Learning Guide. Clean carpet Clean carpet for a client Level 3 5 credits. Name: Workplace: Issue 1.0

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1 Learning Guide Clean carpet Clean carpet for a client Level 3 5 credits Name: Workplace: Issue 1.0

2 Copyright 2017 Careerforce All rights reserved. Careerforce (Community Support Services ITO Ltd) is the owner of the copyright of this publication. Other than as permitted by the Copyright Act 1994, no part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any other form or by any means, without prior written permission of Careerforce, PO Box , Christchurch, 8144, New Zealand.

3 Contents Introduction... 1 Cleaning carpet... 2 Types of carpet... 3 Carpet cleaning fundamentals... 4 Carpet cleaning schedule... 5 How to read a cleaning schedule... 6 Standard carpet cleaning schedule... 7 Conduct a risk assessment... 8 What a risk assessment looks like... 9 Assess the condition of the carpet Select and check safety equipment Carpet spotting How to identify stains Removing the spot or stain Carpet vacuuming Floor vacuum cleaner Back pack vacuum Carpet cleaning Prepare the room for cleaning Cleaning chemicals Select and prepare the cleaning solution Apply pre-spray detergent Fill the carpet cleaning machine General cleaning procedure Grooming and drying Completing the job Reporting Caring for Medituft carpet Stain removal chart for Medituft carpet Vacuuming Medituft carpet Restorative, corrective or deep cleaning of Medituft carpet Glossary Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June 2016

4 Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June 2016

5 Introduction As a cleaner, what you do and how you do it makes a difference to cleanliness and hygiene for people working in, living in, or visiting the place you clean. It also makes a difference to other staff members and even to you. This learning guide gives you information about cleaning carpet. Clean carpet stops dirt and soil tracking further into a building. How to use your learning guide This learning guide supports your learning and prepares you for the unit standard assessment. There are activities to do to guide your learning. This guide relates to the following unit standard: Clean carpet for a client (level 3, 5 credits). This learning guide is yours to keep. Make it your own by writing notes that help you remember things, or where you need to find more information. Follow the tips in the notes column. You may use highlighter pens to show important information and ideas, and think about how this information applies to your work. You might find it helpful to talk to your workmates or supervisor. Complete this learning guide before you start the assessment. What you will learn This topic will help you to: develop a schedule for cleaning carpet. do a risk assessment for carpet spotting and cleaning. choose the right equipment, products and processes for cleaning carpet. vacuum carpet. shampoo or steam clean carpet. care for speciality carpet. report results of carpet care. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

6 Cleaning carpet Carpet maintenance is done for three main reasons: 1 to ensure that the carpet is hygienic. 2 to retain the original texture and appearance of carpet. 3 to keep the carpet for as long as possible. This is achieved by keeping the total soil content, including visible stains, to an absolute minimum by cleaning. Regular vacumming and cleaning of spills and spots will prolong your carpet life. When cleaning is conducted regularly and efficiently, this will both prolong the life of a carpet and minimize possible health problems due to the build-up of soils and microflora within the carpet. Whenever people enter a building, they carry a certain amount of soil, mud and grit on their shoes. This soil is deposited on the floor coverings, and eventually works its way down into the carpet pile. It is not foot traffic alone that wears out carpet, but also soil on and in the carpet from food spills, cooking, atmospheric pollution and pets. To prolong the life of the carpet, soil should be kept to an absolute minimum. This can be done by regular and systematic cleaning with soil removal equipment. The importance of regular vacuumcleaning with efficient equipment cannot be overemphasized. As a general rule, vacuum once a week, and more often in high traffic areas. Be thorough vacuum under furniture, behind curtains and where your carpet meets the wall. To clean dirt or stains from a carpet, either shampoo or, to remove more stubborn stains and dirt, steam clean the carpet. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

7 Types of carpet The type of equipment and maintenance program chosen depends upon: the style of carpet. the carpet fibre type. the colour of the carpet and the required appearance. Carpets may be one of four types. Tufted carpet Tufted carpet is made on a giant sewing machine and has the face yarn we walk on, stitched into a primary backing and glued to a secondary backing. Tufted carpet is very common and 90% of residential carpet is tufted. Tufted carpet may be cut-pile or loop-pile. They may delaminate and cellulosic browning may occur during cleaning. Delamination An example of delamination is when the primary and secondary backing fabric separate. Woven carpet Woven carpet is made on a weaving loom and the face yarn (usually 80% wool and 20% nylon) also has warp and weft yarns which make up the base of the woven carpet. Woven carpets are usually cut-pile eg Wilton, Westminster. They are mainly used for high end commercial or residential carpet. Problems with cleaning are shrinkage and unravelling. Fusion bonded carpet Fusion bonded carpet has a nylon face yarn glued to a backing material. For example, Flotex, Medituft, common in rest homes, hospitals and malls. Nylon is strong but it can yellow with oxidation and UV damage. Needle punched carpet More info There is more information about cleaning Medituft carpet later in this learning guide. Needle punched carpet is a cheaper carpet found in cars and boats eg Autex. They are polypropylene, punched into a single backing material. They will wick soil to the surface if not pre-vacuumed thoroughly. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

