The key job of carpet cleaning is to remove soils from carpets. However, there are actually several different types of soils and contaminants found in carpets, and knowing what type of soil is in the carpet is frequently the first step in effectively removing it.
Because of this, this month's U.S. Products Carpet Cleaning Advisory focuses on the top ten soils that most often end up in carpets and how they got there in the first place.
- Sand, clay, and other "gritty" materials
- Natural fibers such as lint from clothing
- Gum
- Petroleum, oil, and grease
- Human hair and skin
- Dust mites, fleas, and other insects
- Organic soils and materials (minerals and soils from landscaping areas, for example)
- Airborne carbon and automotive exhaust
- Spilled food or beverages
- So-called "miscellaneous unknowns"
