As a facilities manager, you are busy with the day to day handling of the 101 duties to maintain the building that you are in charge of. The last thing you need on your mind would be a spill or stain on the carpets to have to deal with.
An online survey of more than 2,000 adults on Aug. 5-9 conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Whittaker Co. found that 83% of respondents say well-maintained carpet improves their confidence in a facility’s cleanliness. If these spills or stains are not highlighted quickly enough, it could lead to heavy staining that cannot be removed by regular cleaning and may even require the replacement of the carpet.
As much as you try to complete inspections of the carpets regularly, some stains may slip under the radar and become permanent. This article is to help you keep the carpets under your charge clean and stain-free while keeping your workload to a minimum.
Well Trained Cleaning Staff
Well trained cleaning staff are your first line of defence. Basic cleaning of carpets is similar to that of cleaning any other surface, if the correct products and techniques are used the carpet can be easily maintained. The key to preventing such stains is spot cleaning. The sooner you can treat the stain spot, the better your chances of successfully removing it.
There are 2 steps to cleaning simple stains out of a carpet
Absorb the spill
Ensure you blot the liquids with an absorbent cloth without rubbing. Use clean white paper towels or cloths as coloured towels may transfer their colour onto the carpet. Continue until the area is barely damp. Semisolids, like food spills, may need to be scooped up with a spoon. Solid, dried bits can be vacuumed. DO NOT scrub or brush your stains or spots as this will not only damage the carpet and lead to the stain penetrating deeper into the carpet.
Treat the spot or stain
Use a carpet cleaning product that is compatible with your carpet fibre material and ensure you have tested it on an inconspicuous corner of your carpet first. Following the instructions on the cleaner, work the product into the spot and blot out the excess. You may have to repeat the steps a few times to remove all the staining. After the spot is gone, blot the area with clear water once or more to remove any remaining product.
Heavier stains such as dyes, glues and stains may need to have a professional cleaning done to restore the carpet.
Regular Vacuuming
In commercial settings, carpets are used by people with shoes on who can bring in dust, dirt, mud from the outdoors into the room and then track these contaminants throughout the office space. Up to 11 kilograms of dirt can be tracked in by 1,000 people coming through an entrance in just a 20-day work period. There’s a popular myth that cleaning commercial carpet too frequently will shorten the life of the carpet or make its appearance worse. This leads some managers to not clean the carpet at all or to wait until the carpet is severely soiled. In actuality, the more you clean your carpet (as long as it’s done properly) the better it will look and the longer it will last.
You can follow the following guide to help organise carpet cleaning schedules in your facility.
- Heavy traffic areas such as entrances, ground floor lobbies and common corridors that see heavy foot traffic should generally be vacuumed daily.
- Areas with medium traffic such as general office areas, cubicle areas and corridors should be cleaned 3 to 4 times a week, however, there is no harm in cleaning them more frequently especially if the weather outside is inclement. Inclement weather can lead to more dirt being tracked in.
- Lower traffic areas such as boardrooms and executive offices can be done weekly.
Preventative Cleaning
The best method to keep your carpet looking good and lasting long is having a preventative cleaning program. This is where you have professional cleaners come to your facility and clean your carpet regularly. These intervals may differ depending on the state of the carpet and the traffic condition.
Having regular preventative carpet cleaning done will help keep your carpet clean and in good shape so that even if a spill or a spot is to occur, it can quickly be removed as the fibres would be protected. This will also prevent large restorative cleaning bills that could occur if preventative cleaning is not done.
What’s Next?
Check out our other services or know more about our carpet cleaning services in Singapore.
Big Red is internationally certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Big Red’s carpet cleaners are highly trained and have a passion to deliver the best carpet cleaning service in Singapore. We also have access to sophisticated and state-of-the-art equipment as well as environmentally friendly cleaning solutions to get the dirt and grit out from deep within your carpet. With Big Red, you can rest assured that your carpets will be cleaner and healthier.
Contact Big Red Carpet Cleaners today to receive a free quotation to have your carpets professionally cleaned or restored, you can also feel free to contact our experts any time for advice on any carpet cleaning concerns you may have.
Keep your carpets clean and stain-free.
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