8 Carpet cleaning fundamentals A way to remember the four fundamentals of carpet cleaning is CHAT 1 Chemical 2 Heat 3 Agitation 4 Time 1 Chemical what soil may be present is removed by using chemicals. 2 Heat decreases drying time and increases chemical activity and cleaning efficiency. 3 Agitation achieved with use of rake, wand jet pressure, brush etc. It reduces the dwell time, but can distort the pile of the carpet. 4 Time is the amount of time for the chemical to work or dwell. Changing any one of these four fundamentals affects the others. Carpet cleaning steps There are five basic steps. 1 Pre-inspection. 2 Pre-vacuum to remove dry soil. Most soil is dry so remove it dry. 3 Pre-spray to put wet soil into suspension. 4 Extraction of the soil, which may include rinse or neutralisation. Only clean areas which need cleaning. 5 Groom and dry. 6 Protectors recommending these is an optional step. Where any doubt exists as to the best method of cleaning a carpet, expert advice should be sought before cleaning is attempted. The Australian and New Zealand standard sets out the cleaning and maintence recommendations for carpets. AS/NZS 3733:1995 Cleaning and maintenance of residential and commercial carpet. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

9 Carpet cleaning schedule A cleaning schedule is like an agreement between the client and your organisation about all the different cleaning jobs to be done at a workplace. A cleaning schedule includes the following information. Where to clean all the different areas to be cleaned. For example, reception, hallways, offices. What to clean all the different cleaning tasks to be done in each area. When each cleaning task must be done this is sometimes called the frequency. This could be daily, weekly, as required, every 2 hours. How each cleaning task must be done this includes instructions. Not all cleaning schedules will include detailed instructions. Usually recommended carpet maintenance is regular vacuuming daily or every second day. Attention will also be given to walk-off mats, spills, and picking up loose litter. Corrective cleaning will occur less frequently. The frequency of carpet cleaning depends on: the location of the area to be cleaned. the degree and nature of the soiling. the amount of foot traffic, which is divided into: high traffic areas, where people walk most often and the carpet gets dirty more quickly. medium traffic area, where people sometimes walk and the carpet does not get very dirty. low traffic areas, where people don t often walk and the carpet does not need to be cleaned very often. Key words high traffic areas medium traffic areas low traffic areas where people walk most often and the carpet gets dirty more quickly where people sometimes walk and the carpet does not get very dirty where people don t often walk and the carpet does not need to be cleaned very often Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

10 How to read a cleaning schedule The top rows of the table give the headings. To find the area you want, read down the column eg reception. Where to clean When - how often to clean Days of the week Name of area to clean What to clean. A list of cleaning tasks in one area Area Reception Dust front desk Mop floors Vacuum carpet Remove rubbish Vacuum visitors chairs Frequency Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat To find out how often to do each cleaning task, read across each row. Tip: Look for a tick beside each day of the week. Write How often do you have to vacuum the carpet in reception? Answer: You have to vacuum the carpet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (but not Saturday). The building is not cleaned on a Sunday. How often do you have to vacuum the visitor chairs? Answer: Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

11 Standard carpet cleaning schedule Reproduction of Table from AS/NZS 3733:1995 Suggested maintenance program Location Usual Traffic Volume Suggested Maintenance Program Suggested Frequency Minimum Frequency Domestic Light Full vacuum 2 times per week Weekly Executive Offices Clerical offices, hospital wards and hotel bedrooms Corridors and foyers, ground floor shops, hotel lounges, kindergartens and school classrooms Restaurants, school corridors and hospital public areas Spot & stain removal Daily ASAP Daily ASAP Surface clean Every 6 months Yearly Corrective or Yearly Every 2 years restorative clean Light Vacuum traffic areas 3 times per week 4 times per week Full vacuum 2 times per week Weekly Spot & stain removal Daily ASAP Daily ASAP Surface clean Every 9 months Every 18 months Corrective or Every 18 months Every 36 months restorative clean Medium Vacuum traffic areas 2 times per week 3 times per week Full vacuum 3 times per week 2 times per week Spot & stain removal Daily ASAP Daily ASAP Surface clean Every 6 months Yearly Corrective or Yearly Every 2 years restorative clean Heavy Vacuum traffic areas Daily 2 times per week Very heavy Full vacuum Daily 3 times per week Spot & stain removal Daily ASAP Daily ASAP Surface clean Every 3 months Every 6 months Corrective or Every 6 months Yearly restorative clean Full vacuum Daily Daily Spot & stain removal Daily ASAP Daily ASAP Surface clean Monthly Every 2 months Corrective or restorative clean Every 3 months Every 6 months Notes: 1 This is a guide to cleaning maintenance. The frequency of carrying out the methods nominated depends on the assessment of the traffic rating, carpet construction and health considerations. 2 The traffic volumes of light / medium / heavy / very heavy for cleaning purposes refers to the number of people using an area and contributing to light soiling, medium soiling, heavy soiling and very heavy soiling. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

