Removing Dirt From Your Carpet

The most important part of carpet maintenanceaffect the appearance of the carpet, based on a
is removing and disposing of accumulated dry soil.year of normal usage.
The removal of dry soil will improve the air qualityIf a vacuum cleaner meets all three of the above
indoors, extend carpet life, and help to maintainrequirements, the manufacturer may then display
the carpet. Keeping regular maintenance on yourthe official CRI Green Label on it's brand of
carpet is one thing, although being sure you havevacuum cleaner. The CRI tests canister and
the right equipment on the job is another.upright vacuums, wide area vacuums, and even
The Green Labelwalk behind types as well.
For vacuum cleaners, the CRI (Carpet and RugMatching machines Looking for that important
Institute) has developed a Green Label testingGreen Label is the first step to providing longer
program. The CRI developed the performancecarpet life and cleaner air for your home or office.
protocol with the goal of protecting indoor quality,The next step is selecting the proper vacuum
keeping all surfaces as clean as possible, and allcleaner for a specific area. You can think of
without putting dust back into the air.vacuum cleaners like screwdrivers, as you
The Green Label program helps to identifywouldn't want to use a Phillips head screwdriver to
vacuum cleaners that meet three different typesremove a flathead screw.
of criteria:In the bigger, more open areas, a wide are
1. Removing soil.vacuum cleaner or sweeper can produce excellent
2. Keeping dust out of the air by containing itresults, as well as an increase in productivity. The
within the filtration bag and the machine itself.average 14 inch upright vacuum can clean at a
3. It doesn't damage the carpet and helps to keeprate of 3,000 square feet per hour, while the
the appearance looking good.average walk behind can clean at a rate of
The tests for determining the certification of a40,000 square feet per hour, and also lift the pile
vacuum cleaner were developed by carpet andof carpet in high traffic areas where the carpet
vacuum experts and reviewed by scientists withfibers are subject to crushing and matting.
experience in maintenance and the quality ofThe two motor upright vacuum cleaner is an
indoor air.excellent choice in areas such as executive
Soil removaloffices, lobbies, conference rooms, and break
The soil removal protocol will require that theareas. A two motor upright can provide grooming
vacuum cleaner remove a specified quantity ofof the fibers in the carpet and removal of the dry
soil from the test carpet in four passes.soil. Most uprights with two motor setups will also
Dust containmenthave a removable hose and on board accessories
The protocol for dust containment will dictate thefor cleaning other areas as well, such as vents
total amount of dust particles that are releasedand chairs.
into the surrounding air by the action of the brushAlong with the type of area, you should also give
rolls, through the filtration bag, and any leaks thatsome thought to the needs of the operator. If
come from the vacuum system. with this test,you are a manager, you should look for vacuums
the vacuum cleaner can't release more than 100with ergonomic features, especially if the vacuum
micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter ofwill be used for long periods of time.  
air.If it isn't ergonomically designed, it could result in
Carpet retentioninjury to the operator. At the very least, the
The testing protocol for appearance retention willcleaning operator might want to avoid using
require that the vacuum cleaner not adverselyvacuum cleaners that could result in injury.