|
Absorb |
Taking up of a substance
into the carpet through pores or small opening (i.e. chalk, talc, and
sawdust are absorbent powders). |
|
Acetic Acid Rinse |
Acts as neutralizing agent
for detergent residues. Sets fugitive colors. |
|
Acid |
Any substance, which when
dissolved in water, yields a pH below 7. |
|
Adsorb |
That which is taken onto the
carpet by adherence to the surface (i.e. soot, etc.) |
|
Alkali |
Any substance which when
dissolved in water, yields pH above 7. |
|
Animal Stain |
Discoloration of the carpet
caused by animal waste. |
|
Anti-microbial |
A chemical that prevents the
growth of mold, bacteria, mildew, etc., reducing their destructive action to the carpet and eliminating
accompanying odors. Applied to carpet at mill level, built into some
fibers and applied on-location. |
|
Anti-stat |
A chemical substance applied
to the carpet, or a special backing, to reduce static electricity to
acceptable levels. |
|
Auxiliary Tanks |
Means of storing addition
supply of water and returned dirty solution in steam carpet cleaning
truck mounted units. |
|
Base Unit |
The principal power and
supply source used in steam carpet cleaning. |
|
Beater |
Special equipment used to
remove loose dirt or dust from the carpet prior to cleaning. |
|
Biodegradable |
Has the capability of being
decomposed by naturally occurring
micro-organisms. |
|
Bleach |
An oxidizing or reducing
agent used to remove color. |
|
Bleeding |
This is a loss or transfer
of color from one section of the carpet to another, usually under
hot-wet conditions. |
|
Bone Scraper |
A flat blade-shaped tool
that is made of bone or plastic. Used to remove or loosen encrusted
dirt or material from the surface of the carpet. |
|
Brighteners |
Optical whiteners or
fluorescent whitening agents used in cleaning process. Under the
influence of ultraviolet light, emit a visible blue-white light. |
|
Browning |
A yellowish or brownish
discoloration of the carpet's face, usually caused by impurities in
the cellulose fibers, such as cotton and jute, which wick up to the
face fibers on over wetting. Most often caused by: excess alkalinity in the
cleaning agent used in steam cleaning; activated alkaline residue left by
previous cleaning efforts; over wetting; a combination of any of these. May
sometimes appear in shades other than brown or yellow depending on color
of effected carpet. |
|
Buffer |
Chemical agents that are
used to maintain a constant pH level. |
|
Builder |
Material added to detergent formulations to increase their effectiveness
by acting as a water softener and alkaline buffer, i.e. borax, sodium tripoly-phosphate. |
|
Burn Test |
A method of identification
by noting the odor and ash from burnt fiber. |
|
Chemical Sponge |
A special sponge that
contains chemical agents used to remove soot from nearby walls and
baseboards. |
|
Circling |
Circular streaks left on the
carpet after a rotary shampooing because of improper cleaning
technique by the operator. |
|
Cleaning Agents |
Detergent or emulsifying
agent used in the carpet cleaning process. |
|
Cleaning
Head |
Used in steam carpet
cleaning, sometimes called a scrub wand. A lightweight tool used in
back and forth motion (spraying on the back stroke, vacuuming on the
forward stroke). Contains spray nozzles and vacuum slot solution
control valve. |
|
Clouding |
Usually caused by over
wetting. Residue from previous cleanings which is not removed and left
too wet will wick up the carpet fiber and cause a cloudy appearance on
the surface. Customer complaint may state that carpet looked dirty
after it dried. |
|
Compression |
A force which tends to
squeeze or press together. |
|
Crocking |
This is a loss of the
carpets excess color when rubbed in either the wet or dry state. |
|
Defoamer |
A surface-active agent that
is used in cleaning to reduce detergent foaming. |
|
Degreaser |
Solvent used in the cleaning
process to remove heavy oils or grease from the carpet. |
|
Deodorizer |
Products specifically
formulated to destroy, mask or modify unpleasant odors from the
carpet. |
|
Detergent |
Any substance which is
capable of dislodging, removing or emulsifying soils. Generally, the
term is used for formulated products that contain surfactant builders,
solvents etc. |
|
Digester |
A chemical agent, usually an
organic enzyme, which is used to break down stains like blood or food
products. |
|
Disaster Repair |
Those services that relate
to cleaning, repairing or restoring carpets, resilient floors,
draperies, upholstery etc. damaged as a result of fire, smoke, water
etc. |
|
Disinfectant |
An agent used to completely destroy
all harmful bacteria. Labeling for such materials requires proof of
effectiveness for registration with EPA. |
|
Drag Tool |
A
heavy weighted piece of equipment (wand) used for hot water extraction
"steam" carpet cleaning. The wand contains the vacuum head and detergent jets. |
|
Dry Foam Cleaning
|
In this cleaning method a
concentrated foam is used as the cleaning element. |
|
Dry
Absorbent Cleaning |
A carpet cleaning method that uses an
absorbent powder that contains a solvent. The powder is worked into the
carpet pile in order to absorb the grease and dirt, allowed to set for a
period and then vacuumed. |
|
Dry Room |
A large enclosed
chamber through which hot air circulates. Carpets are hung in this room to
dry after in-plant cleaning. |
|
Dry Rot |
Disintegration of carpet
backing which is caused by mildew. |
|
Dry
Spotter |
A stain removal agent which contains dry solvents. Used
primarily for grease or oily type stains. |
|
Fatty Acids |
Oily acidic materials that are formed by degradation of animal tissues.