12 Conduct a risk assessment You must do a risk assessment before you begin every stain removal or carpet cleaning job. Your safety depends on identifying hazards and controlling the risk as much as possible. Hazards and risks go together. A hazard is anything that could cause harm. Risk is the chance of something happening. A risk assessment is an organised way of looking at the work task to see how safe it is. You need to write down every hazard and think about what could be done to mitigate it (reduce the hazard). For example, watch out for curling mat edges which are slip, trip and fall hazards. Long electrical leads can also be trip and fall hazards. Check for any power hazards before you switch on any electrical equipment. Electric shock is a low risk hazard which can occur when power leads/equipment are on damp surfaces. For each hazard identified, rate it on how likely it is that this risk would occur: rare, unlikely, likely, almost certain. You must state what can be done to control this risk and who is responsible for doing this. You may also be asked how bad it will be if it does go wrong (the severity). You may have both primary and secondary risks. A primary risk is the first result of the risk eg a person could fall on a curled mat edge. A secondary risk occurs as a result of the primary risk eg the person may get an injury from falling. Key words hazard risk mitigate anything that could cause harm. the chance of something happening. reduce the hazard Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

13 What a risk assessment looks like Here is an example of a risk assessment table for carpet cleaning. The first hazard has been done for you. Write Write in some potential hazards for cleaning carpet. For each hazard, rate it on how likely it is that this risk would occur: rare, unlikely, likely, almost certain. You must state what can be done to control this risk and who is responsible for doing this. Potential hazard Risk occurrence Risk controls Who is responsible? Things that could go wrong or cause harm Rare, unlikely, likely, almost certain What can be done to prevent it happening or to reduce the risk? Who will do this? Long electrical lead could be a trip or fall hazard Likely if no action taken Work close to the nearest electrical plug; keep the cord behind you; put out signs to warn others Usually you, the carpet cleaner Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

14 Assess the condition of the carpet Assess the condition of the carpet before it is cleaned. When you assess the condition of the carpet, you look for any pre-existing problems. Split seams, where carpets come apart at a join. Moisture (water) damage caused by damp, floods or over-wetting of the carpet. Soiling which is earth and other dirt walked into the carpet which can be removed by vacuuming or rinsing with water. Stains such as mud, liquid, food that is on the carpet and is not able to be removed by normal cleaning. A stain can also be an area on the carpet that is a different colour from the rest of the carpet. For example, a brown stain on a blue carpet. Mould which could possibly be treated with a mould killer for carpet. Split seam Stain After assessing the condition of the carpet, write up a report on the findings and possible solutions (if applicable). The report should include any pre-existing conditions and recommendations for treatment. Follow your company requirements for writing a report for a client, and look at a previous report so that you can use it as an example. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

15 Select and check safety equipment Put out warning signs. Check powered equipment has a current electrical safety certificate (ESC). An ESC is valid for 6 months. Make sure the area is well ventilated (aired). Open windows or use an air mover to keep fresh air moving into the area. Put on your personal protective equipment (PPE) before you prepare the cleaning solutions. You should always wear gloves and a respirator if you are mixing hazardous (toxic) chemicals that can affect your breathing. Do not breathe in chemical fumes. Do not get chemicals/cleaning agents in contact with your skin and eyes. You may also need to wear some or all of the following - closed footwear, glasses/goggles, ear plugs, face mask. Make sure you are not working near fire or flames. The area must be No Smoking. Safety check for respiratory equipment Check all cartridges and attachments for fit. Ensure valves are clean and function correctly. Check the moulded face plate for leaks or cracks. To double check that your respirator is working regularly smell a strong odour (such as a petrol) while wearing it. If you can detect the smell it may indicate that the canisters require immediate replacement or the fitting needs adjustment. Fit-testing Without a proper fit, you are not protected. There should be no air leaks around the face mask. Adjust any headbands carefully to obtain a good seal. Facial hair can prevent a correct fit. A fit-test needs to be done every time the mask is put on. To check for proper fit do the following tests. Inhalation test: Place the palm of the hand over the cartridge inhalation points and breathe in. If you cannot feel air enter the mask and the face plate collapses slightly, there is a proper fit and the exhalation valve is functioning properly. Exhalation test: Completely cover the exhalation valve with the palm of your hand. Breathe out enough to cause slight pressure inside the face plate. If no air escapes from around the face plate, it is fitted properly and the inhalation valve is functioning correctly. Adjust straps if air leaks. Never share your respirator with someone else as this is extremely unhygienic (germy). It is your personal equipment and you are responsible for it. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

