Depending on facility type and size a commercial building can have dozens or hundreds of visitors per day. Those high traffic loads generate a lot of stress on your commercial-grade carpeting.  Without proper maintenance, that carpet can deteriorate to the point that there is no alternative other than replacement; an expensive proposition. However, there are things you can do that will help extend the life of your commercial carpet.

Entry-Matting - A First Line of Protection

Investing in an entry matting system can be a cost-effective way to protect your commercial carpeting. Studies have shown that up to 70% of contaminates (dirt, dust, sludge, etc.) within any commercial building is tracked in on the bottoms of shoes. Good entry matting can prevent a significant percentage of those contaminates from ever finding their way into your carpeted surfaces.  Simply put, dirt stopped at the door cannot damage your commercial carpet.

HVAC Maintenance

Take a look into your facilities air ducts. You will likely be disturbed by what you find. Proper HVAC maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of carpet protection.

Poorly maintained HVAC systems---including dirty air ducts---can be a primary source of dirt and dust within your facility; dirt and dust that can eventually find its way into your carpeting. Removing airborne contaminates from your HVAC system has the dual benefit of protecting your carpeting while also improving the overall health of your facility.

Rapid Spot and Stain Removal

Spots and stains are an inevitable source of aggravation with any carpet maintenance program. When left unattended these unsightly blemishes can work to reduce the life of your commercial carpeting. The key is rapid reaction combined with proper stain removal techniques.

The nature of the stain will dictate your choice of chemicals and solutions to use to remove the stain. Equally important is proper cleaning techniques. The basics.....

Do not arbitrarily scrub the stain as doing so may damage the carpet. Instead, starting at the outside edges of the stain, blot the stain from the outside in. Rinse with water then repeat the blotting/rinsing process until the stain is no longer being transferred to your cleaning cloth. Using a clean, dry, towel pat the area dry and then cover with a layer of paper towels to soak up any remaining liquid.

Vacuuming and Steam Cleaning

This seems obvious but the reality is that a lot of commercial carpeting never reaches it potential lifespan due to inadequate vacuuming and steam cleaning. The frequency of these cleanings will depend on several factors such as facility type, foot traffic, external environment, etc., but there are a few basic guidelines to follow.

• Heavy traffic areas: Vacuum on a daily basis
• Moderate traffic areas: Vacuum 2 or 3 times per week
• Low traffic areas: Vacuum once per week

Commercial carpeting should be steam cleaned once or twice per year depending on traffic levels and other environmental factors.

Commercial carpet replacement can be an expensive and disruptive proposition. Following these four tips can significantly extend the life of your carpeting.