When Cleaning Carpet the pH Chemistry Is Important
Remembering, it’s often quite surprising how so many of those classes we took in school have proved valuable later in life. For instance, those of us in the cleaning field are finding that a good, overall knowledge in chemistry is becoming vital to our work. The familiarity of chemistry is because of all the chemicals used in cleaning and the need to know which chemicals work best in what circumstances and why.
Carpet chemistry class
The Ph in chemistry used to test the acidity in substances actually stands for ‘potential hydrogen.’ This need for product/market knowledge is especially true in carpet cleaning. While the actual ingredients included in a carpet cleaning solution are essential, understanding the pH of the product and what it means could be even more critical. Actually, knowledge of pH is necessary to carpet cleaning technicians, allowing them to select the best product for the kinds of stains and cleaning problems they encounter.
For our understanding in the professional low moisture cleaning industry, pH is used to pertain to the relative acidity or alkalinity of a water-based solution. There is a range of 0 to 14 to indicate the pH level of a product. Acids have a pH of 0 to 7, with 0 being the absolute most acidic and 7 being neutral, which is neither acidic nor alkaline. A reading above 7 and the products become progressively alkaline.
Additionally, every point or number the pH moves in either direction away from 7, it increases by 10 times the previous figure. For instance, a product with a pH of 12 is 10 times more alkaline than a product with a pH of 11; conversely, a solution with a pH of 4 is 10 times more acidic than one with a pH of 5.
The pH of carpet cleaning.
When cleaning acidic soils, which are the absolute most common type of soils, it is recommended to use an alkaline detergent. And, to eliminate alkaline-type soils, use a cleaning solution on the acidic side of the scale, typically with a pH of 2 to 5. According to the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), for general cleaning of carpet that is moderately-soiled and made from synthetic fibers, such as those in a residential setting, an alkaline cleaner with a pH around or under 10 might work best.
When cleaning acidic soils, which are the absolute most common type of soils, it is recommended to use an alkaline detergent. And, to eliminate alkaline-type soils, use a cleaning solution on the acidic side of the scale, typically with a pH of 2 to 5. According to the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), for general cleaning of carpet that is moderately-soiled and made from synthetic fibers, such as those in a residential setting, an alkaline cleaner with a pH around or under 10 might work best.
Match Up the job
Although alkaline cleaners are used usually in carpet cleaning, there are times when an acidic product is preferred. For example, if a carpet has been shampooed, bonnet cleaned or cleaned with a carpet extractor with an insufficient vacuum system, there may be considerable amounts of alkaline detergent left in the rug. This can result in quick re-soiling because of the chemical residue functions as a magnet, drawing soil into the fibers. An acidic solution digests the alkaline residue so that it could be removed from the carpet. Often times, carpet cleaning technicians can avoid this problem by using an encapsulation system. This system uses crystal polymers found in encapsulation chemicals, which takes the oily soils and makes them dry so that ordinary vacuuming can remove them. It also helps resist re-soiling, repels dry soils as well as protects carpets from oil-, water- and alcohol-based stains.
Test the fiber
Before selecting a detergent with a specific pH level to clean carpet, technicians must know what type of carpet fiber they are dealing with. Various tests may be used, such as trimming a percentage of the thread and burning it with a butane lighter in an ashtray, to determine what kind of fiber the carpet is constructed from. Different carpet fibers will have different colors and embers when burning in addition to different odors; a wool fiber, for example, will have an orange flame and a scent of burning hair. Additionally, the ash left behind after burning can be vital in determining the type of carpet fiber.
Synthetic carpets leave a hard bead behind since they are made of plastic, while natural fibers throw off soft powdery ash. However, usually, the easiest method of determining the type of carpet fiber– or at least what should be done first– is to ask the client or manufacturer simply. Today, 95 percent of all fibers used are synthetic– nylon, polyester or olefin– with nylon being the most common. With these fibers, a cleaner with a pH of no more than 10 is recommended, and if the carpet is only lightly-soiled, a neutral detergent may be useful and even safer to use.
Test the soil
Once the kind of fiber is known, technicians need to determine what type of soil is in the carpet and the amount of soil present. As mentioned earlier, most soils on carpets are acidic, consisting of food, beverages, bodily fluids, etc. These all require a neutral to alkaline cleaner for removal. Other common soils include sand, animal hair, paper, and grass. All these could be removed with neutral or alkaline soap. However, the first and best step is to vacuum with a premium cleaner to remove as much dry soil as possible before cleaning.
Other considerations can affect the pH level of the products used to steam clean carpet. The age of the rug, color, and dyes used wear levels and whether a stain retardant has been applied are all things to consider. If available, the carpet manufacturer’s care and maintenance guide will advise what types of detergents and pH levels are not only recommended but must be used to maintain the carpet’s warranty. Additionally, the IICRC offers certification courses that address many carpet cleaning problems, including pH.
When Cleaning Carpet the pH Chemistry Is Important
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Hey, just starting my own carpet cleaning biz in the market and never thought about checking the chemistry side of things this deeply. Very helpful stuff here!
Curt@ https://www.fairfaxvacarpetcleaning.com/