16 Carpet spotting Inspect carpet before vacuuming and spot clean if necessary. Carpet spotting removes stains and spots from carpet. Spots and spillages should be attended to as soon as possible after they occur. The longer the delay the harder it will be to remove them. How to identify stains Stains may be identifiable or non-identifiable. An identifiable stain is a stain that you are able to identify. This means you know what caused the stain and can find out exactly what you must do to treat it. When you know what type of stain it is and what type of carpet it is, you can select the correct cleaning agent by: reading the labels on the bottles of cleaning agent. looking at the stain removal chart. Sometimes you may not know what the stain is. It is important to identify the stain first, so you know how to treat it. You may need to use a different method of stain removal for different types of stains. You may need to use a number of different ways to identify a stain. These include: colour, smell (odour), appearance (sight), feel (touch), location and client input. Apply the appropriate stain remover to the stain, following the directions on the label carefully. Neutralise and rinse the stain remover from the carpet, once the stain is removed. Sometimes it is not possible to identify a stain. If you don t know what caused a stain, it is called an unidentifiable stain. When you can t identify the stain, it is difficult to choose a stain removal cleaning agent to remove it. So, you need to try different types of stain removal cleaning agents on a small part of the spot or stain to find one that will safely remove the stain without damaging the surface or material. This is called a spot test. Do a colourfast test before you use a cleaning solution, in an area that is not obviously seen. Apply a small amount of cleaning solution to a small area of carpet that is not visible. Follow the instructions on the label. The instructions will tell you how long to leave the cleaning solution on. If the carpet changes colour, the colour runs (bleeds), or the pile of the carpet is damaged, do not use the cleaning solution on the rest of the carpet. More info There is more information about identifying stains and doing a spot test in the learning guide for unit standard for common stains. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

17 Select your equipment Use personal protective equipment (PPE). When handling cleaning solutions, wear safety goggles for eye protection and wear rubber gloves for hand protection. The equipment needed to do the task includes: lint-free absorbent cloth. small hand bristle brush and scraper. bucket. spray bottle. carpet cleaner. Removing the spot or stain Pick up large items. Use brush and pan to pick up dry, loose soils. Use scraper to remove thick or sticky solid and wipe up residue with a dry or moistened cloth. For liquid spills blot up as much as possible with absorbent material and then wipe with a clean cloth. Always use the simplest methods first. Most spills can be removed with water or a carpet cleanser. When the stain or spillage can be identified, look up a list of recommended cleaners to be used for that liquid or substance. As an example, a chart for spots on wool carpet is on following pages. Once you have chosen a cleaning agent, you should still do a colourfast test on an area of the carpet that is not visible. Apply the appropriate stain remover to the stain. Always work in a circular motion, starting outside the stain and working inwards. After removing the spot or stain, neutralise and rinse the stain remover from the carpet. Blot as dry as possible with absorbent material. Brush the carpet pile in the same direction as the rest of the carpet. Cover the damp area with a piece of furniture while it is drying. Stubborn stains should be reported to supervisor. Care should be taken when attempting to remove stains which require chemical treatment to avoid causing further damage or bleaching of carpet. Spotting kit to be restocked ready for immediate use. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

18 How to read a spot removal chart Column 1 Lists the different types of stains/spots. Alcohol 1 2 Bleach 1 13 Blood 1 2 Butter 4 2 Wax Absorbent paper and hot iron 4 Columns 2, 3, 4 Each number explains a different method for removing stains/spots. Read the appropriate method(s) in the chart. Follow the chart carefully. For each stain type, try each removal method in the order given in the chart. 1 Cold water. 2 One teaspoon of wood detergent with 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 litre of warm water. 3 Detergent solution. Clear household disinfectant. 4 A dry cleaning solvent (eg white spirits). Use only on dry carpet. 5 Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum. 6 Vinegar solution. Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar and 2/3 rd cup of water. 7 Warm water rinse. 8 Acetone solution. Nail polish remover without lanolin. 9 Surgical alcohol. 10 Rust remover. 11 Vacuum. 12 Mineral turpentine. 13 Call a carpet cleaning technician for assistance. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

19 Spot removal on wool carpet Order of Treatment Spot Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Alcoholic beverages 1 2 Bleach 1 13 Blood 1 2 Butter 4 2 Candle wax Absorbent paper and hot iron 4 Chewing gum 5 4 Chocolate 4 2 Coffee Colas and soft drinks 1 2 Cooking oils 4 2 Cream 2 4 Egg 2 13 Faeces Floor wax 4 2 Fruit juice 1 2 Furniture polish 4 2 Gravy and sauces 7 2 Ink (ballpoint pen) 9 2 Ink (felt tip) 4 2 Lipstick 4 2 Milk 2 4 Mustard 2 Nail polish 8 Oil and grease 4 2 Paint (oil) 12 4 Paint (latex) 1 2 Rust 10 1 Salad dressing 2 4 Shoe polish 4 2 Soot 11 4 Tar 12 4 Tea Tomato sauce 7 2 Urine (fresh) Urine (old) 13 Vomit Wine 1 2 Unknown material 4 2 Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

