Perception can be reality. This is especially true when it comes to the appearance of your carpets and upholstery in your commercial facility in the DC metro region.

If your carpets and upholstery appear to be dirty then building occupants and visitors will get the impression that your facility is not clean. And this is not an impression you want them to have.

With the winter season soon coming to an end, now is a good time to schedule a restorative cleaning of your carpets and upholstery to extract the dirt, sand, salt, and debris trapped within carpet fibers. Not only will your carpets and upholstery look better, but you will also improve the indoor health of your facility by removing potentially harmful substances that pollute the environment.

Of course, when seeking a cleaning you want to make sure you go with a provider that does not damage your carpets and upholstery. Companies certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) know how best to avoid these mistakes, especially when it comes to your carpets.

Professionally certified and reputable companies will also know which process to best recommend and employ. With your carpets for instance, there are various processes that can be used.

If your carpets haven’t been cleaned in a while then typically wet cleaning via hot water extraction is the preferable option to go with. With this method, a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into the carpet and then extracted immediately back out of your carpet. This process can be performed using either a portable machine or truck mount. Your upholstery can also be restoratively cleaned using this method, or by using a steam cleaning method – depending on the number of chairs you need cleaned.

If you happen to have carpet tiles or sensitive wiring underneath your carpet, then using a low moisture encapsulation (LME) method is recommended. The LME method is a newer technology in which encapsulation carpet chemicals are manufactured with ingredients that do not leave a harmful sticky residue on your carpet. They also have a crystalline polymer included that is designed to trap and hold any remaining soil that is left behind in the cleaning process. When the carpet dries, the crystalline and soil are vacuumed up during the next dry cycle.

The LME method is also a good interim cleaning/maintenance process to have scheduled in between hot water extraction cleanings. The encapsulation cleaning keeps carpets cleaner for longer periods of time compared to other methods, and this method also avoids the drying time of carpet extractions as carpets can be immediately walked on.

Hot water extraction and the LME method are two of the most common processes Mister Kleen recommends, but there are other methods that can also be used when restoratively cleaning your carpets.

Cylindrical cleaning for instance is a less aggressive process that can be used for short piled carpets. This process uses a cylindrical coil rotary brush designed to extract lint and debris.

Rotary and extraction cleaning is another method that can be used. When using this method, matted stains are easily deep cleaned and restored as special rotary extraction power heads are used to remove all remaining residue. The rotary and extraction method can be an excellent choice to use when seeking to restore heavily soiled carpets back to their original condition.

Then there is the dry cleaning process – also known as the very low moisture (VLM) method. With VLM, an absorbent (often a biodegradable compound) is evenly spread over carpets then brushed or scrubbed in. When using this method, carpets can be cleaned during business hours as they dry quicker. Also, the VLM system is less labor intensive and better for the environment as trips to the janitor’s closet to fill and dump water is no longer needed.

Of course, these are just some of the recommended processes to consider when having a professional restorative cleaning from an IICRC certified provider.

In conjunction with making sure your carpets and upholstery are receiving frequent restorative cleaning, you also want to make sure you are doing what is necessary to help prevent an overabundance of dirt, debris, salt, and sand accumulation from making its way onto your carpets.

Below are a few tips to help preserve your carpets:

• Make sure every entrance to your facility has a welcome mat outside the door, and a small runner or rug inside. These coverings will take care of most debris that could be tracked onto your carpets.
• Vacuum your carpets frequently. If you create and follow a regular vacuuming schedule you can reduce the amount of dirt collected in the carpet fibers.
• Regulate heat and minimize the use of humidifiers to help preserve the longevity of clean carpets.

Don’t let dirty carpets and upholstery ruin your facility image. Schedule to have your carpets and upholstery restoratively cleaned using a reputable and IICRC certified company today.

Mister Kleen is a leading provider of contract cleaning services to Commercial and High Security facilities since 1976. Our primary service area is the DC Metro region. We also provide a variety of interior and exterior specialty services.

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit organization that certifies and develops standards for inspection, cleaning and restoration among building service contractors. The IICRC also serves as a valuable consumer referral source for certified technicians and firms, of which Mister Kleen is a member.