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Yellow Spots from Dog UrineThis report was commissioned by an insurance company and the claimant used three different chemicals to get pet stains out and then the carpet yellowed. Although, the yellowing could have been from stain resistance turning yellow, it turned out to be urine.THE CARPET FIBER MAKER & NAME: Allied Anso® FIBER PROTECTANTS Scotchgard® Carpet Protector & Scotchgard® Stain Release FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon-Chemical FIBER HUE: Pink CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop YARN STYLE: Saxony BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene THE INSTALLATION LOCATION TYPE: Residential METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 7/16 Inch Rebond SUBFLOOR: Concrete on the First Level, Plywood on the Second Level. AREA INSTALLED: Living-Room, Dining-Room, Hallway, 2-Bedrooms, & Stairs USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: None Reported TEMPERATURE: 67.6°F - 19.7° C RH 47% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 2 - Cats DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: See Report VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Twice Weekly ENTRY-MATS: Yes SOIL: See Report HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned REASON FOR COMMISSION To obtain a second opinion on why the carpet had a problem with yellow spots. THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpet in question was installed in a townhouse of a common interest development. This facility was located in the San Fernando Valley. The maintenance and condition of this property was good and the unit was owner occupied at the time of the inspection. BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR The carpet was installed as part of a remodeling effort. Yellow spots appeared and an attempt was made to remove them The chemicals reportedly used were Resolve Carpet Cleaner with DuPont Teflon and Stain Repellant, Nature’s Miracle and Sunlight Dish Liquid. Yellowing was noticed shortly after that. A complaint was made to the dealer and the mill an inspector to perform an inspection. This report stated that the stains ‘were found to be the result of a high alkaline cleaning solution that has been used on the carpet, which in turn has chemically burned the yarn". In a letter dated 8/26/96, The mill declined any participation in the settlement of the claim based upon no evidence of a defect in the manufacturing of the product. Thus this inspector was called in to do further testing and to give an opinion. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR Yellow spots were noticed in the den and two bedrooms. The spots in the den were located in front of the love seat that laid adjacent to a second love seat. The larger of these spots measured eight inches by four inches. Numerous coin size spots that were less notable were in this same areas. All of these spots had defined edges with a slight yellow background cast. One spot was noted in the master bedroom measuring one inch by two inches but other numerous coin size spots were located in the trafficked areas in the other bedroom. All of these spots had well defined edges with no background cast. No spots had any kind of odor, no difference in the hand of the yarns in the affected and unaffected areas; and all spots appeared the same when viewed from different directions and in different lighting conditions. ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING An ultra-violet light was shone throughout the installation. This tool draws a yellow reflection from most urine stains and a blue or lavender reflection from detergents with optical brightening agents. The result of this test revealed that the number of spots increased. All of these formerly unseen spots were in the same vicinity of the visible ones. The size and shape were also similar as seen in photograph number three. An ammonium salts test was performed using a test kit from E. M Science. This test involved using a small portable hot water-extraction machine and distilled water. Ammonium salts are a by product of urine deposits. The water was tested prior and after the extraction was done. The results of this test revealed that the yellow spots were not the result of urine as indicated by the ultra-violet light. Numerous pH tests were taken using a digital type pH meter and a special low moisture probe that made direct contact with the face yarns. This device is accurate to ± 0.1 and was calibrated with a laboratory testing solution immediately before these tests were made. All tests were made using distilled water with a pH of 7.0. The test results were as follows: non-affected areas 6.3 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 Ave. 6.4 Yellow Spots 7.0 6.6 6.7 7.3 7.1 Ave. 6.94 · The pH of any of the tap-water in the kitchen was tested at 6.3. · The Sun Light Dish Liquid was diluted with water and was measured at 6.3. · The Resolve Carpet Cleaner was not diluted and measured 7.1. · The Nature’s Miracle was undiluted and measured 6.8. A tannin spotter from The Ramsey Chemical line was applied to the affected area. This product is a professional, acidic, spotting agent and with a ready to use pH of less than one. Its primary use is for removing coffee, teas and urine stains. If the problem reported was created by an acid, then it might become more severe with this test. If the problem was created by alkalinity, then it might reverse its severity. Also, the presence of pH indicator dyes can be determined with this method. If a pH indicator dye were present, it would likely turn red. This product was applied to a towel and the towel was blotted on to the effected area. The result of this test showed that the overall appearance of the carpet was improved and the background cast of yellow disappeared. Some of the yellow in the spots remained on the tips of the yarns. A DuPont® Stain Resist Test was performed to determine the amount of possible stain resistance on the face yarn. This test was run off of yarns from a remnant that had reportedly never been cleaned or used. The results of these tests showed that the yarns were not stain resist. THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to yellow? GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Yellowing occurs when: 1. when problems are inherent in manufacturing 2. Butylated Hydroxy Toluene known as BHT, mixes with olefin and/or sulfonated phenol or acid dye blockers 3. excessive alkalinity remains in contact with the acid dye blockers 4. a foreign substance has been spilt on the carpet that contains a pigment such as in the case of pet urine stains 5. oxides of sulfur or nitrogen are excessively strong in the atmosphere 6. there is a loss of color from some type of bleaching agent INDUSTRY STANDARDS, PRACTICES & DEFINITIONS According to the S001 - 1994 on pages 3 and 4 it says this concerning consumer responsibility for immediate spotting: 3. Immediate Spotting - Most spots can be removed easily if the excess is lifted or blotted and treated immediately by carpet owners with plain water, or with spotters containing mild (pH range of 5 to 9), dilute detergents that do not leave residue. If ignored those spots, or components thereof, may bond with fiber dye sites, forming permanent stains. Immediate spotting is an essential responsibility for home and business owners/managers. According to the S001-1994 CARPET CLEANING STANDARDS, in the glossary of terms it says the following: 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. yellowing - A carpet condition that result from one of several possible sources, to include: dye loss, fume fading, general soiling, oil tracking, oxidation, stain-resist degradation, etc. THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The stain resist test clearly indicates that something is not right about the stain resistance in the carpet. The reason that the carpet could not be made stain resistant is likely found in inherent differences between the DuPont and Scotchgard® approach on making nylon stain resistant. Although Scotchgard Stain Release Product is reportedly equal to or greater than competitive products. According to the dictionary definition stain-resist degradation is a reason for yellow or brown spots. CONCLUSION Yellowing in the carpet in question was inherent in manufacturing based upon field testing of pH and stain resistance. |