst treatment. That's why it's important not only to make and install it, but also to maintain its appearance. The best protection is regular maintenance, which will help your carpet to age gracefully.
NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEW CARPET
Your new carpet may have certain visual characteristics that are normal, but may be unfamiliar to you:
Shimmer - All carpets (woven, tufted, fusion-laminated or handmade) are subject to a natural phenomenon known as 'shimmer' or 'moiré', which can be unpleasant. This state of affairs can neither be predicted nor prevented. It causes a permanent change in the appearance of the carpet, usually within 2-6 weeks of installation. This is by no means a manufacturing defect and does not affect the quality or life of the carpet.
The 'shaded' appearance of the carpet is due to the different ways in which light reflects off the side of the yarns and the top of the yarns when the pile leans in opposite directions. Some areas will appear light in one direction and dark in the opposite direction. These shaded areas, which usually look curved, will disappear if you look at them vertically.
De-bonding - The presence of loose fibres in a freshly cut pile carpet is normal. The number of loose fibres is relatively small compared to the total fibre count of the carpet and is of no consequence. Your regular vacuuming programme will remove them without damaging the carpet.
DAILY AND PERIODIC PROCEDURES
An effective maintenance programme should include two essential phases: firstly, daily procedures that include regular vacuuming and stain removal; secondly, scheduled thorough cleanings to remove dirt that discolours the carpet and refresh the pile.
General wear and tear not only causes discolouration, it also has another undesirable characteristic. A carpet that is not cleaned and reconditioned in a timely manner, even if vacuumed regularly, will tend to sag and flatten. As grease from kitchen fumes and air pollutants settle on the carpet, the pile yarns eventually become impregnated and stick together, flattening out when the carpet is walked on. This flattened carpet then looks worn, even if there is no real alteration to the pile. Because of the deterioration in its appearance, it will seem necessary to replace the carpet even if it is not worn.
Use of door mats, runners or covers
For preventive maintenance, mats should be used in all entrances to the boat and exit areas from the galleys to catch dirt before it settles on the carpet. These mats can be hard bristle brush mats or cut from the same carpet to match the overall décor.
The carpets themselves should be vacuumed daily and cleaned and/or changed at least once a week.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
Your carpet will start getting dirty the moment it's installed, so your maintenance strategy needs to be clear from day one. It will help you control the build-up of aggressive soil, which is imperative.
VACUUMING SCHEDULES AND EQUIPMENT
Vacuuming is time-consuming and inconvenient, but it's the most economical way of preserving the appearance of your carpets.
You should use a professional, robustly-built upright hoover with mechanically-operated brushes and two motors. These brushes are more effective than the "beater brushes" used in commercial establishments. You can also use the more powerful "velour remodeller" type hoovers before and/or after your intermediate cleaning, to achieve optimum velour restoration.
To vacuum properly, three to five slow passes over the same area are essential. Hoover brushes should be cleaned and replaced as soon as they become dirty or worn.
REMOVING STAINS AND DIRT
To achieve a good result, you need to identify the stain and react immediately. By knowing the exact cause of the stain from the outset, without making assumptions, you can immediately start the right treatment without wasting time or making things difficult.
The longer the stain "stays", the more difficult it is to remove. If the stain remains on the carpet untreated for too long, it can have a negative impact on the carpet dyes and cause permanent discolouration. An emergency maintenance team with full cleaning equipment (including a range of stain removers) will be required for a good maintenance strategy. Depending on the fibre type, certain stain and soil removal procedures are recommended.
When cleaning stains, we strongly recommend that you adopt an absorption process rather than rubbing vigorously, which could lead to felting of the texture.
You can find recommendations for dealing with specific stains at www.carpet-rug.com or at the end of this document.
Daily and periodic procedures
An effective maintenance programme should include two essential phases: firstly, daily procedures that include regular vacuuming and stain removal; secondly, scheduled thorough cleanings to remove dirt that discolours the carpet and refresh the pile.
General wear and tear not only causes discolouration, it also has another undesirable characteristic. A carpet that is not cleaned and reconditioned in a timely manner, even if vacuumed regularly, will tend to sag and flatten. As grease from kitchen fumes and air pollutants settle on the carpet, the pile yarns eventually become impregnated and stick together, flattening out when the carpet is walked on. This flattened carpet then looks worn, even if there is no real alteration to the pile. Because of the deterioration in its appearance, it will seem necessary to replace the carpet even if it is not worn.
Use of door mats, runners or covers
For preventive maintenance, mats should be used in all entrances to the boat and exit areas from the galleys to catch dirt before it settles on the carpet. These mats can be hard bristle brush mats or cut from the same carpet to match the overall décor.
The carpets themselves should be vacuumed daily and cleaned and/or changed at least once a week.
Detergent solutions
Cleaning carpets with aggressive detergents can be dangerous. The use of inappropriate cleaning products can cause the colour of the carpet to fade or discolour. In any case, before using an unfamiliar detergent, try it on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet to check that it will not affect the colour. When cleaning your hard floors around the carpet, take care not to splash or spray these detergents onto the carpet. The best method is to test the pH of detergent solutions with a simple test you can get from specialist aquarium or pool/spa shops.
