Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Jan 12, 2008 11:25 pm Having got your attention, I want to bring some awareness of common problems in many contemporary homes...
I'm referring to the trend to fit dark coloured carpets, (chocolates, dark greys etc). The issue is to do with risks of chemical damage to these carpets. It has been common for a long time, but moreso that these dark colours are so popular. Recently I cleaned chocolate carpets in 5 rooms of an 18 month old well kept home. They had two teenage daughters. Both of their bedrooms were in good condition, except they had 'bleach marks' on them, where colour had been damaged by contact with certain substances. But that's just an example of the problems I see frequently. Here are some others; Teenage boy applies his Clearasil and then does his push-ups on the carpet. Cleaning lady cleans up that spot on the carpet with the spray & wipe. Mum cleans the windows, dripping Windex from the leaky bottle onto the carpet. Teenage daughter takes off her wet bathers and leaves them on the bedroom floor. Carpets need cleaning, and the cheap '5 room special' seems like a good thing. Accident happens, and Shannon Lush's book 'Spotless' is followed. You walk through the carpeted room with the wet cloth, hoping the bleach doesn't drip. In all of these cases, inappropriate chemicals or substances may be contacting the carpets. At first, nothing happens. But then, gradually after a few days or weeks, strange spots or patches appear, where the products oxidize and the colour is fading or changing. Here's the deal. Carpets are supposed to conform to standards for colour fastness, and most do. However, strong alkaline chemicals and those with oxidising agents (peroxides in acne creams, tinea creams etc) will destabilize the dyes, and sooner or later, the colour will be affected. So, you had better be careful. Don't use any chemicals on your carpet unless you KNOW it is safe. Don't follow wives tales. Don't use products around the carpets that are alkaline (window cleaners, spray & wipe etc) or bleaches. A common cause is spray bottles that leak and dribble. And only use professional technicians that clean to Australian Standards when cleaning is required. Ash. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 2Jan 13, 2008 10:15 am good advice
some questions..... 1. sun fading? whats best....keep curtains open or closed? what do we do to prevent that faded strip next to window/curtain? 2. how long do you think carpets last for? Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 3Jan 13, 2008 12:02 pm You know Ash after reading those bits of info…..I think I’ll rip my carpet up and just have the slab as my flooring!
ALL TO HARD! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 4Jan 13, 2008 12:10 pm You know Ash after reading those bits of info…..I think I’ll rip my carpet up and just have the slab as my flooring!
ALL TO HARD! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 5Jan 13, 2008 1:02 pm bec good advice some questions..... 1. sun fading? whats best....keep curtains open or closed? what do we do to prevent that faded strip next to window/curtain? 2. how long do you think carpets last for? 1. BOTH. Allowing some sunlight into a room for at least an hour or two each day is good because it controls microbial life in the home (fungal spores,mites etc). Along with opening windows to allow cross ventilation, it can be important to keep your indoor environment fresh & healthy. However, direct sunlight can be very harsh, especially when it passes through glass near the floor, and this can lead to fading, and physical damage to carpets. Homes built with windows right to the floor are a poor design for several reasons. If you have them, measures should be taken to reduce the direct sunlight to these areas. Sunblock window treatments may reduce UV damage. Other shielding may be advised too (shade sails etc). Some homes I've seen have a timber trim on the floor along the windows, and the carpet butts up to it. So, the timber flooring is exposed to the sun, saving the carpet from damage. 2. This depends on many variable factors. Many carpets these days are made with am expected lifespan of around 12-15 years. Some cheaper carpets (polypropylenes) maybe 8-10 years. Many remain in service long after this. Its a matter of when the owner chooses to change it (because its had it, or they just want a change). If you meant carpet exposed to direct sunlight, fading can occur within a year or less. Total physical breakdown can occur after around 4 years on (this varies a great deal). Ash. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 6Jan 13, 2008 1:10 pm Michelle You know Ash after reading those bits of info…..I think I’ll rip my carpet up and just have the slab as my flooring! ALL TO HARD! Your choice lady! You might as well shave your hair off too. Just too high maintenance! While you're at it, get rid of your garden. All those pesky bloody weeds must be driving you crazy. Concrete it all. That'll fix it! It ain't hard! Its a matter of reasonable care and maintenance, and not being an idiot. I'd expect you don't throw some new black jeans in the wash with your white blouse?! Well, carpets require a bit of common sense care as well. Ash. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 7Jan 13, 2008 1:21 pm royalblue [quote=" I'd expect you don't throw some new black jeans in the wash with your white blouse?! Well, carpets require a bit of common sense care as well. Ash. I have done this actually..... After all the tag said “pree washed!” Only playing with you Ash……the thing is with cloths they put the tag where it can be read. Carpet care goes on the back of the sample piece you look at in the store, and you never see it again! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 8Jan 13, 2008 2:04 pm Michelle the thing is with cloths they put the tag where it can be read. Carpet care goes on the back of the sample piece you look at in the store, and you never see it again! Right! BTW I know your comment was sort of 'playing devil's advocate' and other folk may think that way, so thanks for that. My message is that carpet care is not hard, but requires some practical understanding and maintenance. Understanding the issues means that most problems never occur, allowing you to enjoy your carpets and get the most out of them. It makes my skin crawl how regularly folk abuse and neglect carpets, and then rip them up, complaining that they are dirty and stained. They spend half their potential life on the rubbish tip, while they waste their money replacing them with other costly floor-coverings! Ash. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 9Jan 13, 2008 2:50 pm Quote: Homes built with windows right to the floor are a poor design for several reasons now you tell us lol drats. Ive probably made every mistake in the world with carpets so its good to learn (Ive definately lived and learnt the hard way several times ) one thing....carpet repairs are pretty cool (professional cutting out the problem and inserting new bit of carpet) but often the carpet doesnt match exactly cos of fading whatever, still cheaper than replacing whole thing Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 10Jan 13, 2008 3:01 pm Bec, you're not alone there!
