A growing array of chemicals forces managers to revisit their approach to a once-straightforward task

— By Glen Franklin

Not that long ago, cleaning carpet was relatively simple.

A cleaning crew used a rotary floor machine with an appropriate brush, spraying a high-foaming shampoo on the floor or applying it through a gravity-feed system from a solution tank on the handle of the machine. The crew brushed foaming solution into the carpet, which loosened soil and left the carpet looking cleaner, brighter and more attractive. Unfortunately, the result in many cases was that the carpet was more susceptible to resoiling because drying residue became sticky and caused dirt to attach more readily to carpet fibers. Soon, the carpet looked dingy and ugly.

Carpet cleaning has changed to become a science and a craft. Instead of selecting from a limited number of carpet care chemicals and systems, crews now have many different products to choose from.

Chemical advances
To take full advantage of the latest generation of carpet care chemicals, housekeeping managers should understand that they have choices. Despite what some manufacturers might claim, there isn’t just one chemical cleaner that works better on any kind of carpet and any type of soil. Consider these advances designed to give managers options:

Enzymes. One recent development is the use of enzymes in carpet cleaning chemicals. These proteins break down grease and soil into water-soluble components. Depending on the type of substance being cleaned — a fatty substance, a protein-based substance, or a starch-containing substance — different enzymes are used.

Until recently, different enzymes were not available in one product, since the protein-attacking enzyme would break down and destroy all other enzymes. Now, enzyme-based chemicals in liquid form are available that buffer two enzymes from one another without causing a loss of effectiveness. So it is now possible to use one enzyme-based product on more than one type of soil substance. This is a major improvement in making available a more inclusive enzyme cleaner, and thereby reducing the number of chemicals used.

The advantage of using enzyme-based cleaners either in powder or liquid form is that they do not clean with a high pH, or alkaline formulation, making them more user friendly and safer for the environment.

Besides their cleaning qualities, enzyme-based chemicals have odor-eating abilities that effectively digest odor-causing bacteria and microbes, rather than merely masking them with a fragrance. They work well without the use of hot-water solutions, which can be damaging to some carpets, causing fiber degradation and shrinkage.

Synthetic rinse. Another product development is a rinse agent for synthetic and wool carpets. These rinsing products use a slightly acidic formulation to neutralize high-alkaline chemicals in pre-spray solutions, removing cleaning residue and leaving fibers clean and soft. Using rinsing solutions in carpet extraction helps prevent re-soiling by better removing emulsified soil, which also leaves carpets cleaner and more sanitized.

Anti-bacterial chemicals. In facilities such as clinics, nursing homes and hospitals, anti-bacterial disinfectant chemicals can help destroy an array of infectious bacteria and microbes. When selecting such chemicals, it is wise to consider using products with low levels of odor and fragrance, especially in areas with patients who have respiratory and odor sensitivities. Products with low-emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been developed that are less irritating and do not compromise cleaning effectiveness and germ-fighting qualities.

Fabric protectors. To help protect the carpet from quick-setting stains, crews can apply fabric protectors that are sprayed onto the carpet or upholstery after cleaning. These products leave a protective film on fibers, helping them repel spills that can cause a stain. Still, all spills and spots should be removed as soon as possible for best protection against stains.

Degreasers. The standard method of cleaning — using hot-water extraction and aggressive chemicals — is preferred in some instances, such as cleaning carpeted offices in manufacturing plants or shop areas. These areas typically have a great deal of soiling from the tracking of soil and oily residues, and they might need a more aggressive chemical to remove soil. A degreasing pre-spray solution is helpful in traffic lanes to loosen and emulsify soil before extraction.

The ‘green’ question
Managers exploring all carpet cleaning chemical issues at some point must deal with the “green” issue — specifying and using products that are manufactured, packaged and sold as safe for the environment. The federal government is pushing environmental safety.

President Clinton issued Executive Order 12873 — and updated it with Order 13101 — which mandates that all federal agencies buy products and services that have a reduced threat to health and the environment.

Using carpet care chemicals that are biodegradable, phosphate free and less toxic should be the norm, not the exception. The ultimate benefit to an agency, corporation or facility is to have chemical procurement, use and disposal procedures that are part of an overall organizational strategy to use products that are safe and help sustain the environment.

Management insights
Less is more. The trend in carpet cleaning systems is to reduce the number of carpet cleaning chemicals and their application levels. Besides choosing a carpet cleaning system that uses little or no chemicals, managers can follow these guidelines to reduce the amount of chemicals used and ensure safer chemical use:

• Limit the number of chemicals workers use. Managers should find products that work best within their system of cleaning and stay with them.
  
• Educate workers on proper dilution rates. Carpet care chemicals, whether in powdered or liquid form, come highly concentrated. This means a little goes a long way. The temptation is always strong to use more than the manufacturer recommends.
  
• Reduce chemical mixing. Stress to workers that they should read the label and follow mixing instructions carefully. After all, manufacturers make their profits based partly on volume of product sold, and to exceed the amount that is recommended in solution use is foolhardy and irresponsible.
  

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Managers must make MSDS information easily accessible, and workers should periodically read and review the sheets so they have a general idea of the risks surrounding the chemicals they work with, as well as the appropriate steps to take if a chemical exposure or spill should occur.

Personal protection. Each worker using carpet care chemicals should use chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles and face shields. Also, designated staff members should regularly receive hazardous materials training, and they should receive appropriate equipment, such as respirators, protective clothing, and absorbent chemical-recovery supplies.

Using carpet care chemicals successfully takes research, training and common sense. The challenges for managers are to learn about options, use products that best meet facilities’ needs, and use the safest products available. Time spent on research and planning will ensure fewer problems, cleaner and longer-lasting carpets, and a safer environment, all of which is worth the effort.

Glen Franklin is a floor care consultant based in Snohomish, Wash.