20 Carpet vacuuming A vacuum cleaner is used to remove dry dirt and dust from carpet. Spot vacuuming is done in traffic areas and where visible soil is present. Full vacuuming covers the entire area and may be done less often. The equipment you will use may include: a carpet sweeper. a power head vacuum cleaner. a vacuum cleaner. In health care environments a vacuum cleaner must be fitted with high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) meeting the standard AS/NZS 3733:1995 Floor vacuum cleaner Windsor sensor vacuum Cleans to AS/NZS 3733:1995 standard. pipe hose body head or wand Pick up any large pieces of rubbish or sharp items. Inspect carpet before vacuuming and spot clean if necessary. Choose your attachments, such as extendable pipes for hard to reach areas, or a crevice tool or brush to get dust from under furniture. Brush dust from corners inwards before vacuuming. Vacuum using overlapping strokes. Hold the vacuum pipe and wand in your leading hand and hold the hose back with the other hand. Use the hose to control the movement of the vacuum. Take care not to hit walls, furnishings and fittings. Perform vacuuming for only 20 minutes at a time, and take a break from the task for at least 5 minutes or do alternative tasks to avoid repetitive strain injury (RSI). Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

21 Back pack vacuum Back pack vacuum cleaners are portable and frequently used. They are particularly useful for areas like stairs. Back pack vacuum Back pack vacuums are often used for commercial use. Most back packs do not have an HEPA filter. Check the battery has enough charge and you know where to find a spare battery. Place vacuum on bench/table and make sure the power switch is turned off. Unwind lead, loosen straps. Lift the back pack by one shoulder strap and slide your free arm into the other strap. Tighten the waistband so the back pack rests comfortably on your hips. Pull on shoulder straps and do up cross straps to secure the back pack. Work in an upright position when back pack is on. Vacuum in a forward motion and at an even pace, working away from the power point. Use overlapping strokes. Overlapping strokes When you have finished vacuuming always clean your vacuum ready for the next use. Empty the vacuum cleaner bag, if it has one. The more dust in the bag, the less effective the machine and the harder the job. Wipe the body of the vacuum with a damp cloth. Store the pipes and hoses away. Check to see if the cord has been damaged. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

22 Carpet cleaning To clean dirt or stains from a carpet, either shampoo or, to remove more stubborn stains and dirt, steam clean the carpet. The equipment you will use may include: a carpet cleaning machine, ie a warm water injection and extraction machine. an air mover. a carpet rake or groomer or brush. a pump-up pump or pressurised spray wands. a power safe cut-out protector. a fibre ID kit. spotting chemicals. Commercial carpet cleaning professionals generally use a warm water injection and extraction machine to steam clean carpet. It is the most used method and removes the greatest amount of soil, but has a long drying time. Other methods include using an absorbent pad to pick up soil, dry powder which absorbs the soil, and rotary shampoo or dry foam. A portable warm water injection and extraction carpet cleaning machine. A truck mounted warm water injection and extraction carpet cleaning machine. Steam cleaning machines can be portable (able to be carried and moved around) or truck mounted. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

23 A portable warm water injection and extraction carpet cleaning machine has a body with a liquid storage tank and a recovery tank. The storage tank is for clean, warm water and cleaning solutions that are injected into the carpet. The recovery tank is for dirty water extracted from the carpet. As well as the tanks, the machine consists of: a pump and nozzle to spray cleaning solution onto the carpet. a vacuum system to remove water and soil. a cleaning head or wand (with or without brush). A truck mounted warm water injection and extraction machine is more powerful. It will have more powerful vacuum and airflow. It may also have high energy water heating abilities and may have a large water recovery storage tank or a waste recovery filtration and pump out system. Prepare the room for cleaning Before cleaning, vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove loose litter such as small pieces of rubbish that is on the surface of the carpet. Spot remove any spots and stains. Move as much of the furniture as possible from the room being cleaned. Follow instructions on where to store the furniture. Place plastic sheeting under all furniture which is not being moved, so the furniture and carpet is not damaged by chemicals and over-wetting. Use plastic sheeting to cover any carpet and flooring areas that are not being cleaned. Use masking tape to seal the edges of the room. Avoid damage to area by minimising overspray. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

24 Cleaning chemicals Soil may be soluble in water, solvent, it or may be insoluble. There are two main types of chemicals that are used for commercial carpet cleaning: 1 water-based. 2 oil-based or solvent cleaners, which may be volatile dry solvents (VDS) or non volatile dry solvents (NVDS). Selecting the right chemicals to assist with cleaning is important. More info There is more information about solvents and detergents in the learning guide for unit standard for common stains. Pre-spray detergent A pre-spray detergent is sprayed on the carpet before carpet cleaning. It is used to soften, loosen and dissolve dirt that is stuck to the surface of the carpet. It must be left on the carpet for the recommended amount of time, in order to work effectively (this is called the dwell time). There are three different types of pre-spray detergent. 1 neutral pre-spray detergent. 2 alkaline pre-spray detergent. 3 acid pre-spray detergent. Pre-spray detergent may also be called a traffic lane cleaner or a pre-conditioner. Make sure you use the correct pre-spray detergent for the carpet type and conditions, eg stain removal. If the instructions are followed carefully, the pre-spray detergent should not damage the carpet fibres, carpet backing and carpet adhesives. Rinsing and neutralising Check your organisational policies and procedures as you may be required to use only water as a rinsing and neutralising agent. Rinsing detergent is added to the water tank in the carpet cleaning machine. It is injected onto the carpet with a nozzle. It is then extracted back into the machine with the cleaning head. There are three different types of rinses/neutralisers: 1 neutral. 2 alkaline. 3 acid. Make sure you use the correct rinsing and neutraliser for the carpet type and conditions. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

