FAQs

In the last three decades, concern over the quality of indoor air has increased. Homes, schools, and offices have been made more airtight in efforts to reduce energy costs. Reduced fresh air exchanges and more time spent indoors have increased exposure to airborne contaminants. At the same time, although not necessarily related, there has been an epidemic increase in asthma and allergies. Airborne particles, allergens or chemicals can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

Carpeting has been an integral part of the indoor environment. Studies now show that in addition to providing warmth and reducing noise, carpet acts as a filter. Its dense fibre construction has the ability to trap and retain airborne dust, allergens, small particles and fumes, keeping these contaminants and allergens out of the air you breathe.

Particles, pollen, dander and allergens, which are all light enough to be carried with the wind and too small to be seen, move around the indoor and outdoor air. Eventually, they settle out on horizontal surfaces. Although dust on bookcases and floors is easily seen, settled dust in carpet is not as visible. According to published research in the American Industrial Hygiene Journal by the University of Public Health in St. Louis, Missouri, carpet is perhaps the most important reservoir of airborne dust, and its contained allergens. The retention or “trapping effect” of carpet keeps contaminants and allergens out of the air.

Reports of biocontaminants found in carpet dust samples have often been taken as evidence that carpet is the source of these contaminants, and will release them into the air. But studies that have taken air and surface samples now show the reverse is true. A year-long study in two non-problem schools comparing hard flooring vs. carpet flooring, found significantly higher airborne levels of biocontaminants over the tiled floors than over carpet. Compared to hard floors, studies now show that when carpets are regularly cleaned, their capacity to hold settled dust and allergen out of the breathing zone is most effective.

When an air filter is working, it becomes full with use, and this trapped load diminishes its capacity to filter. Although most people routinely replace furnace filters and vacuum cleaner filters, they do not replace carpet very often. Instead, they clean carpet. Research also shows regular carpet maintenance maximizes the ability to trap particulates as they settle from the air.

Most people are aware that indoor air quality is a major issue in many homes, but do we really know the facts? Please read some of the indoor air quality facts that are listed below, you will probably be quite shocked:

• Most homes generate about 40 pounds of dust per year for every 1,500 square feet of space
• About 40,000 dust mites, a common cause of household allergies, can be found in only one ounce of dust
• Because they breathe faster than adults, children inhale 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults and are especially sensitive to air quality problems
• The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health
• EPA studies indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be 25 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. In general, indoor air is four to five times more polluted than outdoor air
• More than 15 million Americans are estimated to have asthma, including one in 13 school aged children
• In the last 30 years, the number of people with asthma has gone up by almost 60%
• Over 2.6 million Canadians over age 12 and 12% of children under 12 suffer from asthma-related breathing problems

While some minor stains can be removed if properly spot cleaned, the best results can only be achieved with professional carpet cleaning services. This is because we have the training, expertise and special products tailored to specific spills, thus greatly increasing the likelihood of the stain being removed properly and without damage to the carpet.

If you attempt to clean the stain yourself, avoid using any household products on your carpets, area rugs or upholstered furniture as they WILL cause permanent damage that might only show up days or weeks later or during a cleaning. People often attempt spot removal with cleaning agents made for hard surfaces (eg: Windex®, Fantastic Spray) or for clothing (eg: Shout®, Wisk). These cleaners may discolour and damage your rug, carpet and upholstery.

Spotters made for carpet and or upholstery cleaning may be used as long as manufacturer’s instructions are implicitly followed. Realize though, that these are “Band-Aid” solutions and not a replacement for professional cleaning.

Just as you wouldn’t use spotters on spills that occurred on your clothing and consider the item to be clean without it being washed, a carpet that is spotter-cleaned is not thoroughly clean and will still harbor residue from the cleaning product and from the initial spill.

Our recommended cleaning procedure (after blotting up all you can with a clean terrycloth towel) is the use of a solution made of one drop only of dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar, mixed into one cup (8 ounces) of warm water. DO NOT POUR solution onto carpet. Dip a clean terrycloth rag into the solution. Use a rubber mallet or even the heel of a shoe to tamp the damp cloth containing the solution onto the carpet fibres. Keep doing this and changing the cloth until no colour is being transferred to the cloth. After each application of the detergent and water, be sure to blot any excess moisture with a clean white cloth. Always blot from the outer edge of the stain, moving towards the middle to prevent spreading. Do not scrub, as this could damage the fibres and cause fraying. On more difficult stains or larger areas, you will require a professional cleaning.

Insecticides that are sprayed along baseboards can create a colour change as well but will only be apparent after cleaning! Avoid the following dye damaging products near your valuable rugs: pool chemicals, dry bleaches, disinfectants, fade creams, pesticides, plant food, dandruff shampoo, tile cleaners, chlorine bleach, mildew fighters, glass cleaners and floor strippers. Many of these products when spilled don’t show the effects until heat and moisture is applied. In many cases, the colour loss is permanent and expensive spot dyeing or repair is the only remedy that may be considered.

It is important that you inform us of any “home methods” and products used so that we know what products and procedures are required to ensure a fresh, clean, healthy and non-damaged carpet.

Applying a carpet protectant after professional cleaning plays an important role in maintaining carpets and upholstery over time. Most carpets manufactured today leave the mill with a protective treatment already applied. That protection gradually wears down through foot traffic, vacuuming, and regular use, which is why reapplying it after cleaning is often recommended.

Many people assume a protectant is mainly about stain prevention. While stain resistance is part of the benefit, the larger purpose is fibre protection. When carpet fibres are unprotected, soil and grit settle in more easily and act like abrasives. Over time, this contributes to fibre breakdown and visible wear, especially in high-traffic areas.

A properly protected carpet allows soil to release more easily during vacuuming instead of binding tightly to the fibres. This helps reduce long-term wear and supports the appearance standards many manufacturers expect when offering extended wear warranties.

Green Guard Carpet Protectant also helps with spill management. Liquids tend to stay on the surface longer, giving you more time to blot them up before they soak in. While no protectant makes carpet stain-proof, this added response time often prevents everyday spills from becoming permanent stains. Results still depend on the type of spill, the amount, and how quickly it is addressed.

Green Guard Carpet Protectant helps by:

• Slowing liquid absorption
• Reducing how tightly soil bonds to fibres
• Supporting easier vacuuming and maintenance
• Improving resistance to many common stains

If a carpet is worth cleaning, protecting it afterward helps preserve that work and extend the life of the fibres.