|
|
Feather In |
Use of a bone scraper to work a stain
removal agent into the pile of the carpet. |
|
Fluffing |
Refers to loose fibers appearing on the surface of the
carpet. |
|
Foiled Tabs |
Paper or plastic squares,
usually about 3" square, used to protect the damp carpet fibers from
damage by furniture legs, rust, stain etc. |
|
Fume Fading |
Also referred to as gas fading, this is a loss or shift in the dye color
of the carpet due to attack by atmospheric contaminants. Ozone, generated
by thunder storms, and oxides of nitrogen from gas furnaces are the most
common fading agents. |
|
Furniture Protectors |
Paper and
foil squares set under furniture legs to avoid rust marks after carpet
cleaning. |
|
Hg |
Inches of mercury. Means of measuring
vacuum. |
|
Hydrophilic |
The part of a detergent molecule
which has a high affinity for water. |
|
Implosion |
To
burst inward or collapse. The opposite of explosion. |
|
Injection
Kit |
Device used to inject odor control solution into the source
of odor problems. |
|
In-plant Cleaning
|
Any cleaning
process in which the carpet is brought to a plant for cleaning; as opposed
to on-location in which the carpet is cleaned in the customer's home,
business etc. |
|
L.E.D. |
Light emitting diodes used for
digital read out. |
|
Location Cleaning |
All cleaning
work performed in the home, office, store or other area, where equipment
is brought to the area, regardless of method. |
|
Micro |
So small as to be undetectable to unaided human
senses. |
|
Mildew |
Fungus growth that can occur on
carpet fibers. Causes odor and fiber degradation. |
|
Moisture
Regain |
The amount of moisture an oven-dry fiber will absorb
when it is exposed to the atmosphere. Usually expressed as percent at
70°F., 65%RH. Typical values are wool, 15%; nylon, 4%; polyester, 0.4%;
olefin, 0%. |
|
Nap Finishing Brush |
Long handled, nylon
bristled brush used to set carpet pile in one
direction. |
|
Neutral Cleaning
|
Any cleaning product
having a pH or 7, and is therefore neither acid nor
alkaline. |
|
Odor Control Concentrate |
Agent used in
absorbing and controlling rancid odors in
carpeting. |
|
Oleophilic |
That part of a detergent
molecule which has a high affinity for oil. |
|
Ozone |
A
highly reactive gas and oxidizing agent formed by passing a high voltage
current through air. Used as a deodorizing agent. |
|
PSI |
Pounds per square inch. Measure used in determining solution pressure in
steam carpet cleaning. |
|
Perborate |
Used in some wet
spotting preparations and browning treatment, this is usually sodium perborate. A mild oxidizing agent. |
|
Peroxide |
Any one
of several strong oxidizing compounds, but generally hydrogen
peroxide. |
|
Piezoelectric |
Transformation of mechanical
force to electricity, or conversely, transformation of electricity to
mechanical force. |
|
Pile Distortion |
When there is a
loss of texture or pattern on the surface of the carpet. |
|
Pile
Lay |
Direction taken by surface
yarn during manufacture. |
|
Pile Lifter |
A heavy duty reel-type
vacuum which is used to loosen embedded soil and erect the carpet pile.
Usually done before cleaning. |
|
P.O.G. |
Used to
describe agent for removing paint, oil and grease from
carpets. |
|
Pre-spotting |
Prior to the overall cleaning
of the carpet, pre-spotting is done to remove stains. |
|
Reels |
Storage facility for hoses on truck mounted
steam cleaning units. |
|
Residue |
Is material
that has been left in the carpet after the carpet has been
cleaned. |
|
Rotary Brush Cleaning |
A cleaning method in
which a high foam shampoo is scrubbed over the fabric by a rotary
brush. |
|
Rust Remover |
Chemical applied to yarn surface
for quick removal of rust and other iron related
marks. |
|
Sanitizer |
An agent which yields a significant
reduction in the level of harmful bacteria. Legal labeling requirements
for sanitizers are not as stringent as those for
disinfectants. |
|
Sequestrate |
A chemical agent which
reduces water hardness by forming soluble compounds with calcium,
magnesium and iron compounds. |
|
Shag Rake |
A rake with
plastic tines that is used to align or lift high pile shag after cleaning
and yield improved appearance. |
|
Shampoo |
Generally a
high foam detergent preparation and used for rotary cleaning or in-plant
cleaning. |
|
Slot Velocity |
The amount of air wash
passing the lips of the cleaning head. Measured in feet of air per
minute. |
|
Soil Retardant |
An agent that is applied to
the carpet to retard or decrease the rate of soiling. |
|
Stain
Repellent |
An agent that is applied to the carpets surface which
primarily acts as a water repellent. |
|
Steam Cleaning |
The cleaning method in which the detergent solution is forced through jets
under high pressure into the carpet pile and immediately removed along
with loose and emulsified soil though a wet vacuum. The vacuum head and
jets are usually mounted on the same piece of
equipment. |
|
Stripper |
A strong reducing agent that is
used like bleach to remove color. |
|
Surfactant |
Specifically, a surface active material used in detergent formulations as
a wetting or penetrating agent, emulsifier or
dispersant. |
|
Traffic Lane Paper
|
Paper placed in high
traffic areas, which must be opened to foot traffic while the carpet is
still damp. |
|
Truck Mounted |
Steam carpet cleaning
equipment which is mounted in a vehicle. Usually only the cleaning head
and hoses are taken onto the premise to be cleaned. |
|
Water
Hardness |
The amount of metallic salts, such as calcium,
magnesium or iron dissolved in water. These can form in soluble "curds"
with some surfactants and reduce the effectiveness of the
cleaning. |
|
Wood Blocks |
Small blocks of wood, usually
2"x 2"x 1", used to prop up console type furniture and allow air passage
under the piece. |