25 Select and prepare the cleaning solution Make sure you follow the manufacturer s instructions when using cleaning solutions. There are a range of different cleaning solutions which may be used when cleaning carpet. These can include the following: spot or stain removers to remove difficult stains. pre-spray detergent solution. a rinsing detergent solution (or just water). sanitising solution to kill germs. deodorant to remove odours (smells). defoamer to prevent foam (soap and water) building up in the carpet and the recovery tank of the machine. You need to be very sure that you choose the best carpet cleaning chemicals for the conditions and type of carpet. If you choose the wrong chemicals, they may damage the carpet or void the warranties for the carpet. If you need to prepare a cleaning solution, follow the instructions on the label of cleaning agent or on a stain removal chart. Do a colourfast test before you use a cleaning solution, in an area that is not obviously seen. Apply pre-spray detergent Fill a pressure sprayer with pre-spray detergent. Apply pre-spray detergent to the whole area of carpet to be cleaned. Apply more pre-spray detergent to soiled areas and to spots and stains that are still visible. Do not over wet the carpet. For best results the pre-spray detergent should be brushed into the pile in heavily soiled areas with a broom or special carpet rake. Allow the pre-spray detergent to work. Check on the label for the recommended dwell time (5 and 20 minutes) before cleaning the carpet with the carpet cleaning machine. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

26 Fill the carpet cleaning machine Fill the tank of the machine with warm water. Follow the manufacturer s instructions on the temperature. Add detergent to the tank along with any other chemicals required such as sanitising solution, or deodorant. If required, add defoamer to the recovery tank. The recovery tank is where the dirty water extracted from the carpet goes. General cleaning procedure Keep the machine behind you and move the head away from machine to the full length of the hose. Start cleaning, by running the cleaning head or wand backwards across the carpet slowly and evenly. Clean in straight lines where possible. Overlap each stroke to prevent line marks. If using a wand, work in small rectangular shaped sections. Only use as much detergent or rinse as needed to clean well. Do not over-wet the carpet fibres and carpet backing. Immediately after cleaning, go over the same area again with only the vacuum system turned on. This will suck up more moisture from the carpet and make it dry more quickly. Repeat cleaning, in areas where the carpet is still dirty. Do not over-wet with solution. After cleaning, empty the detergent tank. Refill with clean water and add a rinsing and/or neutralising agent, if required. A neutraliser stops the cleaning agent from continuing to work. Read the instructions on the label, to find the correct neutralising agent. Clean edges, corners and carpet under furniture with a suitable tool fitted to the hose of the carpet cleaning machine. Ask for special instructions, if you are cleaning shag or open weave carpet. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

27 Grooming and drying Immediately after you have finished cleaning the carpet with the carpet cleaning machine, you need to groom the carpet. Grooming is done with a rake, groomer or brush depending on the type of carpet. Grooming makes the carpet look better and helps speed up drying time. Dry the carpet in accordance with industry best practice. How long a carpet takes to dry depends on a number of different things: ventilation (the movement of air). humidity (the amount of water in the air). carpet cleaning technique used. However, it is best practice for carpet not to take more than 12 hours to dry. Carpet can get dirty again very quickly, if it is wet or damp. To speed up drying, you can use air movers. The air mover blows air across the top of the carpet which helps it to dry. It is recommended to use: one air mover in each room or space (eg laundry or wardrobe). plus one for each offset space (eg alcove) greater than 45 cm. Carpet rake or groomer Air mover Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

