Delustering Report
This report was written for a cleaner and is about delustering. Luster is a proprietary secret of carpet mills.
PROBLEM REPORTED: Yellowing
PROBLEM FOUND: Delustering
SAMPLES: Carpet
THE CARPET
FIBER: Nylon
ID METHOD: Chemical
FIBER COLOR: Blue Tweed
CONSTRUCTION: Conventional Tuft
YARN STYLE: Level Loop
SQUARE YARDAGE: 1600
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tuft
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
INSTALLATION STATISTICS
DEALER: Not Given
INSTALLER: Not Given
TYPE LOCATION: Commercial
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Printing
METHOD: Direct Glue Down
SUBFLOOR: Concrete Slab
AREA INSTALLED: Office & Hallways
USE & MAINTENANCE STATISTICS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
TEMPERATURE: 73.1°F - 22.8° C RH 51%
VACUUM TYPE: Professional Service
VACUUM FREQUENCY: Nightly
ENTRY-MATS: In the Downstairs Lobby
SOIL: None Noticed
HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric
CLEANING: See Report
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS REPORT
Assess the problem reported and make a determination of the responsible parties.
Site Conditions and Geographical Information
This is a two-story, commercial building with a total area between 40,000 to 50,000 square
feet. It is located near the Santa Ana River in Orange County.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
The carpet was purchased as part of a remodeling plan due to the age of the old carpet.
After approximately one & a half years after the installation, discoloring was
noticed. The problem was thought to be yellowing, but corrective for yellowing was
unsuccessful. The discoloring has become widespread since then and the claimant is asking
if it could be related to the cleaning. In addition, more of the same carpet has been
received and was waiting to be installed at the time of the inspection.
The commissioner of this report has reportedly been the only cleaning company for this
carpet. According to their records, services started in November of 1998, and the carpet
has been on a monthly cleaning program as follows:
Track off Areas Monthly
Main walk areas Quarterly
Secondary walk areas/work stations Semi-annually
Private offices/light use areas Annually
Included as a normal part of this service, the carpet has always been:
1. Pile lifted or vacuumed prior to any cleaning.
2. The carpet is then cleaned by dry compound or hot water extraction depending on soiling
conditions.
3. The area of concern on the ground floor has mainly been hot water extracted as this
area is heavily used from the printing area, and the hallway is walked on straight from
hard surfaces. (Ceramic and VCT).
4. Using a neutral rinse to extract a pre-spray with a pH 9.
To attempt to correct the yellowing problem on the ground floor, the following procedures
were used on monthly intervals:
1. Pre-spray (pH 10) then rinsed with a mild acid solution (rinse water pH 6.5)
2. Pre-spray (pH 8.5) then rinsed using a rinsing agent for yellowing (pH 1.5
self-neutralizing) Rinse water was approx. pH 6.
3. Pre-spray (pH 9) then truck mount extracted with an all fiber rinse of pH 2. A solution
of "Pharmaceutical citric acid" was applied, forced dried and then vacuumed.
The carpet was tested in various places after each cleaning and was showing an approximate
pH between 6.5 to 7.5
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
The yarn of this carpet is made up of the following hues:
1. Black
2. Rust
3. Light Blue
4. Medium Blue
5. Light Gray
Yarns in the unaffected areas have a bright sheen, whereas the affected yarns do not.
-The blue has changed from a dark to a light hue
-The red does not look quite as robust
-The net effect of course is that we see a lot more yellow in the carpet.
This discoloring was noticed in both the downstairs and upstairs and did not conform to
any particular pattern. It included, but was not limited to, trafficked areas, area most
frequently cleaned areas and/or underneath furniture, or open areas. The carpet has lost a
substantial amount of blue color.
Compared to a sample taken from the new roll, the medium blue had shifted to a lighter
blue, the rust does not look as robust. The net effect was that there was a lot more
yellow in the carpet.
ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING
An ultra-violet light was used to draw a reflection from substances with optical
brightening agents. Yellow reflections will come from most urine stains while a blue or
lavender reflections will come from inappropriate detergents. The result of this test
revealed that there were no reflections.
Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would
indicate the presence of moisture locked-up in same compounds mentioned above, but there
were no moisture readings either.
pH measurements were taken of the affected and unaffected carpet using a digital type pH
meter with a special low moisture probe. The readings were between 5.4 - 5.8 showing no
contrast between the affected and unaffected carpet.
A general spotting agent called PERKY SPOTTERŽ was applied to a towel and the towel was
blotted onto the affected and non-affected areas. The results of this test revealed that
there was no change in appearance. This would indicate no detectable amount of soil in
either area.
Four strips measuring ˝ inch wide by four inches long, were made from the new roll of
carpet that was not yet installed. One strip was soaked in RAMSEY'S TANNIN SPOTTER, a
second in NEUTRAL pH SHAMPOO, and a third in RAMSEY'S ALKALI SPOTTER. After 48 hours,
there was no contrast in hue, or sheen, and no bleeding.
THE ISSUE
The question that I have been asked to answer is what has caused the change in appearance.
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
The rules, guidelines, and warranties for appearance change can be acquired from the
manufacturer of this carpet. Rules for cleaning can be acquired from the IICRC in their
standard S-001. Copies are available upon request.
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
The S001-1997 says this about pHs in carpet cleaning:
a. Chemical Action (correlates to 3.3, 4.3, 5.3, 6.3, and 7.3 in Section
G,
Standard) - This fundamental refers to the use of biodegradable detergents, builders,
and/or selected dry solvents designed to suspend, emulsify, saponify, etc., the various
soluble or insoluble soils commonly found in residential or commercial carpet. Detergents
used on stain-resistant nylon carpet must be anionic, nonionic, or combinations thereof,
with a pH of 10 or less. Cationic cleaners should not be used on these carpets, unless
specified by the fiber producer or carpet manufacturer in an individual situation.
Detergents used on wool carpet must be within a pH range from 5.5 to 8. Although slightly
higher pH may be used on some synthetic carpet, such as olefin, polyester, acrylic, or
nonsolution-dyed nylon in heavy soiling and "salvage" cleaning situations, a pH
of 10 or less is always recommended.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
Classic yellowing problems are either related to the stain resistance on fifth generation
nylons or with atmospheric conditions in other cases. This is nylon carpet and acid
solutions will correct most if not all forms of yellowing. From a professional opinion
based upon the background information, the observations made, and the field-tests, this
carpet does not have a classic yellowing problem. In addition, it does not have a change
in appearance such as:
1. crushing
2. fading
3. substances foreign to the construction of the carpet
Crushing is the lack of resiliency and/or the inability of the yarn to regain its original
posture after being walked-on. When yarns fail to regain their posture, the affected areas
appear darker. Again from a professional opinion, crushing is not the problem, but if
deemed necessary, ASTM D-5251 Tetrapod Walker Drum test could be run to see what changes
occur as a result of this type of testing. However, it is possible that some chemical
change may occur due to this test and it should possibly be considered.
Fading is the loss of color primarily due to atmospheric conditions like sunlight, oxides
of nitrogen, and o-zone. When it occurs, affected areas appear to be lighter than the
unaffected areas. It is possible too, that red and blue could be affected leaving yellow.
However, from the photographs taken, this is not the case. Again, if these conditions need
further investigation, then suitable laboratory tests could be run.
A substance foreign to the construction of the carpet is another way of saying that the
carpet has soiled, but this too does not fit based upon the background information and the
field test.
Luster is the brightness or reflectivity of fibers and on synthetics fibers it is produced
in classified ways. Since the chemistry for making luster is a trade secret, conventional
methods for testing are not available. However, from a professional opinion, if the
cleaning specifications set by the S-001 and the manufacturer have been followed, then
responsibility for the delustering would belong to the manufacturer. ASTM D-5251 Tetrapod
Walker Drum test rates variation in color after its test and would be the next advisable
test to run.
CONCLUSION
From a professional opinion based upon background information, observations, and
field-testing done at the time of the inspection, appearance changes in the carpet in
question have been due to loss of luster.