Printed Carpet Maintenance Checklist

1.  IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS ALL SOURCES OF SOILING

• Parking lots/entrances: By maintaining a clean exterior, dirt coming in the building will be minimized.

• Transition areas (hard surface to carpet): Clean frequently to prevent soil from tracking to carpet.

• Food service areas/restrooms/water coolers: Matting may be required in areas where moisture, oil and grease are present.

2.  USE ENTRY MATS (KEEP DIRT OUTSIDE)

• Two mat categories

1. Soil removal – used at exterior entrances to remove soil from shoes

2. Absorbent mats – used inside to prevent moisture from getting on the carpet

• Eighty percent of soil brought into a building can be trapped in the first twelve feet after stepping on a carpeted surface.  Additional matting will be necessary during inclement weather.

• ​Keep mats clean (mats must be properly placed throughout the facility and maintained on a regular basis).

3.  VACUUM (THE MOST IMPORTANT PROCESS IN YOUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM)

• 80 to 85 % of dry soil can be removed by proper vacuuming.

• Select vacuum cleaners certified in the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval (SOA) / Green Label Vacuum Cleaner Program (www.carpet-rug.org)

• Commercial, dual-motor upright, top-loading vacuums are recommended.

• Maintain working condition of vacuums with special attention to the bag (empty when 1/2 to 2/3 full).

4.  PROMPTLY ADDRESS SPOTS AND SPILLS

• Spot removers with a pH between 6 and 8 are preferred.

• Use general soil spot removers, like Shaw Total Care, for most common spots and spills. To order, call 1.877.209.7309 or contact your representative. Additional cleaning agents are listed in the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval (SOA) Program (www.carpet-rug.org).

• Use solvent spotters for oil/grease (petroleum-based spots). Solvent gels preferred. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations when using solvents. Rinsing may be necessary.

• Use specialty products (www.proschoice.com) for set stains where color has been added or altered.

1. CTI Pro’s Choice Red Relief Wool Formula(acid dye stains – colored soft drinks, medicines, etc.)

2. CTI Pro’s Choice Stain Magic Wool Formula(organic dye stains – coffee, tea, mustard, etc.)

5.  USE INTERIM SYSTEMS TO MANAGE APPEARANCE

• Encapsulation – process using CRI SOA cleaning agents with a pH between 6 and 8 and a dual-cylindrical counter- rotating brush machine for agitation.

1. Always pre-vacuum.

2. Hot water extraction recommended after every third or fourth encapsulation.

• Walk behind extractors - use CRI approved cleaning agents, be sure to operate at lowest speed.

• NOTE: Bonnet cleaning is NOT recommended!

6.  FOLLOW DEEP CLEANING PROCESS

• Hot Water Extraction Process:

1. Always pre-vacuum.

2. Apply an approved pre-spray cleaning agent certified in the CRI (SOA) Program with a pH between 6 and 8.

3. Agitate with mechanical brush and allow 10 minutes dwell time.

4. Extract with hot water. We recommend CRI Gold Rated Equipment. Do not use machines that recycle water.

• Examples of Equipment:

1. Truck mount units maintain higher pressure and temperature

2. High flow extractors

3. Portable box and wand – minimum 200 psi and approximately 1 gallon of water flow per minute

• To prevent wicking use air movers to expedite drying. Be sure facility HVAC is on during cleaning and remains on for at least 12 hours afterward.

7.  RESOURCES

• Shaw’s M.A.C. (Maintenance and Cleaning) Advantage web-based training program is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-y6NbFUos&list=PLPIvybF4GS2XOHTVtGL_soZZ_Ni0hyr9D

• For technical assistance or maintenance related questions contact Inforum at 1.800.471.7429.

•  This chart represents a general guideline; your program should be customized to your specific conditions.

•  Extra heavy traffic and soiling conditions require more frequent attention.

•  NOTE: Use of a pile lifter may be a consideration. Pile lifting helps restore the surface pile yarns and helps
  remove embedded dry sand and soil.
  Revision: 01/27/2015