I think one of my favorite things (you learn when you do floors for a living...and certain things can destroy a floor) is that the customer is almost never right!  One reason I had the great reputation in the floor care business is that I would tell customers when they were wrong.  Yes, you lose some this way.  But amazing how many leave, destroy their floor, or let some other cleaner destroy it, and then beg you back!!!!!  Like the customer that said she heard from a marble installer that milk is a great way to clean marble.  I said she would ruin it with milk..  She said the installer would know more than I would.  (I repair marble ...but what do I know about what will harm it...)  Tell ya what, take milk, put it on marble, and don't get it all off quickly..  It takes only 1 hour for milk to etch marble!!!  Her home marble cleaning job ended up costing her 850.00 for me to repair the problem.   

   The other is when it comes to allergies.  I love how many people think that carpet is the worst thing in the world if you have allergies.  Ok..let's not even get into the science that proves that to be BS....and I know the science.....let's take common sense...  Of course, I am amazed how many people that earn 6 figures plus have NONE!!!!!!!!  Why is carpet bad if you have allergies...  because it holds dust..  I agree..it does..  Common Sense Alert:  - Why is carpet the best thing if you have dust allergies????  (playing the Jeopardy music here...) because it HOLDS THE DUST!!!!!!!   Hard floors: dust flies all over the place.  You think you can swiffer it away...and it doesn't come back...within a few minutes???  WRONG!!!  :)  Everytime you walk, move, open a door, etc... the dust on the hard surfaces blow UP into the air.. 

  I had people argue this with me.  Including several Doctors.. One idiot ripped all his carpet out cause his son was very allergic to dust.  He READ that carpet is very bad.  HE IS A DR!!!!!!!!   Called me an idiot and said I had no clue what I was talking about and should get a new career.  I am happy to say, he now has a house full of beautiful plush carpet.  Changes his air filter every 2 months (something else I told him to do) and has some nice ion air filters in the kids rooms.  Why ion air filters??  Cause they make dust drop like a rock INTO the carpet...where your nice HEPA vacuum will suck it all up and not put it back into the air.  

Excellent post, Greg! I've often wondered why it's been said that carpet is bad for allergies, since it acts like a floor filter by trapping dust & dirt away from the NOSE, lol, and preventing it from floating in the air. By the way, what is the best air filter on the market in your opinion? Is there a filter out there that prevents those brown stains from developing along the edges of the carpeting along the baseboards? I was told this kind of stianing is due to the air flow through hallways and through the bottoms of bedroom doors that are always kept closed.

 More truths...:)  Those dark areas are called Air Filtration Lines.  They occur because of the route that air takes in a house/room.  Would you believe, in a 7 room house, with fairly dark lines around all the walls and under some of the doors, (usually, those lines are between 3/4 and 1 inch wide) I get about 400-500.00 minimum to clean them.  The reason, they are a pain in the ass!!!!!!  And the other reason...they can be prevented if people are NOT lazy!!!  Well, we all know they are...thus, we are all in business.  :)

  Ok...anyways,......these lines are caused as air moves through a house.  Air will search out the area of least resistance to its getting OUT.  This will be under doors (when they are closed) and UNDER the walls/baseboards.  This air moving under these areas uses the carpet as a filter.  The dirt actually burries itself inside the carpet fibers.  Once it is dark enough to see, you can't just vacuum it away.  It is IN the pores of each fiber.

When a furnace/air conditioner is running, it is causing positive pressure inside the rooms.  This possitive pressure MUST get out.  In old houses, this is never a problem.  NOTE, that you will rarely see these lines in older homes.  You will always find these lines in new homes with new windows.  You have a trade off.  Very closed up energy efficient house, or no nasty dirt lines in your carpet.  Your choice..    You can have both, but that requires work...and again...people are lazy!

