1. Gold Standards: Carpet and Rug Institute
Regular professional cleaning is as important to your carpet as having a trained mechanic perform routine maintenance on your car.
What vacuuming and spot cleaning miss, extraction cleaning should fix.
Through the Seal of Approval program CRI tests deep cleaning extractors an deep cleaning systems: the ones professionals use.
The extractor is the machine, while the deep cleaning system is the combination of that machine and a particular cleaning solution, following a set procedure.
Extractors that you can purchase for home use are for cleaning spots and spills and are designed to remove surface soil only.
Although your carpet may look better after an interim cleaning, the embedded soil remains and periodic deep cleaning is still recommended. These units may be handy, but CRI does not approve them at this time.
The CRI Seal of Approval System
The CRI Seal of Approval program tests the effectiveness of deep cleaning extractors and systems. To qualify for the Seal, extractors must meet stringent standards in all three test categories:
Soil removal — CRI uses NASA-enhanced x-ray fluorescence technology to measure the precise amount of soil removed from the carpet, and soil removal efficiency is rated on three levels.
- Extractors that exceed the average soil removal level receive a Bronze Seal rating.
- Those achieving higher levels of soil removal receive a Silver rating.
- Extractors that remove the highest level of soil earn the CRI Gold Seal of Approval.
Soil removal — CRI uses NASA-enhanced x-ray fluorescence technology to measure the precise amount of soil removed from the carpet, and soil removal efficiency is rated on three levels.
Extractors that exceed the average soil removal level receive a Bronze Seal rating.
Those achieving higher levels of soil removal receive a Silver rating.
Extractors that remove the highest level of soil earn the CRI Gold Seal of Approval.
Testing Criteria include:
Water removal — The extractor or system must remove most of the moisture resulting from a wet cleaning process. Dirty water that remains in the carpet could be a source of fungal growth and could prolong the drying process.
Texture surface retention — The product must not harm the carpet pile.
Rate of resoiling — This ensures that the product does not attract dirt to the cleaned areas faster than the rest of the carpet.
pH — A more neutral pH ensures that carpet dyes and fibers are not adversely affected.\
Optical brighteners — None is allowed, as optical brighteners can leave some patches of carpet lighter than the rest.
Colorfastness — Products must not be so aggressive that they cause a color change in the carpet.
2. The (IICRC) Institute of Inspection  Cleaning and Restoration
The principles of carpet cleaning are listed in the S100 Standard and  Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning, last published by the IICRC in 2002.
The principles of carpet cleaning include:
- Dry Soil Removal – thorough vacuuming using an upright vacuum with brush agitation and high-efficiency double-lined collection bag, or a final filter, to remove up to 99% of particles at 1 micron.
- Soil Suspension – This involves the application of properly specified, formulated and mixed preconditioning agents designed to separate soil from fibers.
There are four fundamentals involved in soil suspension:
- application of preconditioning chemicals;
- using heat or temperature to speed chemical reactions;
- agitation for proper chemical distribution,
- and providing dwell time so that chemical reactions can be completed before soil extraction is attempted. The acronym “CHAT” makes the fundamentals of soil suspension easy to remember.
- Soil Extraction – Any method of cleaning must physically remove soils if it is to be successful. Soil removal takes place with absorption, wet vacuuming, rinsing, and even dry vacuuming. The most popular method for soil removal among professionals is hot water extraction.
- Grooming, as necessary – Grooming has little to do with physical soil removal; however, it is needed to eliminate pile distortion and matting, to properly distribute additives, such as carpet protectors, and to create an even appearance for your inspection.
- Drying – Damp carpet resoils rapidly, creates potential for slip-fall problems and ultimately, can grow bacteria with associated odor.
3. Your Carpet Manufacturer’s Written Warranty
Shaw Industries, StainMaster and Mohawk, Â who together manufacture over 80% of the world’s carpet, recommend hot water extraction cleaning.
This paragraph comes from the current STAINMASTER Warranty page
“To qualify for coverage under this limited warranty, you must
have had hot water extraction, performed by a trained,
qualified carpet care professional, at least every 24 months
since the date of purchase of your carpet.
(You must provide your receipts for proof of service.†)”
http://www.stainmaster.com/warranty/stainmaster_carpet_warranties.jsp
http://www.stainmaster.comimages/documents/SFC_Consumr_Warrn_20070801.pdf
Residential Carpet Cleaning
The #1 question the (IICRC) gets asked. “How often should I get my carpets cleaned?”
