On an earlier post people were talking about possible wear in traffic lanes as a cause of poor results. What's the best way to tell if this is the case?

Thanks

A close inspection of the traffic lane can reveal crushing or impacting of the fiber. Turning points where people's feet pivot can also reveal pile distortion. However abrasion to the fiber is harder to distinguish without the aid of a microscope. And since abrasion is the most common condition that can alter the reflection of light on the fiber, it's the culprit that can have the greatest impact on the carpet's overall appearance. Yet since you can't specifically identify the damage without a microscope, there's no good way that I'm aware of to demonstrate the effect of this wear to the customer. I think the best thing you can do is to simply make them aware of the potential for this condition to develop in their traffic lanes. I like the illustration that Bob Wittkamp uses comparing fiber abrasion to sanding a dull spot on the shiny hood of your car. The light will reflect differently and the spot will appear dull, drab, dingy, even from a distance. This underscores the need for your clients to have adequate walk-off mats, perform thorough routine vacuuming, and have their carpet cleaned at regular intervals (by you). Educate them to have a little common sense toward maintaining their carpet investment, and it will increase your value in their eyes.





Rick Gelinas
encapman

Thanks for the info.

One good demonstration is to have a clear acrylic rod. Use some sand paper to abrade one end. SHow home owner the un abraded end and then the abraded end so they can visualize the difference.

Scott Warrington

Scott Warrington
Tech support Bridgepoint & Interlink Supply

I tell customers several things:

"If your carpets are getting dirty to the point that you can see the dirt- now not ooops I spilled a coke, but WOW look at this hallway it is just dirty- that kind of dirty that they are waiting too long to have their carpets cleaned."

"There will most assuredly be an improvement in the appearance of the cleaned areas, however, every single time their carpet gets this dirty they are causing permanent and unrepairable damage to the fiber."

"Think of a pair of eyeglass or sunglasses with plastic lenses (this works very well because almost everyone has or has had a pair). After some time the lenses get scratched- don't they?"

They say: Yes.

"What eventually happens?" They say: I can't see and throw them away.

"Well carpet is no different, the fibers can become scratched the same way the glasses do. So each time the carpet gets this dirty the fibers are getting scratched and not reflecting light the same as the fibers that are not scratched. Eventually you may have carpet areas that will always look "dingy" no matter how many times you clean- because of the scratches."

"This is very preventable by plain old vacuuming and regular, scheduled, professional carpet cleaning. So why don't we schedule your cleaning now and keep your carpet healthy and beautiful."

You know what- I am running the dollar store right now to buy some sunglasses and scratch up one lens and leave the other undamaged as a demo tool.

Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care