James Tole

Do you remember the last time your facility’s carpet was cleaned? James Tole, an instructor approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IIRC) offers advice on carpet cleaning frequencies. o you remember the last time your facility’s carpet was cleaned? James Tole, an instructor approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IIRC) offers advice on carpet cleaning frequencies. What typically prompts someone to have their carpet cleaned? For commercial work and facilities, often it is the visual look of the carpet. We all see this in many of the jobs we take. The soil build-up can be extreme, and we all know many customers have their carpet cleaned infrequently. Ignoring a regular schedule is detrimental, as regular cleaning prolongs the life of the carpet and greatly improves the indoor environment. Why do individuals typically delay carpet cleaning services? Honestly, I see this problem more often nowadays as already stated. Unless there is a significant incident or someone mentions the visible state of the floor, it isn’t top of mind. Interestingly enough, some have said they don’t recall the last time the carpet was cleaned, and then it dawns on them it’s time, so it might get scheduled. For commercial, the larger the facility, the more likely they have someone charged with a maintenance schedule. What does the IICRC recommend for carpet cleaning frequencies? Commercial carpet is generally cleaned on a program based on traffic and soil levels. A carpet lobby in a medical building may require service with low moisture cleaning, multiple times a week, while low traffic and far away sections of common corridors may receive annual or biannual cleaning. Multiple methods of cleaning are normally employed at different frequencies to control soil and maintain a high level of appearance in commercial buildings. What is the financial impact of lack of maintenance on carpeted surfaces? How can industry professionals convince those they work for to increase frequencies? The financial impact would be significant commercially. If even one small, carpeted area becomes damaged due to infrequent or neglected cleaning processes, the entire area will need to be replaced far sooner than required, maybe within only a few years. Technicians can and should modify their methods of cleaning based on low, medium, and heavy soiled areas within any property as well as within each area in order to service these areas properly. How does a strategic carpet cleaning frequency plan affect health? Cleaning simply removes the soil from the carpet. The strategic part is focusing the processes where they are best suited so we can “under clean” the areas that are lightly soiled and heavily focus on areas where they require more attention. A strategic plan for either residential or commercial targets the resources where they need to be for maximum effect. A regular cleaning program in an office with 50 cubicle work areas prevents a buildup of trafficked soils and improves the air that people are breathing daily. Controlling soils where they originate to prevent them from migrating throughout a building is far less costly than trying to restore neglected carpet. The bottom line is increasing cleaning frequency is good from many angles. The financial impact, the visual improvement, better indoor air environment, and better health are just a few important aspects to consider. Carpet is a great flooring product that needs regular maintenance just like any other surface. Learn more by watching the video below. https://youtu.be/LzJZq1VaGRo

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James Tole

IICRC-Approved Instructor

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