Rethinking clean: carpet maintenance achieves more than aesthetic benefits; Dry cleaning technology helps to remove more than just dirt from carpets.

Have you considered installing carpet in your long-term care facility but didn't because you thought it would be too hard to keep clean? That's unfortunate, because carpet is a great choice for facilities that cater to senior adults, with several key advantages over hard-surface floors. According to the International E-Journal of Flooring Sciences, carpet is a stable, nonslip surface that insulates against noise. It also retains warmth, which is helpful for the elderly who tend to have cold feet and ankles.

But proper maintenance is essential in preserving the look of your carpet and providing a safe, healthy environment for residents and staff. Poorly maintained carpet can quickly show the wear caused by foot traffic, along with the stains and spills that are a reality in any long-term care facility.

Carpet also acts as a filter, collecting all of the allergens that naturally occur in the air and even small amounts of the chemicals used to clean countertops and other surfaces. These allergens, if left to accumulate, can be reintroduced into air when someone walks on or otherwise disturbs the carpet fibers. Senior adults tend to have less robust immune systems, and residents with respiratory diseases can be even more susceptible to the effects of airborne allergens.

But don't let cleaning issues scare you away from installing carpet in your facility. A proven carpet maintenance program conducted on a regular basis can keep your carpet looking newer, longer. Regular, thorough vacuuming is critical to prolonging the life of your carpet and keeping it looking good. In addition, the type of periodic carpet maintenance system you choose can also affect carpet life, its appearance, and how much of the accumulated pollutants are removed during cleaning.

One carpet maintenance approach that is both highly effective and proven to actually improve indoor air quality is dry polymer cleaning, a newer alternative to traditional hot water extraction cleaning. The process can prolong the life of carpet and help a long-term care facility's managers get the most out of what can be a significant business expense.

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How the Process Works

Dry polymer cleaning uses a safe, nontoxic, low-emitting powder for routine carpet maintenance, as well as spot cleaning. Technicians trained in dry polymer carpet cleaning first test the carpet to determine the type of soil present. Then, based on the type of carpet and the probable contents of the dirt and stains, a series of preparatory agents are used to treat the fibers. When the dry polymer cleaning powder is applied, it adsorbs the dirt and stains, and is then vacuumed out of the carpet.

This has several advantages:

Improved indoor air quality. According to research from the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to poor indoor air can cause symptoms such as headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion and fatigue. Those who have respiratory diseases or illnesses can experience elevated symptoms after exposure to unhealthy air.

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Carpet can harbor indoor allergens that can adversely affect indoor air quality if not removed regularly through effective maintenance. Hot water extraction, especially when performed incorrectly or with out-of-date equipment, may not remove accumulated allergens. In addition, some types of carpet maintenance systems can actually contribute to the problem by leaving behind detergent residue, which can attract soil and allergens. The cleaning powders used in a dry polymer cleaning system can remove up to 99% of allergens from carpeting, and the process does not leave detergent residues in the fibers. In fact, dry polymer cleaning can remove detergent residue left behind from previous extraction cleanings.

No drying time. Another benefit of dry polymer cleaning is right in its name: dry. Hot water extraction requires a drying period, during which foot traffic on cleaned carpet must be limited. This can prove to be very inconvenient, especially when carpets cleaned are in residents' rooms or high-traffic common areas. Dry polymer cleaning does not require extended drying time, so residents and staff can walk on cleaned carpet right away.

Long-term cost savings. Carpet is an investment, and proper maintenance can help you to realize its full value. The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests that carpet be deep-cleaned a minimum of every 12 to 18 months to preserve its appearance; more frequent cleaning may be required in higher traffic areas. Routine spot cleaning, vacuuming, and year-round maintenance are also essential.

Inferior equipment and harsh detergents can damage carpet fibers and erode stain-resistant finishes applied by the carpet manufacturer. Provided by a qualified company, dry polymer cleaning, either as the primary cleaning agent or as a follow-up to proper hot water extraction in heavily soiled areas, removes the embedded dirt that can damage and abrade carpet fibers without eroding or masking the carpet's protective finishes.

Cleaning with detergents alone can leave residue in carpet, which can be sticky and attract dirt more quickly. A preventive maintenance system that uses dry polymer cleaning eliminates the risk of detergent residue buildup. Properly maintained, good-quality carpet can last 10 years or more, while carpet that is not maintained may look shabby and wear out prematurely.

Extending the life of your carpet, through effective maintenance, can translate into thousands of dollars in long-term savings--savings that can be used to improve the living environment for your facility's residents, fund training for nurses, or purchase other improvements for your facility.

Clean Carpet Makes Sense

Proper carpet maintenance can protect the significant investment you have in your facility's carpet. And dry polymer cleaning, a newer maintenance alternative, cleans carpet effectively while contributing to improved indoor air quality.

Your staff and residents will appreciate the look of well-maintained, clean carpet, and you'll be able to make a great impression on visitors. While carpet can add to the comfort of your residents, proper maintenance is key in maintaining that comfort.

Stephen Lewis is technical director for MilliCare, an international provider of textile and carpet cleaning services. He is responsible for the company's research and development efforts, provides technical training to MilliCare's network of more than 80 franchise partners, and is the company's key point of contact with the textile and carpet maintenance community. For more information, call [phone] or visit www.millicare.com. To send your comments to the author and editors, e-mail [e-mail].