Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008 - (Page 10)

CarpEt CarE (continued from page 5) and bio-spot removers to remove bodily fluids and food items, such as milk. Another preventive measure is to use mats at entrances to reduce the amount of soil that settles into the carpet. Mats should be placed outside and inside all exterior doorways to catch as much soil as possible. “Five-step walk off mats”—which allow visitors to take five steps on the mat before reaching the finished floor—are a good standard for maximizing soil removal. Vacuuming and rotating mats frequently increases the effectiveness in removing particles from shoes. For those soils that do make it on the carpet, vacuuming regularly—especially in high-traffic areas—can help loosen soils from being embedded in the carpet piling. The Carpet & Rug Institute suggests choosing a vacuum cleaner that has strong enough brushes to loosen ground-in soil and enough airflow to remove particles all the way to the backing. To minimize the number of particles that settle from the air into the carpet, the cleaning staff should change air filters regularly. However, regardless of how thorough a 24/7 facility’s preventive program is, dirt will settle into the carpet. Cosmetic Cleaning and Extraction Many would agree the most effective way to clean a carpet is through extraction, but the nature of a 24/7 facility makes it difficult for this to happen frequently. To compensate and improve the appearance of the carpet, many facilities turn to bonnet cleaning for high-traffic areas. While this method does improve the overall appearance of the area, it does not effectively clean it. There’s a difference between appearance and cleanliness. Bonnet cleaning simply pushes the bulk of dirt in a soiled area deeper into the piling, making it more difficult to remove during extraction and potentially decreasing the overall life of the carpet. In fact, many carpet manufacturers discourage the practice of bonnet cleaning for this very reason. However, in a highly-scrutinized area where the perception of clean is often as important as the reality, bonnet cleaning can go a long way in keeping carpets looking acceptable between extractions. While considered the most intrusive aspect of carpet care, implementing extraction procedures on a regular basis has its advantages. First, it improves the overall appearance of the carpet, and waiting too long between extractions makes it difficult to remove a large percentage of the soils. If the housekeeping staff waits until the carpet looks dirty to extract, it’s probably too late. Extraction also removes allergens and other soils that can make guests uncomfortable from the carpeting—improving the overall guest experience. When extracting, high flow and high suction work best. Many carpet care specialists will try to reduce carpet dry times by decreasing the amount of solution used in the extraction process. This is rarely the best option since the more solution you flush through the carpet, the more soil you can get out. In this regard, carpet care is similar to laundry—water is a key component to effectiveness. One aspect of the extraction that often is a source of frustration for carpet care specialists is a phenomenon called resoiling. This happens because the surfactants used to clean the carpet will leave the fibers somewhat tacky and attract new dirt. Quality extraction cleaners can make a difference in the amount and speed of resoiling. It’s important to use products at the proper usage level and pH to maximize effectiveness. When used properly, many extraction products can remove a high percentage of embedded soils. Once 70 percent of soil is removed, carpet care specialists can actually lower the rate of resoiling, making the carpet more soil resistant than when it was new. But first, carpet care specialists need to be sure they choose the appropriate products and equipment to make this percentage of soil removal possible, since some extraction cleaners and equipment remove as little as 30 percent of soils. Carpet care specialists might also consider choosing an extraction product that has a built-in sanitizer to help control germs and resulting odors. This can be an added assurance for 24/7 facilities that have a high volume of guests. Carpets are a key visual indicator of cleanliness in many 24/7 facilities. As cleanliness is important to guest satisfaction, the attention given to keep carpets looking fresh and clean can play a large role in how guests view a facility. W Michael Kupneski is Section Head Product Development with P&G Professional in Cincinnati, OH. Kupneski, who has worked for Procter & Gamble for 15 years, is responsible for research and development for the P&G Pro Line™ and Branded cleaners. 0 Executive Housekeeping Today/October 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008� Contents Executive Corner An Easier, Greener, and Healthier Approach to Floor Care Caring for Carpets in 24-Hour Facilities Frugal Housekeeper Case Study: University of Miami My Experiences with High-Speed Machines vs. Spray Buffers Vacuum Floor Care Q&A with Andre Motta Is a Spray-and-Vac System Really Better at Cleaning and Reducing the Risk of Disease? CEU Article The IEHA/CRI Partnership The Green Scene USGBC Green Tip What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

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