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Spots from Optical BrightenerThis report was written for the carpet cleaner and the red spots were created by furniture cleaner with a pH indicator dye.TYPE OF INSTALLATION: Residential CUSHION: 1/2 inch Urethane Prime METHOD: Stretch-In SUBFLOOR: Concrete USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE:No ADULTS: 1 CHILDREN: 0 PETS: 1 TYPE OF PET: 1 - Cat VACUUM TYPE: Upright FREQUENCY: Weekly ENTRY MATS: Yes CONDITION of CARPET: Very Good HEATING TYPE: Floor Unit Gas COOLING TYPE: None CLEANING: Professional - Steam Cleaning TYPE OF CHEMICAL: TOPICAL TREATMENTS APPLIED: Scotch Gaurd® S001 FOLLOWED: PROBLEM REPORTED The carpet in question developed red stains after professional cleaning was performed. CONDITION DOCUMENTED The same as reported. THE REPORT Geographical Background Information This free standing house is located in the northwest corner of Orange County in a middle class neighborhood. The condition of the house is good. The maintenance is very good. Background Information To The Claim Provided By The Claimant The carpet in question was cleaned by the commissioner. The drying time according to the claimant was about seven hours. The following day the claimant noticed red stains in the dining room area. According to the claimant the carpet has been cleaned once before, but she does not remember the method that was used. The only spotting agent used by the claimant was Woolite® Rug Cleaner. The cat as reported has not urinated on the carpet. There was a small white stain at the end of the hallway that was reportedly made by accident perfume spill. According to the claimant and it was verified by this inspector, the invoice furnished by the installer did not have any information on the manufacturer of the carpet in question, no information on warranty coverage, style name or number. The words Quebec, warm tan, 100% nylon, and Cocoa were written on the invoice without an indication as to what they were describing. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR The red spots in question are not well defined. They are located around the perimeter on the dining room table in the dining room. There is a skylight over the wooden table and a multiple-panel, glass light fixture hanging over the table underneath the skylight. The stains diminish in intense light,(see picture five) and when a shadow is cast over them,(see picture two). However, something still seems to remain in the affected area that is not consistent with the surrounding carpet. All of the spots are less than one foot in diameter. A large wooden china cabinet is also in this room and most of the stains are located on that side of the room. The stain that was reportedly made by "perfume" is about the size of a small coin. It is round and is lighter than the surrounding carpet. It was pointed out and observed by the claimant that a back bedroom that was not cleaned also had a red hue similar to that of the dining room. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING 1. Numerous pH tests were taken using a pHep + Pen. This device is accurate to ± 0.1. All test readings were between 6.8 and 7.1. 2. Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. All moisture readings were very dry except for the small "perfume" in the hallway. There were no odors noticed. 3. A high intensity lamp was placed on the red stains and they diminished in the light’s intensity. The affected areas looked a little lighter than the surrounding carpet when this light shone on them. 4. An ultra-violet light was shone throughout the installation. The red stains had no reflection. A lavender stain with irregular edges was located in the hallway, (see picture four). This spot can be seen in photograph number. Other smaller lavender stains were seen with the ultra-violet light throughout the installation. 5. A tannin spotter from The Ramsey Chemical line was applied to the red stains. The stain changed slightly and got more intense. This intensity had a red hue that did not depend upon the light source. The pH when re-measured was 2.1. ,(See pictures seven, eight, and nine). 6. A 7% ammonium hydroxide solution was next applied to the area that was treated with the acid solution. The red stain regained its original hue. The new pH was measured several times and were recorded as 10.0, 9.7 and 9.4. 7. A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution was applied to another red stain near the dining room table. This stain had no change in appearance. 8. A professional rust removing chemical called Erusticator® was applied to a third stain. No changes in hue took place after this application was made. THE ISSUE The question that I have been asked to address is: what caused the red stains to appear after the cleaning? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Red stains can come from various sources. A thorough search into the cleaning and installation standards as well as many other reference materials yielded this list. 1. Rust, created from iron oxide 2. Jute, with 24% lignin was left in the presence of alkalinity 3. The DuPont® Company has done studies on urine. These studies state that urine create changes in color on nylon face yarns. 