[ Home ] [ Appearance Retention Reports ] [ Browning Reports ] [ Cleaning Errors Reports ] [ Color Loss Reports ] [ Delamination Reports ] [ Design Flaws Reports ] [ Double Stick Reports ] [ Fading Reports ] [ Fuzzing Reports ] [ Installation Reports ] [ Latex Problems Reports ] [ Lines, Bands, & Streaks Reports ] [ Maintenance Reports ] [ Matting & Crushing Reports ] [ Pooling Reports ] [ Shedding Reports ] [ Side Match Reports ] [ Specification Reports ] [ Thickness & Weight Reports ] [ Upholstery Reports ] [ Water Damage Reports ] [ Yarn Slippage Reports ] [ Yellowing Reports ]

[ Bad House Keeper Sues Cleaner ] [ Blue Dye bleeds in Olefin Nylon Blend ] [ Color Loss in the shape of triangles ] [ Crushing Indicative of Olefin ] [ Delustering Report ] [ EXTRACTABLE MATERIAL ] [ Lack Stain Resistance Can be Fixed ] [ No Stain Resistance Make Spots ] [ Olefin Spin Finish ] [ Retention of the twist ] [ Spot From Reflection ] [ Stain Resist makes Sticky Substance at Tips ]

[ Home ]

Blue Dye bleeds in Olefin Nylon Blend

Construction: Conventional Tuft Install Date: 01/15/2003 Vacuum Type: Not Determined
Fiber: Nylon/Olefin Blend Install Method: Stretch-In Condition: Fair
Primary. Backing: Polypropylene Problem Area: Living Room, Hall, & 2 Times/wk: Not Reported
Sec. Backing: Action Back Area Installed: Two Bedrooms & Living- Soil. Present: Light
Style: Bourbon Street Fiber ID Method: From Specifications Spotted With: See Report
Color: Multi-Color Seams Sealed: Not Applicable Method: None
Sq Yds: 85.33 Ext. Conditions: Fair Area Cleaned: Two Bedrooms & Living-
Cushion: Urethane Bonded Entry Mats: Yes Times Cleaned: None
Thickness: 1/2 Inch Substrate: Wood Date Cleaned:
Density: 6 Lb. /Cu. Ft. SubFloor: Unknown Adults: 2 Children: 2
Roll No: N/A Condition: Not Applicable Indoor Pets: Rodents
Facility: Residential HVAC System: Not Determined Samples: Carpet

Inspection Report CR4186
The small city is on State highways 11 and 160 twelve miles southeast of Sherman in extreme eastern Grayson County in north Texas. It was established in 1878 and in 1990 it had twenty-six businesses and a population of 1,713. There has been no apparent surge in growth or construction for several decades.

The claimant's dwelling is a single-story, 80 year old, pier and beam, 1500 square foot, free standing house, (see picture one). Its furnishings were neat and orderly. The main entrance is in the master bedroom, see picture two.

The claimant purchased this carpet as part of home improvement project. Part of the reason for the selection was due to the maroon and green specs in this carpet; there was no blue noted in the original store samples. During the installation, blue spots were noticed on the faceyarn in the master bedroom only. No discoloration was seen on the backside of the carpet. An attempt to remove the spots with a carpet spotter resulted in transference of blue to a towel and a smearing of the spots. Samples of the smeared carpet were removed by the dealer/installer for further study; see round samples included with this report. No other changes in the carpet's aesthetics were reported.

Dozens of blue spots that were smaller than a dime were noted in the master bedroom. Close examination revealed the spots originated form green faceyarns, see pictures 7-10. Near the front door and next to the night stand spots were large and appeared to have been the result of bleeding in terns of their size and shape. In less trafficked area including the other bedroom, blue specs were notice within the green yarns.

Filed tests were done with a 500 Watt Inspection Lamp, Digital Moisture Meter, an Ultraviolet Light, and a mild detergent with a white towel. The inspection lamp help confirm that the spots were real and not reflections. The moisture meter showed eight to ten percent moisture in the faceyarns and subfloor which would be indicative of pier and beam floor during a rainy season. The ultraviolet light indicated reflections common to lint from clothes. After applying the mild detergent to a green yarn and wiping it with the white towel, some blue was noticed as transferring to the towel; however, after a few minutes the blue seem to disappear from the towel.
The question that I have been asked to address to determine is what has caused the blue spots?
Spots in the carpet could be related to the usage and maintenance, installation, or manufacturing of the carpet.
The origin of the spots from the green yarns of the carpet would support that moisture may have played a row in the smeared look; however, the size and shape of the do not support usage and/or maintenance adding something to the carpet. In addition, their occurrence during the installation would be seemed to fit usage and/or maintenance either. Where blue spots have been related to installation, a blue chalk lines has been used on the backside of the carpet. However, there is no report of discoloring on the backside and sample included do not support this either.
A blue spot can come from a green yarn in that green is a secondary color made from blue and yellow dyes. In this case, the green and maroon dyes appeared to have been dripped on the faceyarn and would have been intended for the nylon yarns. Based upon the background information and this inspector's field test, the blue dye is not colorfast.
Thus, based upon the field tests and observations made at the time of the inspection, it is this inspector's opinion that the blue spots are inherent in the manufacturing process.