Once the winter arrives, it’s not uncommon to find certain types of stains on the carpeting in your home. These stains aren’t from the usual sources such as messy children, pets, or routine wear and tear, they are caused by specific seasonal effects that are only in use when the snow and sleet starts to fall.
The culprit is salt and we’re not talking about the kind you keep on your table during dinner. This is that rock salt used by your neighbors or the city to melt the ice and snow on driveways, roads, and sidewalks. When the salt is thrown down as a way to eliminate these symptoms of winter, the residue can get caught on the soles of shoes and clothing.
Then you and others set foot on the carpets of your commercial space and leave behind stains that are extremely difficult to eradicate. Try and lift the stain out and you’re more likely to make things dramatically worse instead of better. In fact, salt stains are so tough to remove that you can actually cause lasting permanent damage to the carpeting material, all because you tried to wipe the stains out on your own.
But don’t worry, we’re going to give you some useful tips to keep carpet clean in the dead of winter:
The Source of the Stains
Road salt and similar products intended to melt ice and snow contain assorted chemicals in order to be effective at the task. These include elements such as sodium chloride, magnesium carbonate, and calcium carbonate, all of which are acidic and abrasive with high levels of alkaline in their makeup.
The good news is that these chemicals are very good at doing what they are supposed to – melt ice. The bad news is that they leave behind a white residue where the melting occurred and when you step in or pass through this residue, you can pick it up and carry it with you right back to your carpet.
Stain Prevention
Since these stains are so difficult to get out of your commercial carpet, the best method for preserving the look and feel of the material is to take precautionary measures for keeping them from getting onto the carpet in the first place.
The most effective way to do that is by clearing all snow and ice from your sidewalks and entryways. It will help to reduce the moisture in these areas where people are stepping in and out of the most. Vacuuming the once or twice a week is also a great way to remove the dirt and residue that gets on the carpet. Finally, have your employees remove shoes and boots before they step on the carpet. This may be the most effective option for keeping your carpet free of salt stains.
Stain Cleaning
As you might have guessed by now, or perhaps seen first-hand, trying to remove the stains on your own can be a damaging and destructive proposition for your carpets. You may find a lot of do-it-yourself remedies online, but it’s best to avoid these at all costs. In order to clean your carpets properly and prevent them from being ruined, it’s best to call your local carpet cleaners centennial co to get the job done right.