4. Beverage stains, such as Kool Aide® and other drinks 5. Food products with red dye. Red dye is very common in strawberries, cherries and many other things that are consumed. 6. Over wetting can result in browning. Browning results in wicking. Wicking might be mistaken for red stains. Some clay is mixed with latex in the carpet backing. For example, Georgia Clay which is red, contains iron. thus, if carpet comes from Georgia, the carpet might seem to have a red stain. 7. Cleaning products with red dye. 8. Light, when it passes through a prism. Such light sources typically needs to be direct from the sun and needs to pass through water or glass or with curved or angled edges. The Unknown Spot is defined by West & Williams Flooring Covering Dictionary by 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 that 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. Indicator Dyes/color change is defined by the Floor Covering dictionary as. Indicator dyes are not a separate class of dyes, but rather a characteristic of the some dyes in almost every category of dyes. These dyes change color in the presence of acids and alkalizes. A familiar example would be litmus paper (pH paper) which is blue in an alkaline condition but changes to red when in an acid condition. This is typical of the reaction of indicator dyes. Many spotting materials can remain dormant in a carpet until the carpet is cleaned. After cleaning, the effects of moisture heat and alkalinity can cause a wide variety of foreign substances to manifest themselves. Other stains can be created by simple light reflection and this room has an ideal situation of scattering light. Sun light is a combination of all shades of colors. When it is reflected through glass with a curved edge it can be broken into its various light frequencies or shades. Of these shades, it is the red hues that are most noticeable. The high intensive light test and the observations on the effect of shadows would support that this problem is related to light. Yet the acid test would indicate that it is a dye stain of the pH indicator group. THE RULES The Standard for Carpet Cleaning S001-1994 is published by the INSTITUTE OF INSPECTIONS, CLEANING and RESTORATION CERTIFICATION at the recommendation of the FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. These service standards are for professional cleaning and are recognized by nearly all carpet mills and carpet cleaning associations. Some definitions that are important to this inspection from the S001 are as follows: acid Any chemical that undergoes dissociation in water with the formation of hydrogen lens. Its properties Include the ability to react with bases or alkalizes to form `salts." Acids have a bitter or sour taste and may cause severe skin burns. Acids turn litmus paper red and have pH values that are less than seven (7) in the pH scale. When fatty acids (organic) react with alkalize, a simple soap is formed. Many soils are acid in nature and thus. are more easily removed with alkaline solutions. bleach - A cleaning, sanitizing and color removing agent. Bleaches often are used with detergents, or by themselves to break chemical bonds, rather than physical bonds, as detergents do. Common bleaches used in cleaning are sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach)), hydrogen peroxide, and sodium perborate (converts to hydrogen peroxide when mixed with water). browning - A yellow. red or brownish discoloration formed when cellulose, particularly jute with a high lignin content (24%), is degraded in the presence of moisture. Browning is aggravated by age, alkalinity, and prolonged drying. fading - Gradual loss of color. usually due to exposure to light (especially direct sunlight), or from contact between carpet dyes and various soils or chemical compounds. optical brightener - A fluorescent dye or "whitening' agent, that reflects tie ultraviolet portion of the light spectrum. stain - the result in a material adding color (without texture) to a fabric or surface. In a non-technical context. the term "stain" is often applied to (discolorations, or color removal from fabrics. as well. CRI is The Carpet and Rug Institute of Dalton, Georgia. It is a national trade association representing the carpet and rug industry. Their membership makes-up 95% of all the carpet made in the United States. Their publications include standards for residential and commercial installation, areas of responsibility for manufacturers, dealers, and installers, and a manual for MAKING CLAIMS WITH A CARPET PRODUCERS. The manual FOR MAKING CLAIMS WITH A CARPET PRODUCERS has a rule for sidematch problem that arise from uneven color matches. This rule applies to areas where two seams come together. The rules states as follows: Claims will not be considered for sidematch or different dye lots. Color may differ slightly from dye lot to dye lot. Because of manufacturing variances, sidematch of pattern carpet cannot be guaranteed: therefore claims cannot be considered. Additional carpet yardage may be required for the installation of patterned carpet. No claims will be considered for slight color or texture variation between merchandise