Understanding the Nature of Soil and Dirt Helps Us to Understand How Extraction Cleaning WorksIn order to fully understand how extraction cleaning works, it is necessary to understand what it is you’re trying to remove: soil or dirt. Soil can be defined as an unwanted substance which detracts from the like-new appearance of a surface. The purpose of cleaning carpet is to restore this new appearance and to prolong the life of the carpet. Soils fall broadly into five major groupings: surface litter, dry dust, grit, wet soils, and oily soils. Surface litter is simply litter such as scrap paper, paper clips, staples, gum wrappers, string, cigarette butts, etc., left lying loose on the carpet by those who don’t bother to use a waste basket or ash tray. This kind of soil is usually easily removed. Dry dust comes from the air, the outdoors, furnace soot, furniture and even the new rug/carpet deodorizing powders such as “Love My Carpet” that are sprinkled on the carpet. This soil usually remains on the surface of the carpet and, due to its electronegative charge, holds onto the carpet tenaciously, resulting in a dull, dirty appearance. Most of this soil is readily removed and kept at a minimum by vacuuming, but much of it (especially the heavier particles) end up deeply imbedded in the carpet, where it attracts oil and becomes more difficult to remove. This effect is especially visible around furnace vents, windows, doors and on curtains over or above furnace vents. Incidentally, the carpet deodorizer powder just mentioned is becoming a problem to those with inferior equipment. The powder not picked up by the vacuum turns into mud when it becomes wet, and good vacuuming is needed to remove it. Grit consists primarily of sand, concrete dust, gravel and other abrasives usually brought inside on the soles of shoes. This is by far the most serious of all soils. As people walk over the carpet, their shoes rub the carpet fibers over this abrasive material, creating a sandpaper effect tearing fibers, wearing away surfaces, opening new soil collection sites, even damaging the backing. This soil is not totally removed by vacuuming or shampooing and gradually builds deep into the pile where it robs the carpet of its life. Wet soils consist of spills, stains, and mud, and are usually easily removed. However, some wet soils such as milk, juices and urine change chemically with time into very difficult soils to remove. Oily soils come from furnace oil, cooking oils, exhaust fumes, pollution and oily spills, and include chewing gum, tar, candlewax, glue, crayons and most paints. They are nearly always difficult to remove, usually requiring the use of Citrus APS™, Pro-Solve Liquid, Pro-Solve Gel with Power Gel, or Saf-T-Solv™, because they are water insoluble and have a very strong attraction for the carpet. The biggest problem with oily soils is that they act like a magnet, attracting dust and grit, making vacuuming less effective. In summary, the gritty soil gets deep into the carpet, where it grinds away the life of the fibers. Dust attracts oily soils. Wet soils change chemically with time to make removal difficult. Oily soils attract more dust and grit. Bane-Clene® systems consist of just the right combination of equipment, chemical assistance and technique to provide the optimum cleaning of all these types of soil on all carpet fibers and with the danger factor eliminated. Related Information and Articles:
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Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Understanding the Nature of Soil and Dirt
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