Protecting and extending the lifespan of carpets

Carpeting is a big investment that businesses make to ensure their work environments are professional and comfortable and remains a popular choice for noise insulation.

According to leading carpet manufacturer, Belgotex, the total amount of carpeting sold in South Africa is estimated to be about 12 million square metres per year. Proper carpet care can, however, be a complicated part of commercial cleaning and facility management, especially in high visitor traffic areas.

Industroclean Managing Director, Emma Corder, says that longevity and ease of care are the top considerations that need to be made when choosing a commercial carpet. “Whatever you choose, make sure that it’s rated for commercial use,” she advises. “Commercial carpeting is usually denser and tougher, so would have a greater lifespan than that of carpeting solutions for homes.”

Creating a thorough maintenance plan is considered to be key to extending the life of a carpet and plays a role in ensuring a healthier workplace for employees. Corder has the following tips for cleaning and maintaining commercial carpets:

Keeping dirt out: walk-off or entrance matts

Preventing dirt from spreading throughout the office should start at the entrance. This can be done by using matting or walk-off tiles. This is one of the most important maintenance tasks that can be done in a facility. It could be as simple as placing a welcome mat in the doorway. Bigger mats are, however, more efficient for getting rid of dirt from shoes before entry.

Traditional matting is said to be suited to offices with designated cleaning staff who monitor and maintain it to prevent accidents, while walk-offs might be better for an office with no supervision in place.

Soil-wicking

Soil wicking occurs as water evaporates and dirt remains on the surface of the carpet. Using too many chemicals and water increases the chance of soil wicking occurring. It is, therefore, important be armed with efficient spot removal and carpet cleaning techniques. Managers have to provide cleaning staff with the right chemicals and cleaning equipment to tackle stains and spillage. Using the wrong product can be disastrous, while the right machine can easily save the day. The use of a solvent-based product before a water-based product is recommended when it is unclear what has caused a stain. Remember, the wrong chemical will seal in the stain.

Different options for easier maintenance

Carpeting experts recommend carpet tiles for offices, as they are easier to replace. Textured carpets, on the other hand, can be treated for further stain resistance, during the manufacturing process, and are thought to be perfect for high-traffic parts of the office. The texture allows for easy stain removal, hides imperfections caused by wear and tear, and less likely to trap odours since dirt isn’t easily absorbed.
Treat spots, stains and spills with urgency
Accidents happen really quickly, so take immediate action when there’s been any spillage on carpets to reduce permanent damage. Find the correct carpet cleaning solution that will remove the spot effectively without discolouration.

Vacuuming every day makes a difference

Vacuuming on a daily basis, especially in area where traffic volumes are high, will keep carpets looking fresh. Draw up a schedule for this if you don’t have a daily office cleaner. This will be more efficient than leaving it for a monthly or weekly clean. Identify the most suitable vacuum cleaner for your carpet type and business space and make sure that the relevant staff members know how to use it correctly.
Deep cleaning is essential

Schedule a deep clean for your business at least twice a year to get rid of dirt that may have set in overtime. A vacuum cleaner only sucks up dirt on the surface, so you’re only getting to a small fraction of the dust trapped. By deep cleaning your carpets, you can remove all hidden stains, allergens and stains that a vacuum cleaner isn’t able to get to. This helps to restore the carpet to its original condition and will extend its life. This should be left to professionals, so if you don’t have in-house maintenance facilitators, book your carpet deep cleaning sessions with a carpet cleaning company.

“Industroclean stocks a variety of vacuum cleaning solutions suited for all carpet types, from machines that extract dry dirt to ones that remove sticky dirt and residue,” Corder concludes.