Carpet Maintenance Guidelines
For Commercial Applications
Table of Contents
Purpose of Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintenance Plan and Schedule – the five elements
Clean and Dry – Improving air quality and environment
Developing a Carpet Maintenance Plan
VACUUMING – Recommended flooring maintenance
Basic Scientific Principles of Effective Restorative Cleaning
CLEANING – Recommended flooring maintenance
Hard Surfaces Adjoining Carpet Surfaces
Spills and Spots and How to Effectively Treat Them
Summary of Carpet Cleaning Principles
Acknowledgments
Kawartha Clean Team, would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the following people for their
direction and input into the Carpet Maintenance Guidelines.
Dr. Michael A. Berry, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
D.T. Bradford, CR, Commercial Carpet Maintenance Chairman, IICRC, Arnold,
MD.
Cindy Sayre, Product Maintenance Specialist, Shaw Industries, Inc., Dalton, GA.
Carpet has excellent wear and soiling characteristics, which are unique and totally unlike
those inherent to other floor coverings.
This publication is written to assist facilities managers, maintenance supervisors and
anyone who buys, sells, specifies, or is responsible for the maintenance of a commercial carpet installation. It is designed to provide information in two very important areas:
first, to build awareness of the importance of clean carpet and good indoor air quality;
and second, to offer recommendations that will assist in developing a maintenance plan tailored to the commercially carpeted environment.
Written in concise, yet thorough fashion, the information included in the Carpet
Maintenance Guidelines is science based and backed up by sound environmental
management principles. If utilized, its contents can help foster a healthier indoor
environment and extend the life of the carpet.
Where any doubt exists as to the best method of cleaning a carpet, check with the
manufacturer of the carpet or seek expert advice from a professional.