shipped to the dealer and his display samples. (See Chapter 10 of the Specific’s Guide for Contract Carpet Installation and The Carpet Specific’s Handbook, both published by CRI). Other standards state that the side match problem must have a difference of One on gray scale developed by THE AMERICAN TEXTILE COLORIST ASSOCIATION. The Carpet and Rug Institute also states in THE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY: Thousands of claims occur every year because one or more of the parties involved in a transaction has failed to accept responsibility for some procedural function. Gaining a clear understanding of what can reasonably be expected of others in a transaction and what others can expect of you will make business easier and reduce the number of costly claims. These "areas of responsibility" have been compiled as guidelines that, if accepted, would benefit both the consumer and industry. These guidelines pertain to all parties involved in a variety of transactions and the subsequent installation of the products. Utilization of these practices can help put all parties on an equal footing by understanding who is supposed to do what; it can assure the parties that all requirements and conditions of a transaction will be met; it can reduce claims caused by misunderstanding or lack of information an unwillingness for one of the parties to accept its rightful responsibility; and, most importantly, it can save valuable time. expense ad frustration. The responsibilities outlined apply to residential as well as commercial transaction. Those flagged by an asterisk are primarily commercial. The procedures outlined have been reviewed by the American Floorcovering Association, National Association of Floor Covering Distributors, The Carpet and Rug Institute and the Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association. Every attempt has been made to include informational and procedural responsibilities for all links in the chain: the manufacturer, distributor, specifier, dealer and installer. Responsibilities of a sales representatives have not been itemized separately because their responsibility is to act as outlined for the segment of the industry they represent. It is the earnest desire of those who have worked so diligently on compiling these industry practices that each company, on an individual basis, will seriously consider the adoption of these "areas of responsibility" while conducting business in a professional and ethical manner. DEALER 1. Disseminate complete product information to end users and installers as provided by manufacturers and distributors. Information should allow for proper selection and the appropriate use of carpet sold to include: *(A) traffic classification information (B) specific uncoded style information or specifications (C) uncoded dye lot sizes and roll sequence information *(D) complete carpet cushion specifications required for use with each traffic classification as specified in CRI 104 Standards for Installation of Textile Floorcovering Material (E) complete mill pattern tolerance information and pattern match policy (F) backing material or the destiny of any attached cushion used and pole direction of the carpet (G) complete information regarding mill applied soil, static or antimicrobial treatments (H) complete warranty information (I) carpet use and maintenance information to include information on certain household products that can cause permanent carpet damage which is not the responsibility of the manufacturer: 2. Be able to identify carpet sold as the following information: (A) roll number (B) uncoded dyelot number (C) style number (D) color (E) size (F) set or drop match and number of inches of pattern repeat (G) backing material or density of attached cushion (H) mill applied soil, static, or antimicrobial treatment. 3. Order specific dye lot specifications on large order: 4. Provide installers with complete manufacturer’s installation instruction, to include shop drawings diagramming the location of all carpet panels, seams, edge moldings and other pertinent information: 5. Provide end user and installer with complete dealer claim policy and procedure: 6. Inspect incoming carpet shipments for carrier related damage and file claims, if necessary, within 15 working days of shipment: 7. Determine that carpet received is identical to that which was ordered: 8. Store carpet properly, never in excess of three (3) rolls in height: 9. Evaluate shelf life and rotate inventory so as to avoid roll crush: 10. Prior to shipment inspect carpet for visible defects: 11. Provide carpet cushion that is adequate for the traffic classification to which the installation will be subjected as specified in 12. Ensure that installers adhere to CRI installation procedure as specified in CRI 104 Standards for Installation of Textile Floorcovering Materials: 13. Assume responsibility for any portion of consumer warranty that exceeds manufacturer warranty: 14. Acknowledge and respond to complaints within 15 working days of notification. * denotes responsibilities which apply to commercial transactions only. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS 1. The stains in question are not from rust. If they were, the Erusticator® would have cleared up the problem in a second. 2. The stains are not the result of Jute. This carpet has a synthetic backing. The hydrogen peroxide test rules this out as well as coffee and tea stains. 3. Urine is a possible source. Urine does lighten the color as noted in studies by the DuPont® Company and the claimant does own a cat. However none of the tests reflected that urine is now present in the carpet. It is possible that the cleaner could have removed this evidence with the cleaning. However, it would be likely that an odor would have remained and an odor was not noticed at the time of the inspection. 4. A beverage stain is likely since this stain is located in the dining room. Nearly all beverages exist in an acid solution. However it is unlikely that a beverage stain could have lighten the color. 5. A food products could be a likely source for the same reasons as a beverage stain. 6. Overwetting is not a likely source. The cleaning standard specify that all carpet should be dry and ready for use in 24 hours. This carpet dried in seven hours according to the claimant. 7. A cleaning product would be a likely source of a red dye. Red dyes are occasionally found in toilet bowl cleaners and sometime in wood care products. Some stainless steel cleaners contain sulfites which could lighten the color. 8. Light is the likely source of the redness of these stains. The skylight over head shining through the multi-paneled glass light fixture is an ideal situation for creating a prism effect. Also the fact that the stains lost their red hue in the presence of shadows and in intense light from a source other than the sun verifies this. Thus the only evidence that contradicts this is the acid test. In that test any light source reflected a red hue,(see pictures seven, eight, and nine and compared then to picture number one.). The nature of these spots falls somewhere in an in-between world of light reflections and something actually being there. Before blame can be assigned on one party or the other, it is absolutely necessary to determine what caused the stain that is not part of the light reflection.! The nature of these stain is as follows 1. These are the result of a physical substance whose source is not from the carpet or the installation and not just a light reflection. · the fact that this stain becomes redder with acids, i.e. a chemical change would only affect another chemical. · that something can be seen regardless of what kind of light is shone on it. 2. This stain is extremely weak. Its comparative contrast is barely within the human ability to discern. Compared to gray scale developed by THE AMERICAN TEXTILE COLORIST ASSOCIATION this stain would rate less than one. 3. The stain can be classified as a pH indicator dye - due to the acid test. pH indicators dye are used in a wide variety of products, including products used during the manufacturing and installation of the carpet and also in many commercial and consumer cleaning products. However as mentioned before, it is unusual to see one that disappears in light. This may best be explained by the following: 1. Red light is more visible than blue light. This is why traffic signal lights use red for the stop command and not blue. 2. The red that is visible without the assistance of an acid spotting agent is the reflection from the skylight, the glass , multi-panel light fixture that hangs underneath it and maybe from the rich high shine coming off the wood china cabinet and table. CONCLUSION This spot is a slightly lighter spot created by some type of bleaching agent and contain a small amount of pH indicator dye. The red noticed by the claimant is red light being reflect from the sky light through the lamp fixture over the dining room table. The spots on the carpet in question are not from the cleaner’s chemicals
The spot is the result of a pH indicator dye which does not have a desirable hue in neutral or alkaline pH conditions. According to the information furnished at the time of this inspection, the installer of this carpet was in gross violation of the CRI MANUAL ON AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY in the section noted of DEALER in sections 1 E, F, G H; in section 2 A, C, G, and H; and in section 5. Perhaps if we knew who made this carpet, a little more light could be shed on this carpet, (no pun intended, too much light is part of the problem). RECOMMENDATIONS Since the pH indicator dye cannot be seen in normal pH conditions and the stains are a little lighter than the surrounding carpet, color restoration with a suitable manufactured product design for this purpose, might possibly fix this problem. Also since this is a combination of a dye problem and a light spot, a professional color restorer might be able to heat transfer the non-visible pigment out of the carpet and add a little color back into the affected area to evenly match the surrounding carpet. No hue of any carpet that is this age is completely even. Such things as foot traffic and sun light affect the color of a carpet. If absolute perfection is expected from the two suggestions above, then it would be best to seek another alternative. |