As a carpet cleaner, did you ever wonder about those black lines that appear along the edges of carpet at baseboards and under doorways? Using special techniques and tools, DryMaster Affiliates can remove these lines for clients as an additional service. Learn what causes these unsightly black lines and what you can do to remove them for your clients.
Introducing Filtration Soiling
This type of stain is called filtration soiling because it occurs when air passes through the carpet as it is pulled through cracks under baseboards or closed doors. As the air passes through the edge of the carpet pile, microscopic soiling is deposited, hence the term filtration soiling.
Filtration soiling takes place over a significant period of time, and it is not noticed until a buildup appears. Since homes are much more airtight than they were in the past, filtration soiling has become a serious issue. This type of soiling can also be caused by aromatherapy and candles.
But My Carpet Is Vacuumed Frequently…
No matter how clean a house is or how much it is vacuumed, filtration soiling will still occur. Because most homes aren’t 100% airtight, there is naturally a gap between the flooring and the walls. Air moves through that gap, and the carpet acts the same as a furnace filter by trapping airborne contaminants.
Since it’s difficult for a vacuum cleaner to reach every single spot on your carpet, these ultra-fine particles bond solidly with carpet and become easy to see. Filtration soiling becomes especially apparent in areas that are harder for the vacuum to reach — like around baseboards.
Most vacuum cleaners do not clean the edges of carpet very well as they mainly exert suction at the center of the vacuum opening. Some vacuum cleaners have slots at their edges to help with peripheral suction, but the actual suction at the edges isn’t very impressive.
By the time filtration soiling is noticed, the problem has progressed to the point that the air ducts in a home need to be professionally cleaned.
Can Filtration Soiling Be Removed?
Yes. It takes added labor and special cleaning solutions to remove filtration soiling, but a DryMaster professional carpet cleaner can do it. Here’s how:
Filtration soiling is difficult to remove because the particles are so fine that they penetrate deep into the carpet pile — sometimes all the way into the backing of the carpet.
Even with a crevice tool, vacuuming this area is not usually successful since the carbon particles are attached to the carpet fibers and each other by electrostatic bonding. Therefore, to remove filtration soiling, a different technique is required.
DryMaster Black Away Detergent is specially formulated to remove these nasty black lines. This is considered an extra service and a separate charge should be assessed.
How To Offer Filtration Soiling Removal Services
After you’ve completed a regular carpet cleaning service for a client, you can point out signs of filtration soiling throughout their home. Explain that normal carpet cleaning techniques will not remove this type of soiling since it has firmly bonded with the carpeting. Point out that DryMaster provides supplies and tools that are specifically designed to help with this type of soiling, and offer to either complete this additional service today or schedule a future date for the filtration soiling removal.
How To Prevent Filtration Soiling
To prevent filtration soiling from happening in the first place, air ducts should be professionally cleaned. Preventing airflow through carpet by sealing cracks in the subfloor as well as under baseboards and edges of stairs may reduce filtration soiling problems.
As a DryMaster Affiliate, you can provide a total package that solves a client’s filtration soiling issues for good. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Start with a normal carpet cleaning service. Performing this basic service will point out the areas in the home where filtration soiling has become a problem.
- Offer to remove the filtration soiling using DryMaster Black Away Detergent. This additional service will remove the existing signs of filtration soiling.
- Point out to the client that the issue is ultimately caused by dirty air ducts. Offer to provide a complete air duct cleaning service, which will eliminate the root cause of the filtration soiling.
While you might have become a DryMaster Affiliate simply to clean carpets, we can empower you to expand your service repertoire in a wide variety of ways. We offer all of the top-of-the-line, professional equipment you need to clean air ducts and dryer vents, and you can even add flood restoration or tile and grout cleaning to your service list. Clients will appreciate your ability to solve all of the cleanliness problems they’re experiencing without having to call in additional service providers.
Conquer Black Marks As A DryMaster Affiliate
At DryMaster, we encourage you to reach your full potential as a carpet cleaning business owner. At every step of the way, we clearly explain how much it costs to become a DryMaster Affiliate, and we point out how much you can save by purchasing one of our all-inclusive DryMaster equipment packages.
If you want to start out small by simply buying a van and cleaning carpets with basic equipment, that’s fine. However, any effective carpet cleaning business plan should allocate plenty of room for growth. You don’t want to wait for a customer to ask you to get rid of the black marks on their carpet to invest in the right equipment. Consider adding filtration soiling removal to your repertoire preemptively to make sure you’re ready for any challenge.
Once you become a DryMaster Affiliate, you’ll have everything you need to let customers know about your services and start expanding your client network. We offer multiple equipment packages to provide you with flexibility, and your equipment package comes with a full suite of supplies as well as both online and print marketing materials.