Ok...  Simple way to fix this... Have people leave open their chimney flu if they have one.  Keep a window on each floor cracked open even 1/16 inch.  Do NOT shut closet doors all the time.  Alternate days, open and shut.  Really, the prevention for this is sooo easy.  The best way to fix it....the edges of the rooms and under every single door MUST be vacuumed with that little edge attachment that comes with vacuum cleaners.  This must be done at LEAST once a week.  The more the better.  I actually had a client, an engineer at GE ask me what the hell an edge attachment was.  LMAO!!!!!  Man in his late 40's making more in a year than I ever made in 10 years combined!!!!!!!  Oh well.....  That is what keeps us all in business.  :)

More on these fun lines...  The BEST air filters....well...I use consumer reports for this as they can test in many situations and don't care who's feelings they stomp on.  :)   From them:

Whirlpool’s Whispure AP45030S, at $230, is Consumer Reports’ top choice among the 27 portable filter purifiers that were tested and rated followed by the Kenmore Progressive 83202, at $270. The highest rated models did a better job of cleaning at their lowest, quietest speeds than many others did at their higher, noisier settings.

Among whole-house air purifiers that don’t produce ozone, the Lennox Healthy Climate HC16 was CR’s top choice among professionally-installed filter systems; it was also a CR Best Buy at $350. The Healthy Climate system uses non-HEPA filtration and emits no ozone.

Two do-it-yourself furnace filters—3M Filtrete 1700, at $20, and 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Reduction 1250, at $16—did nearly as good a job at removing dust and are a simple, inexpensive upgrade from a standard furnace filter. But they aren’t the best at removing smoke—an issue if there are people living in the house who smoke.

I personally have always liked the Allergy Free air filter you hear about on Paul Harvey.  Not cheap, but it does a great job! The trick to air filters (whole house) is that you must change them every 2-3months AT LEAST !!!!!  NEVER leave them for the 4, 6, or 12 months some claim to be good for.  NOT!!!!!!

It's a service I always did for my customers when I did floors.  I would always check their filter, and tell them if it needed replaced.  I even carried a few of the standard sized ones and would replace them if they needed it.  NO charge of course.  I used the filters that were like 7-8 bucks...  so not a big expense when you think of the loyalty it gets you.  I will be doing that in this business as well once I have some income to buy them... 

Anyways.....  if you have a place with these lines really bad...they really need to be professionally done.  And it is NOT cheap. The chemical that is made just for this problem is very very expensive. And to do the job right, you are on your hands and knees for 8-10 hours..  Trust me, there is a reason it costs so much...

 Anything else you all wish to know about carpet, tile, stone, grout, wood, etc.... just ask me.  I not only went to school 3 weeks a year for this stuff.....I also taught a week a year and gave seminars at the conference in Vegas.  (you'd think I would start a floor company..LOL  but I can't afford the startup equipment cost...)

 

- Greg

 ps.  Anyone want a course on carpet wear?  And why 'berber' is the worst *** ever invented!!!!!!!  (note, berber is in quotes there, because berber is a COLOR!!!!!!  not a carpet type.)  Bet ya didn't know that did ya!!!!!??????

I thought those were called "Soil Filtration Lines" and could be cleaned with agitation using a degreaser?  You are very correct on the reason for the dark lines.  I appreciate the explanation for those who are not sure of this mystery.  Very well explained!

Torrey

I just read your P/S about Berber.  From what I know, it's not a name of a carpet but actually the name of a carpet WEAVE.  It can be made of various fibers but the weave is what defines if it is Berber or not.  There's cheap Berber and expensive Berber.  I didn't realize it was also a color.  Hmmmm.....off to see for myself!

Torrey

 Here is a great article on filtration lines by Jeff Cross

http://www.cleanprosonline.com/Filtration_soiling.html 

 Air filtration or Soil filtration, ...they are essentially the same.  The air is carrying the soil.:) 

Yes, aggitation and a good degreaser can work.  Aggitation is essential.  There is a chemical that is made especially for the process that cuts the time in 1/2.  But to do the job right, you will be on your hands and knees for hours.  You will not get 'black' lines out with a long pole and a coule swipes.  Trust me...doing it for a living for over 9 years...if there was an easy way to do something, I found it.  LOL  There is not really an easy way to deal with bad filtration lines.  

