Are there black or grey lines around the edges of your carpet, particularly near the baseboards and underneath the doors? And no matter how often you scrub and vacuum these areas, the stains just keep coming back? If this sounds familiar, you’ve fallen victim to what carpet professionals call filtration soiling.
What is Filtration Soiling?
Filtration soiling isn’t due to a manufacturing defect; it’s the result of an accumulation of dirt, dust, and other contaminants that is caused by a consistent flow of air over and through your carpet. The air can originate from your home heating/cooling system’s vents or it can come through the cracks and crevices in your floor or baseboards. Soiling can occur quickly or quite gradually, depending upon how much air flow your carpet is experiencing and the level of pollutants in your home’s air. Simply put, there is air flowing through your carpet and your carpet’s fibers are filtering the air, sucking up any dirt and dust particles they come in contact with.
Cleaning and Prevention
Permanently getting rid of filtration soiling can be a bit complicated. That’s because many of the particles that have built up on your carpet are extremely fine. Plus, these particles are often a mix of substances (smoke, oils, dust, etc.) so a single cleaning product may not be ideal for removing each of them. Truth be told, for the most effective removal of filtration soiling, it’s best to consult a professional carpet care expert. They not only have experience dealing with these stains, they also have the right combination of professional-grade cleaning agents, specialized brushes, and vacuum attachments best suited for the job.
That said, there are several steps that every homeowner affected by filtration soiling can take to limit and prevent its effects. Start by reducing the amount of air flowing through your carpets by sealing any cracks in your baseboards or subfloor. Next, make sure your home’s air is as free of indoor pollutants as possible. That means regularly changing your home air system’s filters, using high-efficiency vacuum cleaner bags, and limiting the burning of candles inside. Also, if there are smokers in your home, ask them to light up outside. You can also try and leave your home’s interior doors open. This will allow air to pass freely from room to room instead of being forced through the small gaps underneath your doors.
If you’ve had it with filtration soiling and are looking for some professional advice and know-how, get in touch with the carpet care experts at Aquamist today.