Stain Resist makes Sticky Substance at Tips
3M contested this report, because the stain resist kit was from DuPont. The carpet was ultimately replaced at the manufacturer's expense.
THE CLAIM STATISTICS
PROBLEM REPORTED: Matting & Soiling
SAMPLES FROM INSPECTION: Carpet Samples
PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimants
THE CARPET
FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon-Chemical
COLOR: Off White
CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop
STYLE: Saxony Plush
SQUARE YARDAGE: 124
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION
TYPE OF SITE: Residential
DATE INSTALLED: April 1995
METHOD: Stretch-In
CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond 5.5 Lb./Sq.Ft.
SUBFLOOR: Concrete
AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom, Family-Room, Three Bedrooms, Hallway,
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE:
ADULTS: 3 CHILDREN: 0 PETS: 2
TYPE OF PET(s): Dogs
VACUUM TYPE: Upright
FREQUENCY: Bi-Weekly
DO THEY SMOKE? Yes
ENTRY MATS: Yes
CONDITION of THE CARPET: Good
SOIL: Heavily Soiled
HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: None
CLEANING: New Carpet
TREATMENTS APPLIED: Scotch Guard®
REASON FOR COMMISSION
The claimant reports the carpet in question soils and shows foot prints too easily.
THE REPORT
Geographical Background Information
This free standing house is located in a residential neighborhood nine miles from the Pacific Ocean in the coastal plain in Orange County. The condition of the house is good. The maintenance is good.
THE CLAIM HISTORY
The claimant reports that the old carpet by Armstrong called ‘Anything Goes’, was replaced because of its 15 years of usage. After the installation of the new carpet he noticed footprints and soil were showing more easily. He also noticed that the edges of the carpet around the fireplace had an abundance of loose tufts.
The claimant reports that their dogs have not been prone to accidents. The carpet is not subject to unusual traffic. He also claims that vacuuming has been performed regularly.
An inspection by Carpet Tech Inspections & Repairs of Anaheim California was commissioned. This inspection concluded that "This is a consumer caused problem and increased preventive maintenance after having carpet cleaned, will aid in better carpet appearance."
DETAIL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION BY THE INSPECTOR
The highly soiled areas are in the livingroom and the family room as seen in the diagram. The tips of these are dark as seen in photograph number one. There is also a sharp contrast in appearance between the non-trafficked areas and the carpet underneath furniture. There are no differences in the yarn with respect to twist, bulk, or pile height.
The carpet’s edge around the fireplace does not have metal stripping as seen in photograph number two.
FIELD TESTING
An ultra-violet light was shone throughout the installation. This tool draws a yellow reflection from urine stains and a blue or lavender reflection from detergents with optical brightening agents. Seaming Adhesives used to seal cut edges contain optical brightening agents too. The result of this test revealed that:
1. some spotting agents have been used.
- · This usage is infrequent.
- · This usage also does not necessarily take place in the trafficked areas
2. there was no sign of urine in the carpet.
3. the carpet’s edge near the fire place revealed no seam sealer as seen in photograph number two.
A professional portable extraction machine was used to determine the cleanability of the carpet. An extraction chemical designed for stain resist carpet was used as the detergent. This test revealed that the carpet was cleanable as seen in photograph number three.
An ammonium salts test was performed using a test kit from E. M Science. This test involved using the rinse water from the extraction machine. Ammonium salts are in urine deposits. The results of this test revealed that there were no ammonium salts as seen in photograph number four.
A sample of the claimant’s cushion was weighed by the inspector to determine the cushion density. This test was performed on an electron scale from Acculab, model number: V-333. This device is accurate to .1 grams. The results of this test showed a five and one half pound density of the cushion.
Distilled water was applied to surrounding areas in an attempt to test for a detergent residue. The carpet had a texture of "just wet carpet" with no slippery feeling.
Two tests were performed to determine Stain Resistance on this carpet.
1. The first test was performed using food coloring dye. Four drops of red dye were added to approximately 20 milliliters of water and then the yarns were soaked in this solution for three minutes. They were then rinsed under ordinary tap way. Only the tips of the yarns were free from receiving a dye stain as seen in picture number five.
2. A DuPont® Stain Resist Test was the second test performed. This test included testing two groups of yarns. One was pretreated with an acid dye blocking solution and the other was not. The results of these tests revealed that there was very little stain resistance on the untreated group of yarns. Substantially more protection was noted on the treated yarns. See picture below.
THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT
The questions that I have been asked are: what has caused the soiling and matting problems in this carpet?
CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM
Rapid Soiling Can Occur When:
1. excessive foot or mechanical traffic and atmospheric conditions have exceeded expectations
2. the yarns lack stain and soil resistance
3. a soil attracting residue is in the carpet
Crushing and Matting Problems can Occur when:
1. it is characteristic of the yarn such as olefin or polyester
2. a sticky residue is in the carpet
3. the installation has not been done according to the guidelines and standards of the manufacturer.
INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS
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 installations.
Concerning edge securing the CRI105 Residential Installation Standards from the CRI says this:
9.8 Edge Securing - Once the edges are trimmed, seam adhesive must be applied to both trimmed edges. Allow the seam adhesive to dry thoroughly before seaming. Improperly sealed edges can lead to seam delamination or loss of face yarns, with unsightly results.
THE INSPECTORS' ANALYSIS
Based upon the history of nylon, the claimant’s old carpet was not a crush resistant variety. Possibly it did not have any soil resistance. However, the claimant reports that he had better performance with his old carpet!
This inspector noted that there was a discrepancy between the measured weight in the field testing for cushion density and the installer’s invoice. The measured weight was five and one half pounds density per cubit foot while the invoice records a seven pound density. The manufacturer requires a minimum of five pound density per cubit, where as "A higher density cushion may be needed in high traffic areas."
The Soiling Issue
This carpet clearly has suffered rapid soiling. Obviously the soiling has surpassed everyone’s expectations. The soil is heavy not only in the trafficked areas, but also in the non-trafficked areas. Therefore the soil in the non-trafficked areas is due to atmospheric conditions. Reportedly these areas receive regular vacuuming. Thus, the soil in the non-trafficked areas are a factor in determining that there is a soil attracting substance on the yarn. An important issue is: ‘What is this substance?
- · The ammonium salts test indicates that urine is not present in this carpet.
- · Ultraviolet light test revealed that it is not excessive detergent residue from the consumer’s spotting chemical that was the villain..
- · Residue tests also indicate that it is not a soapy residue.
The field tests done to determine Stain Resistance shows:
1. a presence of something at the tips of the yarns
2. lack of stain resistance
- The first test indicates that there is something on the tips of the yarns that prevents it from receiving a dye stain as easily as the rest of the yarn as seen in photograph number five. This suggests that something is acting as a stain blocker, but might also be a soil attracting component.
- The second test done was a Master Series Test designed for a Cleaning Technician to make a determination as to whether additional Stain Resist is needed on the carpet. The protectant on this carpet is from the 3-M Company. 3-M’s technology is based upon a different chemistry, however it is supposed to perform the same way. This carpet had little stain resistance based upon this test as seen in photograph number six.
CONCLUSION
1. The matting in this carpet is the result of less than desirable cushion thickness based upon the guideline set forth in the manufacturer’s warranty.
2. The excessive soiling in this carpet is the result of
- improper chemistry on the carpet yarn based upon the field tests done to determine stain resistance
- the heavy atmospheric soiling despite frequent vacuuming.