28 Completing the job You must work within agreed timeframes. Discuss with the client how long each job will take, so that you can plan your work effectively. Carpet cleaning must be completed without damage to carpet cleaner, client, furniture, fixtures or fittings. After finishing the job, check that you have done each task mentioned in the contract, making sure it meets the agreed standard of cleaning. Follow the client s instructions to replace furniture in a way that prevents damage caused by contact with damp carpet. Place protective material (plastic, foil or polystyrene) under the legs of furniture and under other items to protect them from damage caused by being placed on damp carpet. Clean your equipment and store it away Dispose of soiled solutions. Cleaning solutions should be disposed of down a cleaners sink or down the toilet. Do not empty cleaning solutions down storm water drains or in the gutter. Remove all removable parts from the machine brushes, hoses, lids and water container. Wash and dry all parts thoroughly before putting them back. Remove grit and waste material from the suction area of the machine. Store it away with hoses and lids off so that the machine can air dry. Wipe down the machine and wind up the cord. Store solvents in an area that has a flammable chemical sign, in a separate area from other cleaning agents. Reporting Write a report on the results of the carpet cleaning to give to the client to sign their approval. In this report, write down any outstanding problems. For example, any stains that you were unable to remove. You may also wish to include recommendations for stain prevention treatments and recommendations for carpet cleaning maintenance (how often the carpet should be cleaned professionally). In a carpet maintenance report include vacuum maintenance frequency and corrective cleaning frequency. Make your recommendations based upon the carpet fibre composition, construction type and style/pile. Explain the potential benefits from the suggested maintenance programme, such as control of microbial activity, removal of unwanted and unhealthy foreign matter, cosmetic appearance, and increase in carpet longevity. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

29 Caring for Medituft carpet Medituft is a special carpet that is made for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Medituft carpet is a solution dyed nylon (SDN) carpet yarn, which is robust and capable of being cleaned aggressively. Being SDN the coloured dye is locked into the fibre rather than applied to the fibre, making the carpet extremely stain resistant. Medituft carpets have a combination of treatments applied during manufacturing, including Aquaban, Odourban and Duratech soil release treatment. Medituft carpets have a Biocide feature making them permanently antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal. It also controls gram positive and gram negative bacteria, mould and fungi and cannot be consumed by micro organisms. Medituft carpets comply with fire hazard standards. Medituft carpet has a special carpet backing which stops the backing of the carpet from getting wet. This makes drying time much shorter. The following information is adapted from the Medituft Carpet Care, Cleaning and Maintenance Handbook published by Beaulieu of Australia Pty Ltd. Stain removal chart for Medituft carpet How to read this stain removal chart Column 1 Lists the different types of stains. Asphalt/bitumen 1 Adhesives 1 Auto (car) grease 1, 3, 4 Beer 3, 4, 11 Column 2 Each number explains a different method for removing stains. Read the appropriate method(s) in the chart. Follow the chart carefully. For each stain type, try each removal method in the order given in the chart. Only use procedure 12 recommended bleach solution if the other procedures do not remove the stain. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

30 This chart lists procedures for Medituft carpets which are made with solution dyed nylon. Do not use these stain removal procedures on any other carpet types. If the stain is unknown, start with water, then a mild detergent solution. Stain Type Removal Method Stain Type Removal Method Asphalt/Bitumen 1 Grass Stain 2, 3, 6, 5,4, 11 Adhesives 1 Ice Cream 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Auto (car) Grease 1, 3, 4 Ink 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Beer 3, 4, 11 Iodine 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Betadine Solution 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 Lacquer 8, 2, 3, 4, 11 Blood 3, 4 cold, 6, 4 cold, 11 Juice (Fruit) 3, 5, 11 Bleach 3, 4, 11 Lipstick 8, 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Butter, Margarine 3, 4, 11 Machine oil 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Calamine lotion 1, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Mascara 3, 1, 4, 11 Candy (sweets) 5, 4, 3 Mayonnaise 6, 3, 4, 11 Cheese 3, 5, 3, 4 Milk 6, 3, 4 Chewing Gum 2, 3, 4 Mustard 3, 5, 4, 11 Chocolate 5, 3, 4, 11 Nail polish 7, 1, 3, 4, 11 Cosmetics 1, 7, 3, 4, 11 Paint (latex) 1, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Clay 3,4, 5, 4, 11 Paint (oil) 1, 7, 9, 6, 5, 4, 11 Coffee (wet) 3, 4, 5, 11 Rust 10 Coffee (dry) 3, 8, 3, 5, 4, 11 Salad dressing 3, 6, 3, 4, 11 Cooking oil 3, 4 Shoe dye 1, 3, 4, 11 Cough syrup 3, 5 Shoe polish 7, 1, 3, 6, 4, 11 Crayon 3, 4 Soy sauce 5, 3, 4, 11 Curry 5, 4 Starch 5, 3, 4 Egg 8, 3, 4, 11 Tar 2, 1 Faeces (poo) 3, 6, 5, 4 Tea 3, 4, 5 Food Colouring 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Toothpaste 3, 4 Furniture stain 2 Urine (wee) 3, 5, 4, 11 Furniture polish 2, 7, 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Vomit 3, 6, 5, 4, 11 Gelatine 3, 6, 4, 11 Water colours 3, 5, 6, 4, 11 Gravy 2, 3, 6, 5, 4 Wine 3, 5, 6, 4, 11 Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

