Vorwerk

Carpet care
Carpet care in commercial premises is often wrongly assumed to be problematic and difficult to plan in terms of cost. Such misconceptions are frequently based on negative experience from the past when mistakes were made in selecting the cleaning method, fixing the cleaning intervals or dealing with stains (see chart). lso, selecting the right quality and colour of carpet is of fundamental importance for the future cleaning properties. !ur expert advisers for the commercial sector will give you the information you need. Correct care and treatment of the carpet means that it will retain its value and thus save costs over the full life span. "roven processes and high#quality materials along with competent processing yield results which have a sustained positive impact on the appearance of the product and therefore of the premises. $hese care instructions are intended as a guide. %irst, a few fundamental points to retain the optimal visual appeal and long#lasting value of your &orwerk carpet, while at the same time keeping your maintenance outlays predictable and manageable.

voiding dirt
'irt (e.g. dust, oil, moisture) is brought into the building from outside. Combating dirt where it arises effectively reduces the required cleaning measures. Proper organisation A cleaning plan lays down where, when and with which method cleaning work should be carried out. A structured cleaning plan ensures efficiency of the required cleaning work, avoids unnecessary deep cleaning by following established cleaning intervals and creates transparency in the cleaning costs. Immediate stain removal Individual stains can seriously detract from the overall look of an otherwise weel-maintained carpet. Immediate treatment ensures the permanent removal of even stubborn stains. Avoiding dirt Using dirt-trap mats at the entrance of a building can considerably reduce the amount of dirt reaching the floor covering. Studies by prominent fibre institutes show that this is a very effective means of avoiding dirt. (ntering a building is only possible via a clean#up )one. $his should be at least three feet long to ensure that it is walked on. $here are various systems on the market which first effectively remove heavy dirt (e.g. rubber mats and brush systems). *n the ideal case a further area follows which has the task of absorbing moisture and residual dirt (e.g. cotton mats or special carpet material). lt is particularly important to regularly clean the entire clean#up )one according to usage and weather conditions. +ithout such cleaning the dirt will be carried in by each user (ink#pad effect).

Cleaning "lan $o ensure that your &orwerk carpet retains its value it is recommended that you draw up a cleaning plan in close cooperation with your cleaning firm. $ransitional )ones with ad,acent hard surfaces, bottlenecks and main thoroughfares experiencing heavy -traffic- should be specially indicated in the cleaning plan. $hese areas will require a higher intensity of vacuum cleaning and, if necessary, the frequency of the other cleaning methods should be modified accordingly. .oning the premises in this way, combined with appropriate care of the carpet surfaces, ensures that the carpet retains a uniformly well#maintained look and will also enable you to plan your cleaning costs.

'aily Carpet Care

*n cases of doubt, a vacuum cleaner with smooth no))le should be used. $his removes surface dust and dirt particles daily, so that they cannot become embedded deep in the carpet. Stains, however, should always be removed immediately (see Stain 0emoval).

*nterim cleaning
*nterim cleaning is recommended when deep cleaning is not required or only certain areas of the carpet have surface dirt, for example corridors and heavy traffic areas (see cleaning plan). Special dry powder is used for this interim or partial cleaning. $he powder is sprinkled onto the carpet, massaged in, and after the dirt has been absorbed, removed by vacuum cleaning. $his is not a substitute for wet deep cleaning but considerably extends the cleaning intervals. nother advantage of this cleaning method is that the areas which have been cleaned can be used again soon afterwards.

