Science Isn't Just For Geeks!
CRI#2

CRI #2
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MYTHS THAT MAKE US WARY OF SCIENCE?

How do myths even get started? Most often they start out as a popular belief or tradition then move into the reality stage. You know the routine "we have always done it this way," or how about "alligators living in the sewers of New York City," or even "Santa Claus." WHAT! No Santa? Uhhh, let's move on.

Because of the many years I have been in this industry (29+), I can easily support scientific testing of cleaning products that's being done today. We need to dispel the myths, urban legends and the "we have always done it this way" mentality that prevails in some of our businesses.

Science isn't bad for the carpet industry. In the late 80's we started seeing stain resistant carpet. Maintaining the warranty meant having stain resistant carpet professionally hot water extraction cleaned every 18 - 24 months. Cleaners were told to clean the carpet using certain specific detergents, certain specific protectors, certain specific deodorizers and clean it at a temperature that did not exceed 150 deg F. Not "following directions" meant not obeying science. Some of us found this out the hard way.

In the early 90's the carpet manufacturers association (CRI) approached the organization now known as the IICRC, and stated something like "you come up with a standard as to how carpet should be cleaned, or we will." So the S001 Standard Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning was born about a year later - not bad for an all-volunteer organization. Taking the time to qualify and quantify how carpets get cleaned was good science for all of us.

Later on, we find the CRI busting some myths as they started testing vacuums, to see whether the soil is contained and not spewed back into the air and most importantly - whether the revolving brush is safe on the texture of a carpet. This was good for the consumer, the cleaner and, believe it or not, good for vacuum cleaner manufacturers, since it set minimums for them that had never been in existence before.

Recently the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has gotten very serious about testing and rating detergents, spot removers and pre-spray/in-tank solutions. Only the best pass a stringent set of tests administered by an independent accredited laboratory to earn the Seal of Approval. Some of this myth busting involves true rocket science.

Dispelling myths and urban legends about cleaning can shake us up a little. It's one thing to poke fun at installers who don't use seam sealer or a power stretcher. Now we have to think long and hard about skipping the vacuum or pre-spray or grooming when cleaning a carpet.

This might be the time that we as an industry pull together to improve our status in the eyes of carpet manufacturers and the consumer. Look for your next CLEAN TIP to find out why.