Kohan Textile Journal / Middle East Textile Journal / Carpet . fibers . yarn . nonwovens ...

In his November 4, 2011 column titled Random Facts About Carpet for the Dalton Daily Citizen, Carpet and Rug Institute president Werner Braun offers some valuable carpet cleaning tips as well as some inside information about carpet and static electricity.

“While many new carpets are manufactured using conductive fiber in the face yarn that is durable and protective even for modern day electronics, the static performance of a carpet may be altered in service as a result of wear, soiling, cleaning, temperature, relative humidity, etc. Changes in any of these variables can alter the amount of static electricity that is generated in carpet and, therefore, the degree of shock. However, studies have revealed that static electricity does not become a problem with most people until the relative humidity drops below 40 percent.

The next set of random carpet facts are to help remove those pesky stains that happen in everyday life.

• To remove ink, from a ballpoint pen for example, use rubbing alcohol (70 percent isopropyl). Apply the rubbing alcohol to a cloth or paper towel and do not pour the rubbing alcohol directly on the spot.

• To remove blood from carpet, rinse the spot quickly with cool water. Then follow with an approved cleaning solution from the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval products or a mix of 1/4 teaspoon clear (nonbleach, nonlanolin) dishwashing liquid with one cup cool water. Blot and dry quickly.

• Wine stains also come out with the very same dishwashing detergent solution found in the blood remedy above. Blot, repeat and dry.

• Fingernail polish can be removed using a non-acetone fingernail polish remover. Simply apply a small amount of the remover on a white cloth and work it in from the edges of the spill to the center, and continue to blot the area using lukewarm tap water. Dry the spot with a clean cloth.

So as “random” as these carpet facts might seem, they’re all available to help make you a carpet “expert,” because life gets messy and there are “shocking” moments, but you will know how to keep your house clean and static free amongst the chaos.”