Blue spots from solution hose
This problem arose using a Prochem machine and its old hydraulic solution hose after
UltraPac Traffic Lane Cleaner got on to it.
CLAIM STATISTICS FOR THIS INSPECTION
PROBLEM REPORTED: Blue Spots
PROBLEM FOUND: Blue Spots
SAMPLES: Cushion
PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimant
THE CARPET
MANUFACTURER: Unknown
NUMBER on BACKING: Not Applicable
FIBER: Nylon
ID METHOD: Chemical
FIBER COLOR: Off White
CONSTRUCTION: Conventional Tuft
YARN STYLE: Saxony
SQUARE YARDAGE: Not Determined
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tuft
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
INSTALLATION STATISTICS
TYPE LOCATION: Residential
METHOD: Stretch-In
CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond
SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Plywood on the Second
AREA INSTALLED: Formal Livingroom, , Downstairs Bathroom, Stairs,
Upstairs Hallway, Bathroom, & Bedrooms.
USE & MAINTENANCE STATISTICS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Determined
ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 2 - PET(S): 0
DO THEY SMOKE? No
SPOTTING AGENTS: Just Water
TEMPERATURE: 79.8°F - 26.5° C RH 51%
VACUUM TYPE: Upright
VACUUM FREQUENCY: Weekly
ENTRY-MATS: Yes
SOIL: See Report
HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: None
CLEANING: Professional
METHOD: Truckmount Steam
TYPE OF CHEMICAL: See Report
DATE LAST CLEANED: See Report
TREATMENTS APPLIED: Known Report
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS REPORT
Assess the problem reported and make a determination of the responsible parties.
SITE CONDITIONS & GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
This is a two-story, 3500 square-foot; ten year-old, owner-occupied, freestanding, private
home located in a guarded-gated committee with other similar houses. The claimant's street
was being re-asphalted on the day of the inspection and was not accessible to automobile
traffic. A professional housekeeper reportedly comes in on a weekly basis. The claimant
reportedly does not wear shoes in the house and requested this inspector to remove his.
This neighborhood is located approximately five minutes from the Pacific Ocean in Southern
Orange County. The condition of this house and its furnishings appeared to be very good.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
The claimant reportedly moved into this house seven years ago and believes that the carpet
is the original carpet installed when the house was new. He has had it cleaned four times;
the last two times were by the commissioner of this report. There have been no problems
until the last cleaning when blue spots were noted a few hours after the cleaning. Some
corrections on the blue spots were attempted by Langenwalter Dye Company and were
successful. The technique used was with a towel and iron, commonly referred as the
heat-transfer method.
The cleaner reports that the machine used was a PROCHEM truckmounted unit with a blue
solution hose. The prespray that was used was PROCHEM'S ULTRA-PAC TRAFFIC LANE CLEANER.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
Faint blue spots were noted throughout the open areas of the installation. They were not
seen underneath furniture and had no identifiable pattern. They seemed to be heaviest in
an upstairs child's bedroom. They had irregular shapes and various sizes from a few inches
to more than a foot. Edges of these spots were hard to define. Discoloring was at the tips
of the yarns and was indicative of dye added, not a color loss.
ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING
An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and to create shadows. This high
intensity lamp is equipped with a 500-watt halogen bulb, and it was revealed that the
spots were not from shadows or reflections from other objects.
An ultra-violet light was used to draw reflections from fluorescent dyes. Yellow
reflections will come from most urine stains while blue or lavender reflections will come
from inappropriate detergents. The results of this test revealed that there were no
reflections in all rooms but the upstairs bathroom. This bathroom did have reflections
indicative of detergents in front of the sink and urine near the toilet.
Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would
indicate the slightest presence of moisture in the carpet. The results of these tests
showed moisture in some of the spots and in other areas both upstairs and downstairs.
Numerous pH tests were taken using a digital type pH meter with a low moisture probe that
made direct contact with the faceyarns. All tests were made using distilled water with a
pH of 7.0. The test results were between 6.8 to 7.0 in both discolored and non-affected
areas, indicating no significant compounds between the affected and non-affected areas.
After soaking the yarns and agitating the carpet, the pH readings were between 5.9 to 6.0.
The sample of the cushion was soaked in a 7% solution of ammonium hydroxide for several
hours to see if it would bleed, but no bleeding occurred.
The solution hose in question was wiped with a white cotton towel that had been moistened
with PROCHEM'S ULTRA-PAC TRAFFIC LANE CLEANER and there was transference of blue onto the
towel.
THE ISSUE
The questions that I have been asked to address is to determine whether the cleaner has
caused the blue marks and determine whether this is the cleaner 's responsibility.
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
The guidelines of cleaning carpet are the:
1. S001-1997 CARPET CLEANING STANDARD by the INSTITUTE of INSPECTION CLEANING &
RESTORATION CERTIFICATION.
2. The manufacturer's recommendations
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
The unknown spot is defined by the Flooring Covering Dictionary in the following
definition.
Spots can be caused by a number of things. If the spot was not present when the carpet was
installed, there is a 99 + 1 change that it was caused by spillage, tracking or some local
agent. It could be related to something the installer used or product found in the home.
Spots do not "appear" for some unknown reason after installation. If they have a
pattern, they may be related to the manufacturing of the carpet. If they are randomly
spaced, they are caused locally.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
Spots that are removed with a towel and iron are indicative of dye stains, and the pH
& ultraviolet light tests indicate that they were not made with a water-soluble
detergent. The moisture tests are indicative of a dwelling located close to the ocean, and
the lower pH readings, after the carpet was soaked are indicative of an acidic rinsing
residue. Since the blue spots developed after the cleaning, there are two likely
possibilities.
1. Dye was applied to the carpet after the cleaning either through transfer such as in the
case of someone walking on the carpet wearing blue socks
2. Blue dye was introduced to the carpet through the cleaning process and wicked to the
surface during the drying.
The blue sock theory is supported by the fact that spots were found in the trafficked
areas and not under furniture, but it lacks a tattle-tail foot image. In addition, cotton
would be the best candidate for the transference of dye and cotton normally is dyed with
direct dye, which easily washes out of nylon.
The cleaning theory has only one possibility of a blue dye source, which would be a
solution hose. Some earlier Prochem machines used a hydraulic blue hose for a solution
hose. Given the results of the field-test, it makes a likely candidate for the problem.
CONCLUSION
From a professional opinion based upon background information, observations, and
field-testing done,
1. Blue spots in the carpet in question are likely due to the solution hose from the
cleaning machine.
2. This problem would be the cleaner's responsibility.
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