Neutral or alkaline detergents often leave a sticky residue that creates ideal conditions for the carpet surface to quickly resoil. Detergents that dry to form hard particles that can be easily vacuumed up are best. You can carry out a quick test by putting equal quantities of the solution on a flat plate and leaving them to dry until they have evaporated completely. Check the residue with your finger. If the cleaner is waxy or sticky, the carpet will quickly become dirty again and it may be better to avoid it.
Never double the dose of detergent to obtain a better result. Quantity does not always mean better results. If you use higher doses of cleaning products than instructed, the carpet may become soiled more quickly, the cleaning will be less effective and you will be wasting money.
If you have to deal with a heavy build-up of detergent residue, the most effective way is to clean the carpet with hot water (without adding detergent). It may also be helpful to add about 2% of a mild acid, such as white vinegar, to your water to loosen the alkaline detergent residue. To remove this residue, you will need to include a clean with clean water, as mentioned above, in the maintenance programme that replaces cleaning with detergent, every 3 or 4 cleanings.
FIBRES
Industrial Nylon absorbs moisture less easily. Detergents that are alkaline, between pH 7 and 10, can better remove grease and dirt from these fibres, but must be tested on each colour.
Wool and wool blends - wool fibres can be cleaned using any method, but it is best to avoid using too vigorous a method or too high a temperature. Bleach and alkalis easily damage wool. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents (pH 5 - 8) and dried quickly to prevent yellowing or browning.
Special fibres :
- Silk
- Viscose
- Cotton
- Linen
These fibres need to be cleaned with as little moisture as possible and dried quickly. Too much moisture or too long a drying time will lead to physical and/or aesthetic problems that will be irreparable. Cleaning products should have a pH between 4.5 and 5.5.
As with other fibres and cleaning products, test a corner of the carpet beforehand to ensure colourfastness.
While the carpet is still damp, it should be combed with a special carpet brush. If you don't comb the carpet, it may look ugly.
Cotton bath mats - Cotton bath mats are machine washable.
PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANING - FREQUENCY AND NATURE OF INTERVENTIONS
The instructions in the table have been drawn up by the ICCNR (Institut de Contrôle, de Certification de Nettoyage et de Rénovation). They will help you to determine the right frequency for cleaning carpets, both from a hygienic point of view and for aesthetic reasons, in order to preserve their appearance.
Owner / Responsible for carpet maintenance | Professional carpet cleaning/renovation service | |||
Traffic estimates | Vacuuming | Spot cleaning | Intermediate maintenance (between Renovation Cleanings | Renovation Cleaning |
Light traffic (< 500 steps per day) | 1 to 2 times a week | Every day, or as soon as you notice stains | 1 to 3 times a year | 1 to 2 times a year |
Medium (moderate) traffic (500 - 1000 steps per day) | every day in high-traffic areas and generally 3 to 4 times a week | Every day, or as soon as you notice stains | 3 to 6 times a year | 2 to 4 times a year |
Heavy traffic (1000 - 2500 steps per day) | every day in high-traffic areas and generally 4 to 7 times a week | Every day, or as soon as you notice stains | 6 to 12 times a year | 3 to 6 times a year |
Heavy traffic (> 2500 steps per day) | 1 to 2 times a day in high-traffic areas and generally 7 times a week | Every day, or as soon as you notice stains | 6 to 12 times a year | 3 to 6 times a year |
Note: Although these are general guidelines, you should be aware that the frequency of maintenance will vary from establishment to establishment, depending on traffic, dirt build-up and usage. Common sense, experience and sound judgement will help you choose the right care programme for your carpet. Each programme depends on use, climate and desired appearance.
It is important to define your regular maintenance programme, which will be followed by qualified and experienced employees. Your cleaning frequency will depend on how often dirt accumulates as a result of frequent passageways, as well as the correct application of preventive protection methods. Obviously, some areas require more regular cleaning than others, such as entrances and main passageways.
In some establishments, better results can be achieved by combining several cleaning methods. You can define this in your initial programme and analyse your establishment and its needs, depending on the different areas of the establishment.
PERIODIC CLEANING METHODS
There are many effective methods for cleaning carpets on site. You hear about them all the time with a lot of hype. Nevertheless, the methods we suggest below will give you excellent results if used correctly as part of a rational regular maintenance programme.
- Hot water stain removal
- Dry foam with
- Aspiration
- Dry cleaning
- Rotating bonnet / Tampon
- Absorbent
- Cleaning products
Warning: the rotating action of the rotating cap or any rotating brush equipment can deform the velvet yarn if the equipment is not used properly.
HARD SURFACES BETWEEN CARPET SECTIONS
Carpets next to hard floor areas often get dirty more quickly and are more difficult to clean. This is the case for passages between the kitchen and food preparation areas and carpeted areas. Doormats should be placed at strategic points on hard surfaces to collect dirt and prevent it from becoming embedded in the carpet.
Hard surface cleaners should never be used on carpets and great care should be taken not to splash or spray them on the carpet, even accidentally. This type of cleaning product generally has a high pH level which can damage the carpet and, furthermore, it can leave a residue on the carpet which will accelerate carpet soiling. If any is accidentally spilt on the carpet, it should be removed immediately with damp towels or a damp sponge and then blotted with dry towels to remove it completely and, if necessary, repeated.
Sources :
The Carpet and Rug Institute, New Zealand Wool, Superior Rubber Mfg (NO-TRAX), Racine Industries (Host), Windsor Industries, ICCNR, BASF Fibres