 I get my definition of berber from a conference I attended at Mohawk in Calhoun, GA.  Berber (to them anyways) refers to the multi-colored fibers.  The pile is 'tuft'.  Tuft is the looped strands.  Berber has mistankenly become known as the name of the carpet, because 99% of it is multi-colored and that is what people started calling ALL tuft carpets.  

California Berber is NOT a tuft carpet.  Rather, it is a Frieze.  A longer fiber that is similar to Shag.  Shag, by the way, was the absolute BEST carpet ever invented.  Ugly...hell yeah!!!!  But, you couldn't kill that stuff.  The new Frieze is very similar.  It's called short shag at times.  The fiber will stand up to just about anything.  The name california berber comes from the fact that most frieze is multi-colored fibers.  

Again, I get my info from the people that make this stuff.  Here is a funny one.  At a course on manufacturing techniques I took in Atlanta, the VP of production of Shaw called Stainmaster carpet the Master of Holding Stains!!!!  The place went wild laughing..  Kicker is, he is 10000% right.  If a 'stiain' sits on that fiber for a long period of time (couple days) it will NOT come out easily at all.  If at all.

I had customers (all wealthy people for the most part have 'berber' carpet and swear by it.....WHEN IT'S NEW) that it is the greatest carpet in the world. That it doesn't show wear.  blah blah blah!!!!   I will tell you all now...I never had a customer with 'berber' that had one nice thing EVER to say about it after 3-5 years.  Here is the problem:  You have looped pile.  when dirt gets into the loops, it doesn't do magic tricks and make 90 degree turns as you vacuum it.  Also, since MOST berber carpets are textured, your vacuum is only working about 30% of how it should.  Doesn't that just suck.  Or rather, it doesn't.  LOL     Anyways, (WARNING, SCIENCE STUFF HERE....) wear is caused by the breaking down of fibers.  This happens on clothes, and carpets.  (funny how people KNOW clothes wear out, but think that their carpet is never supposed to...and some people swear that carpets can't wear out!!!!)  As dirt builds up in a fiber (remember, it gets inside the pores) and you rub it (walk on it for carpets) it chisels away at the fibers just like sandpaper. 

This is why you should vacuum 2 times a day, and have your carpets professionally cleaned with extraction at least 2 times a year.  MORE on heavy traffic areas.  Hot water extraction does NOT damage carpets.  Dry cleaning is a joke!!!!  We did both.  Only did dry cleaning when people were too stupid to get it....and they demanded it....so we would do it.  Dry cleaning uses a dry chemical to grab the dirt and then a buffer (usually) is used with a carpet pad to scrub the fibers and remove the dirt.  Tell ya what.  Spray some WD-40 on your carpets (this is not too bad, btw) and then use your sponge mop.  You get the exact same results!!!!!! Notice, you don't remove anything...you actually clean the tips of the fibers quite well normally. So the carpet may actually look brighter and cleaner than hot water extraction.  But get ready for this one ladies and gents....  The dirt....90% of it.....went deeper into the carpet!!!!!  But hell, your carpets were dry in an hour!!!!

Please note, dry cleaning is NOT the same as the new technology of encapsulation.  Encapsulation is GREAT!!!!!  Why, because when done right, it uses a dry chemical that eats the dirt.  (pretty cool to actually watch this happen, btw) and then it is ....and here is the key word.....EXTRACTED!!!!!  Your carpets will be dry in an hour or less...  most companies do NOT do this yet...  I do!

Some companies use very high pressure to clean.  Stanley Steamer, Coit, etc... I fixed many many of their jobs in my 9+ years.  Hot water extraction is a very very good way to clean carpets.  Same way you clean your clothes...  The difference is, a good company only wets about 70-75% of the carpet fiber.  And then the extraction is good enough to remove 90-95% of the solution.  Carpets done properly should be dry in about 2-4 hours.  (science note:  heat is BAD for drying carpet.. AC is very GOOD for drying carpets...)  I'll let you all see if you can figure out why that is....post if you know. :)

I should write a book!!!!!  :)

