Over their life span, contract carpets are subjected to extensive soiling and heavy wear.  Kircman & Dolman  products are designed to minimise the visible effects of everyday wear and tear but in order to maintain their good looks it is important that an ongoing plan of carpet maintenance is implemented from the day of installation.  This plan consists of 3 elements:

Preventative Maintenance  * Carpet Selection

                                             * Barrier Matting

Careful selection of the carpeting ensuring its suitability to the area in which it is to be laid is essential, It is also important to consider the colour and what level of maintenance is likely to be required to maintain its prime condition.  Barrier matting may be an option to be considered in order to minimise the amount of soiling actually reaching the carpet.

Regular Maintenance         * Vacuuming

                                             * Spot/stain removal

Daily vacuuming and removal of spots and stains is essential to maintain good long-term appearance retention.       

Periodic Maintenance        * Deep Cleaning

Periodic cleaning of the carpeting, by whatever method is most suitable for the carpet and the location, should be pre-planned according to level of traffic and occupancy patterns.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

CARPET SELECTION

When choosing a carpet consideration should be given to many aspects including budget, availability, performance and design.  The level of priority attributed to each consideration depends on the specific contract, however it is essential that the chosen carpet is suitable for its intended use. In order to maintain a good long-term appearance the following factors should be taken into consideration:

• FIBRE     -    It is essential to choose the right fibre to suit the specific contract to ensure high performance and long term appearance retention.

• CONSTRUCTION   -    Another factor to consider is the suitability of the carpet construction, i.e. do you need Heavy Contract or General Contract carpet?

• Choosing a suitable colour has a major bearing on long term appearance; i.e. darker colours, also patterned or stippled carpets will hide soiling more effectively.

BARRIER MATTING

The greatest volume of soiling will be introduced into a building via the entrance.  By installing effective barrier matting the majority of this soiling can be removed at source.  Barrier matting removes particles of dirt from the soles of footwear and will absorb dirt-laden moisture.

When considering barrier matting the following should be taken into account:

• SIZE      The more steps taken on the matting the more effectively it will work.  It is important the correct matting is selected if it is to be incorporated in entrance lobbies/reception areas.
• POSITION  Matting should be used at all external entrances and also at junctions between areas of hard flooring and carpet where soil deposits are likely to build up, i.e. workshops, warehouses, factory floors etc.
• MAINTENANCE   Mats must be serviced/cleaned regularly to ensure they function effectively.  Matting that is allowed to clog up will exacerbate soiling.

Some form of matting is recommended for vending or wet areas.  Ideally Kircman & Dolman  recommend that vending machines are sited on resilient flooring such as vinyl or linoleum sheet where spillage’s can be removed with ease.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

VACUUMING

The basis of good maintenance is the removal of light dust which lies on the surface of the carpet pile and heavier soiling that gets trapped by the pile fibres and subsequently causes the carpet pile to flatten and appear dull and colourless.  This soiling must be removed regularly, the frequency should be determined by the level of traffic in specific areas of a building.

When vacuuming a carpet it is important the correct method is adopted:

»      A contract upright vacuum cleaner with brush and beater action should always be used;

»      Ensure the brush mechanism is adjusted correctly;

»      Do not move too quickly as this will reduce the efficiency of the cleaner;

»      Vacuum in 2 directions, the second at a right angle to the first;

»  Ensure the machine is emptied and the filters cleaned regularly to maximise the performance of the cleaner.

STAIN REMOVAL

It is important that stains are treated promptly because, over time, the stain may chemically transform thus making it impossible to remove.

• Use absorbent white cloths or tissue pads;
• Pour the stain remover onto the cloth, never directly onto the carpet
• Soak up the stain by dabbing, always working from the outside to the middle, continuing until no more of the stain is apparent on the cloth;
• Then sponge, using a clean dry cloth, over the area from where the stain has been removed;
• Rinse and sponge the area to remove any residue of the stain remover;
• Firmly place an absorbent tissue pad on the area to soak up any residual moisture;
• Brush or vacuum the area.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

CARPET CLEANING

Carpet cleaning can be carried out on either an ad hoc basis, i.e. if the carpet looks dirty then clean it, or as part of an overall planned maintenance scheme.  This should always be done by professional carpet cleaners as significant damage can be caused to the appearance and performance of a carpet if not cleaned properly.

The most suitable method of cleaning the carpet depends on the type and construction of carpet, level of traffic and the regularity of cleaning.  The main methods of cleaning are:

POWDER CLEANING     Dry powder is brushed into the carpet.  This powder consists of tiny sponges that absorb dirt and soiling and are removed by thorough vacuuming.  N.B.  Whilst with this method there is no need to wait for carpets to dry out, you must ensure that vacuuming is thorough as residual powder left in the carpet will resoil quickly.

This type of cleaning is effective if done on a regular basis but should be supplemented periodically by deep cleaning (see below).                                     

COVER CLEANING  -  A detergent solution is sprayed over the surface of the carpet and also over a fabric cover until moist.  The fabric cover is then placed on a rotating flat brush head and passed across the carpet surface.  The rubbing action and the detergent solution together lift out much of the soiling, which is absorbed into the cover.  The floor is dry within minutes thereby disruption is kept to a minimum.

DEEP CLEANING (SHAMPOOING) - The carpet is brushed with a chemically active detergent solution, which loosens and lifts out soiling which has clung to the fibres.  Foam then causes the soil to rise to the surface of the carpet.  Brushing the carpet can be carried out by either using a cylindrical brush rotating on a horizontal axle, which is kinder to the pile and ideal therefore for cut pile carpet tiles, or by using a flat disc brush which is ideal for loop pile carpets.

DEEP CLEANING (INJECTION/EXTRACTION)  -  A water jet is directed over the textile floor covering in order to dislodge soil and then vacuum the fluid away.  The water can be warm or cold, with or without detergent depending on the nature of the clean.  It is recommended that the floor covering is rinsed a second time to remove any residue detergent (if used).  This process achieves good results and will renovate the pile of the carpet.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CARPET IS NOT OVER WET WHEN USING THE DEEP CLEANING PROCESS AS THIS COULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE CARPET.

It is recommended that a combination of the two methods of deep cleaning is used in order to remove any residual soiling and detergent

PLANNED MAINTENANCE

There are significant benefits to be gained from pre-planning a complete carpet maintenance programme:

¨    The appearance of the carpet remains consistently good over a longer period of time;

¨    The carpet will last longer because the pile fibre has not been damaged by accumulated soiling;

¨    Maintenance costs can be accurately budgeted for.

A schedule for regular and periodic maintenance of carpeting should be established and thereby implemented by staff, sub-contract cleaners and professional cleaners.  Detailed below is an example of such a cleaning schedule, which would be suitable for a heavy traffic office.