Question:
I have a carpet browning issue that I can't seem to reverse. I've tried multiple brown outs and citric acids and other acids and some areas of the carpet just don't respond.
Any ideas?
Answer:
I really need a little more information than you’ve provided. Is this broadloom or an area rug? What’s the pile fiber? Backing system? Regardless, I’ll take a stab . . .
Browning is rare, but possible, in today's broadloom carpet. To have cellulosic browning, you have to have cellulose present, either in the pile yarns - extremely rare - or in the cellulosic foundations of woven goods or the secondary of tufted goods.
Browning removal can be challenging on highly absorbent fibers, such as wool, or even nylon 6. Couple of possible solutions:
- 1.If the carpet is wool, I recommend using a reducer shampoo (Prochem Fine Fabric Cotton Shampoo, Chemspec Haitian Cotton Shampoo), followed by acidFollow up with rapid drying using air movers. That should correct the browning. Remember that using an oxidizer on wool causes progressive damage or colorloss.
- 2.If the carpet is synthetic (nylon, polyester, triexta), you can simply spray apply a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide (oxidizer), work it in with a groomer and speed dry.
If the above fails to correct browning, it probably isn’t cellulosic browning. The most likely alternative is soil wicking. That usually occurs when carpet cleaning has been neglected and fine soil build-up has occurred. After cleaning, fine particle soil wicks to the surface of the carpet’s pile, where the moisture evaporates into the air and the soil is left on yarn tips.
The only solution there is to re-clean lightly, followed as necessary, by bonnet buffing. Of course, speed drying prevents the wicked soil from returning.
L. Jeff Bishop
Clean Care Seminars, Inc.
983 Tate Dr. Unit 1
Dothan, AL 36301
334.446.1531
334.446.1847 fax
