Carpet Maintenance Programs
 

Establishing a professional,  comprehensive carpet maintenance program can  reduce cleaning costs and greatly extend the useful life and attractive appearance of the carpet. Regular maintenance also helps to maintain indoor air quality. Because many energy-efficient buildings now re-circulate a lower percentage of out-side air, whatever is brought into the building – including dust, dirt and allergens – remains unless it is mechanically removed. Most of it is heavier than air and falls to the carpet, where it can build up and contribute to "sick building syndrome."

A good maintenance program keeps both tracked-in and airborne soil buildup to a minimum through the establishment of staff procedures that help prevent problems and respond quickly to problems when they occur.

Install  soil-absorbing barriers at all building entrances, lobbies and elevators. These can be wipe off grates or mats. These areas  should be cleaned frequently so they don't become sources of tracked-in soil themselves.  Order extra mats and have them switched out on a regular basis. This allows for thorough cleaning and gives the mat a rest which rejuvenates the soil holding characteristics.

Dry Soil Removal
 

Daily Vacuuming   

Daily vacuuming is the key to any carpet maintenance program.  The vacuuming should be done by a two motor vacuum. This system has one motor that powers a brush and a separate vacuum motor. Disposable bags that are changed frequently is the best filtration system because the filter doesn't build up bacteria, mold and fungi. An improperly maintained dirty vacuum bag can do great harm to the indoor air quality. The airflow takes spores generated in the vacuum bag and broadcasts them all over the facility.

The vacuuming program should be in proportion to the volume and type of traffic the area supports.   Since 85% of soil is tracked in on dirty shoes, use a floor plan to anticipate where it will localize.   Identify light, medium and heavy traffic carpet areas, then match them to the maintenance schedule to establish cleaning frequency. The highest soiling rates are  in entries and track off areas where carpet and hard surfaces meet. These  include outside entrances, restrooms, shop to office connections.  Other high soiling areas are funnel areas where traffic is  channeled or heavy such as doorways, elevators, copy centers, coffee bars  and vending machines.

Elevators take the brunt of foot traffic and soiling and their maintenance is an important consideration.  Removable elevator carpets is a great plan in some cases. If this isn't possible then the cabs need their own cleaning program and it should be many times more frequent than the common corridors they service.

Some entry areas should be vacuumed several times a day with 6 or more passes each time.  More than any other factor, daily vacuuming of all high-traffic areas determines the life of the carpet. The soil literally marches into the office. Even when soil is not visible, vacuuming high-traffic areas will reduce the amount of maintenance time for carpet in more removed locations. 

Create a service plan by using a floor plan and color code areas according to their traffic. Set up frequencies for each type of area. Entries for example will need 5 times the vacuuming of the traffic areas.  The traffic areas need twice the vacuuming of the minor traffic areas. Set up the frequencies and following the plan. A vacuuming schedule should be established and implemented when the carpet is first installed. 

 Pile Lifting

It is a good idea to periodically use a power pile lifter which is a large powerful vacuum. This will help remove any larger grained heavy soil that normal vacuuming cannot remove. It has a reel type brush that helps groom and organize the pile and groom the face. These two methods properly performed will remove most of the damaging soil that is tracked into the facility.

   Carpet should receive regular deep cleaning to maintain its good looks. A carpet cleaning professional may be hired or carpet cleaning equipment may be purchased or rented for do-it-yourself cleaning.
The fiber system used should be the primary factor in selecting a cleaning method.

Preventive Maintenance

Special Spot Removal

Deep Cleaning