Cleaning for health and the environment is a sound practice that benefits building occupants and service providers. First of all, a healthy indoor environment contributes to occupant well being and hence, productivity.

And in today’s competitive marketplace there is a strong consumer demand for highly effective products that produce a “green clean” and also make a softer environmental footprint. To be successful, a cleaning plan must be economical, simple to use, and produce measurably consistent results.

A key point in cleaning for health is to recognize that fiber surfaces such as carpet may appear to be cleaner than they actually are.

Carpet acts as a filter by collecting particulates, soil and residue as they settle from the air, are tracked in, dropped or spilled. Although some are clearly visible, others work into the fiber of the carpet. This unseen soil can break down the carpet fibers, which significantly shortens the life of the carpet.

Although the carpet does not appear dirty, it is holding dirt. The accumulation of hidden dirt continues if regular interim maintenance is not performed on a scheduled basis. It is a mistake to rely on appearance alone, especially since regular interim maintenance will greatly increase overall cleanliness and extend the life of the carpet.

Moreover, dependence on restorative cycles may exacerbate the problem. Hot water extraction methods may utilize undesirably harsh chemicals. It may require multiple passes to extract the dirt, which can lead to over-wetting. Besides the traffic flow problems of long down times, over-wet carpet can breed fungus or molds, which deteriorate indoor air quality.

If carpet is allowed to gradually absorb soil without being cleaned it becomes “uglied out.” This means the soil has been allowed to build up, the carpet cannot be acceptably cleaned, and for aesthetic reasons must be replaced. This shortsighted solution sends more materials to landfills and tallies up capital losses. It is possible to avoid the entire downward arc by initiating an interim maintenance policy that implements scheduled frequency minimums.

As providers of both cleaning chemicals and equipment for the carpet industry, manufacturers are repeatedly asked how often cleaning should be performed.

A pioneer of low-moisture “encapsulation” cleaning technology, the R.E. Whittaker Company has searched for a simple answer to cleaning frequency  that would be meaningful to carpet manufacturers, distributors, owners, facility managers and cleaning contractors.

It came from a customer in Japan. The customer created and patented a system to determine frequency of cleaning while using Whittaker’s LOMAC cleaning system as part of his carpet cleaning program. He offered Whittaker his patent for their exclusive use in the United States, which initiated Whittaker’s Carpet Accountability System.

An accountability system produces verifiable results. This unique cleaning control method actually assesses accumulated dirt in the carpet by taking measurements with a Tristimulus Colorimeter. Clean carpet fibers have a numerical reading of zero; as they become soiled, the number increases.

Whittaker’s patented Carpet Accountability System, which validates the need for cleaning before a carpet “looks” dirty, works by first Chemicals, which include Green Seal certified chemistries, require less water and have quick dry times. Products are designed to last, which contributes to source reduction; and production levels nearly double traditional methods.

Whittaker strives to balance product dependability with “green” chemicals, and is committed to reuse, reduce, and recycle. Implementing an accountability system with a smart interim maintenance program can result in a successful and economic plan that will extend the time between restorative cleaning cycles, protect capital investments, increase productivity, and meet environmentally sustainable goals.

For more detailed information, visit www.whittakersystem.com. ❑