31 1 Volatile Dry Solvent (VDS) or fast evaporating non-flammable dry cleaning fluid. Spray a small amount of solvent on the stained area. Gently rub the solvent into the soiled area using a clean, dry, white cloth. Use a clean dry cloth or towel to blot up any extra moisture. Do this by putting a clean, folded cloth or towel over the wet area. Put pressure or weight on the cloth. This will force moisture from the carpet into the cloth. Lastly, vacuum the area. 2 Non-Volatile Dry Solvents (NVDS). These are often called paint, oil and grease removers. This type of solvent evaporates more slowly for better cleaning. Use the same procedure as for volatile dry solvents above. Non-volatile solvents can leave chemicals on the carpet which can cause it to get dirty again quickly. So, always neutralise the nonvolatile solvent with a volatile dry solvent after treating the stain. Blot dry with a cloth and then vacuum the area. 3 Detergent solution. Always use a detergent solution with a ph of less than ten. (Find out more about ph in the information about preparing for stain removal.) Check the label or ask your supervisor, if you are unsure. Mix a quarter of a teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with one cup of warm water. Or for other detergents, follow the instructions on the label. Never use a stronger mixture as it will make the detergent more difficult to remove from the carpet and will cause the carpet to become dirty again more quickly. 4 Warm water rinse. Use lukewarm (only slightly warm) tap water to rinse the spot or stain from the carpet. Caution: Only use cold water when removing blood stains. 5 Vinegar solution. Mix one cup of white vinegar (a 5% acetic solution) with one cup of water. You can also use a professional solution. 6 Ammonia solution. Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia and one cup of water or use a professional protein spotter. 7 Acetone solution. Use nail polish remover that does not have lanolin or conditioner in. 8 Tannin stain remover. You need to buy this. Follow the manufacturer s instructions. 9 Lacquer thinners. Do not apply directly to the carpet. Put a small amount of thinners onto a white cloth and gently apply it to the stain. 10 Rust remover. Use only non-hydrofluoric acid rust remover. Follow the manufacturer s instructions carefully. 11 Vacuum with wet/dry vacuum, apply a 10 cm layer of plain white paper towel and weight with approximately 1 kg eg the weight of a phonebook. Change paper towels after three hours. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

32 12 Recommended bleach solutions. Medituft carpets are made of solution dyed nylon yarns. Because of this, bleach solutions can be used on Medituft carpets to remove difficult stains. Use a very mild bleach solution. Household bleach (5.25 6% sodium hypochlorite) should be diluted with 4 parts water to one part bleach. Only leave the solution on the carpet for as long as it takes to remove the stain. If bleach is left on the carpet for too long, it can damage the carpet fibres. Always rinse the bleach solution from the carpet with clean, fresh water. Dry with paper towels. Then use a wet/dry vacuum to remove all left over bleach from the carpet. If none of these standard treatments remove the spot or stain, you should talk to your supervisor and the client before trying a specialty treatment. Vacuuming Medituft carpet In high traffic areas High traffic areas are where people walk most often and they get dirty more quickly. Vacuum every day (daily). When vacuuming, make 5 to 7 passes with the vacuum cleaner. This means go backwards and forwards slowly and carefully over each area 5 to 7 times. On cut pile or cut/loop carpet, use a special pile lifter vacuum cleaner, to lift the pile of the carpet once a month. A pile lifter vacuum helps to clean the carpet and removes dirt that is deep down in the carpet. In moderate traffic areas Moderate traffic areas are where people sometimes walk and they don t get very dirty. Vacuum daily. When vacuuming moderate traffic areas make at least4 passes with the vacuum cleaner. On cut pile or cut/loop carpet, use a special pile lifter vacuum cleaner, to lift the pile of the carpet every three months. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

33 In low traffic areas Low traffic areas are areas where people don t often walk and they do not need to be cleaned very often. Vacuum twice weekly (two times a week). When vacuuming low traffic areas, make at least 4 passes with the vacuum cleaner to remove all loose dirt. On cut pile or cut/loop carpet, use a special pile lifter vacuum cleaner, to lift the pile of the carpet every six months. Restorative, corrective or deep cleaning of Medituft carpet In restorative cleaning or deep cleaning, dirt and germs are extracted from the carpet. This lengthens the life of the carpet and improves the look of the carpet. The makers of Medituft carpet recommend using hot water extraction as the best method for restorative cleaning of Medituft carpet. Restorative cleaning procedure Thoroughly vacuum all traffic areas. Pre-spray with carpet spray cleaner. Allow five minutes dwell (wait) time. Scrub heavily soiled (very dirty) areas with a nylon scrubbing brush or a rotary machine to break up the dirt. Use the hot water extraction machine with WATER ONLY to extract the dirt and carpet spray cleaner from the carpet. For each wet pass, do at least three dry passes. Improve drying time by following the extraction with a dry terry cloth bonnet procedure. Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

34 Glossary Key words hazard high traffic areas low traffic areas medium traffic areas mitigate risk anything that could cause harm. where people walk most often and the carpet gets dirty more quickly where people don t often walk and the carpet does not need to be cleaned very often where people sometimes walk and the carpet does not get very dirty reduce the hazard the chance of something happening Clean carpet (US 29385) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June