Condo, hotel, and apartment building managers, daycare centers, hospitals, and nursing homes are faced with disinfecting and sanitizing in the war against the coronavirus. Carpets in these facilities are a concern. Disinfectant products and solutions can be used on carpets.
According to the EPA, using those products does not allow legally claiming the carpet has been disinfected. Depending on the manufacturer, using sanitizing and disinfecting products on carpets may void the warranty.
Problems with Products
Some products leave a residue that attracts soil. Others affect the stain resistance property’s performance. There is no realistic way to validate, verify, or test whether a disinfectant or sanitizer has been effective. Some protocols are expensive, and that can only be done in a lab to test the effectiveness of a sanitizing product.
The EPA tells us carpets cannot be disinfected. Only hard surfaces can be disinfected. A carpet can be sanitized or decontaminated. Because of the irregularity and mass of a carpet, sanitization and defection are difficult.
What Experts Advise
A dry vapor system is recommended. The reason behind the suggestion is the frequency with which the process may have to be performed. In this time of critical need to reduce the danger of the COVID-19 virus, more frequent sanitation is required.
Hot water extraction is the ideal solution. The water needs to be 160° F to be effective. Repeated use of that temperature can affect the carpet adhesive. The adhesive will liquefy and break apart. Dry vapor reduces the number of microorganisms in a carpet.
The process is effective against allergens, dust mites, and odors. Tests have proven that extended exposure and repeated passes are the more effective process than a single pass of dry vapor. Dry vapor works better on fabrics such as curtains that thick carpet.
Botanicals
Advancements in botanical disinfection technology have made possible products that kill microorganisms without endangering the health of humans. The market is becoming educated on the issues of unnecessary chemical toxicity and air quality.
There is a choice to use botanical products that are safer and achieve the same results, even for carpets. In the past, it was assumed a disinfectant had to be toxic to do the job. Traditional hard surface disinfectants are apt to kill all microorganisms with which they come in contact. EPA recommend carpet sanitizers, formulated explicitly for carpet material penetration, to avoid carpet fibers binding with the soil.
Hire a Professional
The most significant thing to keep in mind is the well-being and health of customers, workers, and yourself. Professional carpet cleaners are what is best for everyone. They keep everything safe, healthy, and clean.
Employees that come to work sick can quickly spread illness around the office. Cleaning groups are either part of the solution or the problem. It depends on how well they address and understand cross-contamination.
Cross-contamination is the movement of germs between people in the spaces that they share. The most common occurrence is a sick person touching something, followed by someone else touching the same surface.
It can also occur unintentionally, while cleaning, such as cleaning a toilet and using the same cloth to was a countertop. Mistakes happen when cleaning carpet also. Make sure the carpet cleaning is done by a professional who knows the best practices to prevent cross-contamination.