Sure, a carpet repair can be a way of getting more life from a carpet, but it may show, (being a different shade due to local fading. Another thing I've seen sometimes, is where people have carpet fitted, and have strips of the same carpet cut and overlocked. They place these on top of the fitted carpet, along the windows to protect the carpet. It works to a degree. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 13Jan 13, 2008 5:15 pm mek Ash, are you saying we should follow Shannon Lush's advice in Spotless or not? NOT! Its amazing how much $$$ people can make from CODSWALLOP!!!! To be fair, some of her 'remedies' may work in some cases. But essentially, its very poor advice (certainly when it comes to carpets)! I (and many other techs I know) have had dozens of cases to fix up where people have followed advice from the book. It has resulted in all sorts of problems, because it promotes a mindless 'follow the guru's advice' approach, rather than to educate. I'd love to come up with some very creative way of de-throning the woman! Many of her suggested treatments are just plain STUPID!!! Others may work on certain carpet types, but wreck another type. Reckless, inaccurate, unreliable, irresponsible, CLAP-TRAP!!!! Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 15Jan 13, 2008 6:05 pm bec whats the best thing for puppy accidents (urine)? #1 Prevent it happening (yeah I know...cracked record)! If it happens, immediately blot with white unprinted paper towel. Don't rub or scrub and don't apply much pressure at first. Have a roll of p/t and a bucket. Apply one sheet to liquid to blot, then put in bucket. Another sheet, blot, in bucket, repeat repeat, repeat................................................................... With each successive blotting, increase pressure. Do this until you cannot get any more liquid to bleed into fresh paper towel with heavy pressure. This technique will remove 95%> of liquid before it has a chance to absorb into most carpets. After this, some urine may still remain. There are products like Urine-off www.urine-off.com.au that are good to use ATPIT. Otherwise, a little white vinegar (1:5 dilution) can be used, and then repeat the blotting as described before. For older stains, Urine-off can be used. There are other ways & treatments, but best done by a technician. A carpet that has lots of urine contamination is highly unsanitary, and should be removed (underlay too) disposed of, and sub-floor treated. DISCLAIMER: Don't believe everything you read on the Urine-off website. Its a good product. I use it and sell it, but it is not the answer in a bottle(that it claims to be) in every case. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 17Jan 13, 2008 6:23 pm BTW getting back to the original topic (colour loss)....
Urine initially is fairly chemically benign. If treated thoroughly and effectively as described, no probs. However, if left for a few days or more, urine changes its chemical properties. As it oxidises, it turns into alkaline salts. As I have said, alkalinity can destabilize dyes, and damage fibres. Wool will be permanently damaged by old urine stains, as it will be chemically 'burnt' turning fibres yellow. Nylons can lose colour and also yellow if urine is left without being neutralised. Re: Teenagers, substance abuse & carpet!!!! 18Jan 13, 2008 9:27 pm Thanks for that from me too. We are getting new puppy next week, picture enclosed (who introduced her to photobucket? ) and will have to be house trained. I know what your'e saying about prevention but haven't had a dog for nearly a year and do need a new one!
Logic is that we get her now and any problems to carpets happen in our old house, all at least 8 years old, will try our best with cleaning but bottom line is we're not staying here after this year. Definetely have her house trained before we move to new house. Well, I should think so, seeing as site not even scraped yet!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 1 11154 1 15956 they can, it's a fairly standard solution when the slab isn't recessed. the falls need to be in the main floor, if it hasn't been done then you need to ask them to redo… 4 6654 |