Answer: Frequently used carpet should be professionally cleaned by a qualified technician at least annually – perhaps a little longer interval for infrequently used carpet and even sooner for carpet in homes occupied by respiratory sensitive or allergic persons; or in homes with indoor pets.
The following chart from the IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for  Professional Carpet Cleaning serves as a guideline for recommending cleaning frequencies for carpet. They consider traffic, soil rating, vacuuming schedules, spot cleaning schedules, and professional interim and restorative cleaning.
The (IICRC) Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification
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Home / Carpet Owner |
Professional Carpet |
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Vacuuming | Spot Cleaning |
Heavy Use Interim “Area Cleaning” |
“Total Restorative Cleaning” |
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Light Soil | 1 time per week |
Daily or as soon as spots are noticed |
Traffic Areas every 12-18 months | Every 2 years or per manufacturer’s warranty |
Normal Soil Family with Kids / Elderly |
1-2 times per week |
Daily or as soon as spots are noticed |
Traffic Areas every 6-12 months | Annually (1x year) |
Heavy Soil Families with Pets / Smoking |
2-4 times per week |
Daily or as soon as spots are noticed |
Traffic Areas every 3-6 months | Every 6 months (2x year) |
Extreme Conditions Large Families, Multiple Pets |
Daily | Daily or as soon as spots are noticed |
Traffic Lanes every 2-3 months | Every 3 months (4x year) |
The following information is from the warranty booklet for Stainmaster Carpets.
STAINMASTER ULTRA LIFE® carpets are the thickest, most luxurious STAINMASTER® carpets available, combining outstanding stain and soil resistance with ultimate comfort. These carpets feature an enhanced stain warranty and additional protection against texture loss, making them the most elegant and longest lasting in the STAINMASTER® line.
Q. Why is professional cleaning important?
A. When vacuuming no longer removes all of the soil, or you have not been able to remove stains following the recommended carpet care and cleaning procedures found on pages 18–21 of this booklet, it’s time to have your carpet cleaned by a trained and qualified professional cleaner.
A reputable professional cleaner knows the latest information on carpet construction,carpet care products, and safe, effective cleaning methods to help maintain carpet beauty.
Q. How often should my carpet be cleaned?
A. We recommend professional cleaning at least every 12 months.
We require professional cleaning every 24 months to be eligible for coverage under many of the limited warranties set forth in this booklet.
Q. Is more frequent cleaning recommended with lighter carpet colors?
A. Lighter carpet shades, combined with the degree of soil build-up and the amount of traffic in the home, may require a more frequent cleaning schedule than just one professional cleaning every 12 months.
Q.Which cleaning method is recommended?
A. Steam or hot water extraction is the recommended method for deep cleaning most carpets.
Hot water extraction uses a machine to apply water and a cleaning solution (if necessary) into the carpet pile to attack the soil and greasy build-up on the carpet fibers.
A powerful vacuum then extracts the solution almost immediately. Properly performed, hot water extraction will effectively remove accumulated soil from the carpet and refresh the texture of your carpet.
Q.What should my professional cleaner know?
A. Make sure your professional cleaner knows and follows these guidelines:
1. Cleaning Requirements
- Vacuum thoroughly.
- Use professional cleaning methods with hot water extraction.
- Immediate maximum residue removal is critical.
- If solvents or pre-spotters are needed, first do a general cleaning and then, if necessary, spot clean.
2. Cleaning Solutions
- pH must be 10 or less.
- Must not contain any cationic agent as found in manybactericides, biocides, anti-stats, pesticides, etc.
- Use only enough solution to assure maximum cleaning and minimum residue.
Q. Is do-it-yourself carpet cleaning okay?
A. Professional cleaning is recommended for any carpet and is required every 24 months to maintain coverage under many of these limited warranties.
If you decide to do it yourself during an interim cleaning time period, carefully follow these guidelines:
- Use only cleaning solutions that are acceptable for use on stain and soil resistant carpet.
- Before using any cleaning solutions, pre-test for colorfastness on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet. Cationic or chemicals with a pH greater than 10 should be avoided as they may void your STAINMASTER® carpet limited warranties.
- Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. Avoid using too much detergent, as it could cause re-soiling.
- Rinse thoroughly.