 Back to the 'berber'.....  those will normally wear out much faster in traffic areas than any other type of carpet.  when you vaccum or have them extraction cleaned, the dirt gets sucked up INTO the top of the inside of the loop.  Thus, you grind that little puppy up from the inside out.  This is why you always see this crap looking flattened.  Especially in traffic areas.    My favorite thing, was to always know this.  I wasn't there, I didn't spill it, but of course, that spot, and that wear (remember carpets never wear out) is MY FAULT!!!!!!  I did learn that pretty quickly in the business.  I puked up the red cough syrup all over the white (who the hell has 4 kids and 3 dogs and puts in PURE white carpet all through the house..including the dining room....MORONS!!!!!!)  carpeting...  hehehe   

Teflon and Scotchguard....two of the greatest things every created.  They both do amazing things..if a bit differently.  Teflon is better for dirt and soil resistance.  Scotchguard is much better at resisting liquids.  So depending on where the carpet is, depends on what should be put down.  They both essentially, however, act like a wax coating.  Imagine, if you will, a carpet fiber.  It is very porous.  millions of little holes all through the fibers.  These two products when applied properly (that takes a TON of training, btw, to do it right) fills in all those holes.  Thus, the carpets will vacuum sooooo much easier.  Why?  All the dirt can't get INSIDE the fibers.  (note, loops still get dirt inside them..)  Thus, when the person vacuums, the carpets will look brighter and cleaner.  If there is a spill, they still MUST get it up quicly.  Amazing how many people would spill soda, or kool-aid, and think , oh, the carpet has protector on it...we can leave it there til the end of the tv show..or when I get home..  Protector only gives you a few extra minutes to fix the spill!!!!!  And once the spill has been cleaned up, the protector is GONE in that spot.  

 

Anyways, sorry for the long dissertations...LOL.. can you tell I love floor and carpet work..  I am the best at what I did.. Just as a DR goes to school several times a year to learn new stuff...so did I.  I took advantage of every school I could go to.  And since the boss paid for them all...why not go!!!!

 

Anything else...just ask... If I think of something more..I'll just keep adding to this section...with more truths!

 Just a quickie on carpet life..  Carpets today and for the past 15 years have been designed and made to last an average of 8 years.  But wait, you saw ads and warranties for 15 years, etc...  Try to collect on one of those warranties...seriously...try.  You can't DO everything that is required for the warranty to stay valid.  These people are NOT stupid....

The reason for the life span of 8 years built into the carpets....  well, simple economics..  MOST home owners move on average every 7-8 years.  I know, we don't...but this is a world wide statistic.  Now, the carpet makers don't want the new owner to keep that same carpet... they want them to get a new carpet.  Thus, create a carpet fiber that lasts about as long as someone plans on living there.  

Just thought some of you may like to know that.  :)  

What...you want more....ok..one more....;)

If you have a customer that is planning on selling their house...  and the carpets have seen better days..  Advise them to NOT get new carpets...  Have them cleaned.  But that's it.  Maybe if just one room, ok..but still you can NOT recoupe the cost of new carpet when you sell your house.  Better is to give the new buyer a carpet allowence.  That way, they get what they want...and they are happy cause they got money off the house for it.  And this is great cause if they don't mention the carpets, you don't have to give them the allowence..  If they say, well, we love it, but.....then you say:  How about I knock off x grand as a carpeting allowence so you can have it recarpeted with whatever you want.?  They will LOVE it!!!!  

Also, I have seen many home owners put in new carpet cause they thought theirs was so bad no one would be interested....and when the house sold, that brand new month old carpet was sitting in dumpsters...  (hehe I recarpeted my entire house (7 rooms and basement) with carpet that wasn't a month old from exactly that situation..new owner hated it!!!!)  

 

Great posts, Greg! You just answered several questions I had about furnace filters and carpets. You really should write that book. :)

" I get my definition of berber from a conference I attended at Mohawk in Calhoun, GA.  Berber (to them anyways) refers to the multi-colored fibers. "

 

Actually Greg, you were missinformed!

The name Berber comes from the name of the tribe who first wove it on a horizontal loom!

To see one being made, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E5MlkrnAx0