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Nasty Ice Melter & Carpet Problems?
MAINTENANCE & CARE TIPS
Ugly, Oily Blotchy Stains?
Winter's Collateral Damage To Carpets & Floors!
Each year, winter's passing reveals many damages. Other than flooding and other related water damages, probably the most common damage to face property owners & professional carpet cleaners are the ugly, oily blotchy stains in carpeting, especially at entrance areas. This is much more noticeable in commercial or institutional situations.
While spring is usually the time of year in the northern regions that cleaners begin to search for information on dealing with damage caused to carpets from use or overuse of ice melters, the problem really should be dealt with as it occurs during the winter in order to prevent staining and possible damage to commercial carpets
What You Need to Know About Ice Melter's:
A little research reveals that there are hundreds of brand names for ice-melting products, and that the majority of affordable chemical ice melters on the market are made from one or more of these basic ingredients:
#1 - Sodium chloride
#2 - Calcium chloride
Calcium chloride is a liquid brine in its natural state and is converted into a dry ice melting material by removing the water. It quickly absorbs moisture from the atmosphere when removed from its packaging to be used. As calcium chloride is converted into a liquid, it gives off heat, causing rapid ice melting to occur. Calcium chloride will melt ice at temperatures as low as -25 degrees. Also, if applied too heavily, an oily residue may appear on hard surfaces as well carpeted surfaces.
Sodium chloride ("Rock salt"), on the other hand, has to come in direct contact with moisture to begin to create heat which melts the ice. Such moisture is not available at low temperatures [below 20 degrees]. Because of this, rock salt is only effective in moderately cold temperatures. However it is tremendously less costly.
Calcium chloride presents several problems for property owners and cleaners. The salt itself is hydroscopic (attracts moisture),and stays wet, attracting soil (much as urine salts attract moisture and maintain odors, especially in warm and humid conditions.)
This damp residue may become alkaline, (while calcium chloride itself isn't alkaline), and because of this, it may be potentially harmful to dyes used in acid dyed nylon and wool, The calcium chloride residue also leaves an oily film that attracts soil as well as moisture.
Most traffic area pre-sprays and carpet cleaning detergents are both alkaline in pH and contain phosphates. These types of products will not dissolve calcium chloride, and chemists have suggested that these products might create a stronger bond of the calcium than originally existed.
How to Remove Calcium Chloride Ice Melter
#1 - Vacuum Thoroughly:
While calcium chloride attracts moisture and keeps the carpet wet, all solid matter should be vacuumed away first.
#2 - Apply Acidic Rinse Agent:
The best results are consistently obtained by preconditioning with an acidic rinse agent (such as BridgePoint Fab Set or Prochem All Fiber Rinse) at a 16-1 dilution, which will break down the otherwise insoluble calcium chloride.
#3 - Rinse Thoroughly:
Use clear water or a acidic rinse agent only.
#4 - Clean as Normal:
If any soil remains, use the cleaning agents you routinely use for carpet cleaning at this point. Green cleaning agents, such as Bridgepoint Green Balance products, are phosphate free and more likely to rinse and suspend any remaining calcium chloride, as well as providing the ability to remove soils other than those associated with calcium chloride.
Your commercial customers will appreciate your keeping this unsightly problem at bay throughout the winter, and your residential customers should know that its equally valuable to them to have this done if their carpets have been exposed to ice melt throughout the winter as well.
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