rush !acuum "leaners

#ry "leanining

'eep cleaning

Spray $%traction $o enable you to en,oy your carpet for as long as possible, it is important to clean it at frequent and regular intervals. *nfrequent cleaning makes it more difficult to remove dirt and causes the carpet to age more quickly. 'epending on the intensity of soiling, deep cleaning may also be necessary in addition to daily care and dry cleaning. 'eep cleaning is the method which most thoroughly removes dirt, allowing the best possible restoration of your textile floor covering1s original properties. s with dry cleaning, the carpet should also be thoroughly vacuumed before each deep cleaning. $he so#called combination method is used in deep cleaning. $his involves2 3

shampooing spray extraction with clear water $his type of deep cleaning is carried out using a commercially available single# or three# brush shampooing machine and a spray extractor. $he damp cleaning procedures of shampooing and spray extraction are only possible if the carpet has been professionally laid over the entire floor surface using water#resistant adhesive that conforms to the 3erman '*4 56 789 standard. *n coverings which are not fully adhered, however, dry cleaning is the only option, since the application of moisture can lead to changes in dimensions and shape. +e recommend that you have your carpet professionally deep cleaned. $his is because often only specific cleaning methods are suitable, depending on the nature and degree of soiling, the type of carpet, the method of laying and the composition of the floor. *f, however, you decide to carry out the deep cleaning yourself, you can hire the cleaning machines on a daily basis from most specialist carpet dealers, drugstores and the like. +hen hiring the machine make sure you inform yourself fully about the manufacturer1s recommended application and instructions for use. !bserve the instructions on correct use of the cleaning agent. !nly cleaning products which do not reduce the carpet1s resistance to soiling should be used. *n the wet cleaning procedure (shampooing and spray extraction) care should be taken that the sprayed liquid or foam is thoroughly vacuumed up afterwards. %ollowing deep cleaning, velour carpets should be evenly brushed to restore the direction of the pile. $he covering should not be walked upon until completely dry. Caution2 carpet cleaning agents should always be kept out of the reach of children

Stain removal
Caution %or all cleaning and:or stain removal ,obs it is important that only suitable extraction cleaners and stain removers designed specifically for carpets are used. 4ever use washing#up liquid, detergents or similar substances. %itted carpet cannot be rinsed out in the same way that, for example, clothing can. +ashing#up liquid and household detergents remain in the carpet as a sticky mass and cause the areas cleaned to attract dirt more readily. Stain removal &ost stains can be removed easily if they are addressed immediately. Stains such as coffee, tea, cola or red wine should be flushed with clear water while they are still wet. 'hen stains dry, chemical reactions can occur between the stain and the carpet fibre and the carpet(s appearance may be permanently affected. Many stains can only be removed using water as follows:

0emove any solid residue with a suitable implement # e. g. a spoon 'ab fresh, damp stains such as spilled liquids and the like with kitchen towel or an absorbent cloth # do not rub

Stain ;C
+hen removing stains you should always work from the outside inwards so as not to enlarge the stain. +ith difficult stains it is important to know the cause of the stain in order to follow the correct removal procedure. $he wrong method or wrong cleaning preparation can make the problem worse and cause irreparable damage to the carpet. Alcohol $reat the affected area with a cotton cloth dipped in lukewarm water. Ballpoint pen 'ip a white cotton cloth in alcohol and dab the stain. Beer/milk 'ab stain with a white cotton cloth dipped in with cleaning spirit or alcohol then treat with clear water. Blood $reat with cold water, allowing to soak $hen dab with an absorbent cotton cloth. Candle wax 0emove candle wax from the carpe with blotting paper and an iron (low heat). $hen treat with a white cotton cloth and cleaning spirit. Chewing gum %ree)e with a colourless ice spray (special products for textile fibres are commercially available which avoid colour changes2 -chewing gum removal spray-), break with a hammer or similar implement and vacuum immediately. $reat the spot with cleaning spirit. Chocolate +ash out with alcohol and then trea with warm water. Coffee/tea $reat the stain immediately with an absorbent cotton cloth and water. 'o not let coffee stains dry. Cola drinks pply lukewarm water immediately with a white cotton cloth and dab. Grease 'ip a white cotton cloth in cleaning spirit and dab the stain. Paint (oil pigrnents $reat stains with commercially available cleaning spirit. <ou may need to repeat the treatment several times. !rine 'ip white cotton cloth in water and treat the spot.