What are those BLACK LINES around the edges of my carpet?

These are called filtration lines. This is polluted air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and the baseboard. Found in many homes and some commercial settings - those mainly in colder climates - filtration soiling is tough to remove and takes time to do so properly.

Its makeup is oily and the molecules of the soils are so small that cleaning them or removing them from fibers is difficult. In addition, they have an electrical "charge" that bonds them firmly to the fiber.

How they form

Filtration lines occur no matter the type of home, business or facility.What matters: Indoor air quality and the construction. As everyone knows, warm air moves up, and as it cools, drops back down. That's why hot air balloons defy gravity.

Something that not everyone knows is that warm air also likes cool surfaces. This means that as air is warmed, typically while the furnace runs, the air - full of pollutants - goes up and then searches out cooler surfaces, such as an outside wall or another room. As the air moves toward the cooler area, it will push its way through carpeted surfaces (under doors, etc) and "clean itself".
Just as carpet is a filter, it is much more so when air moves from one room to another, or when air moves under furniture, etc. What is left behind is a buildup of oily soils that are very difficult to remove.
As more time passes, more soils build up and soon you have a tremendous cleaning challenge.

Here’s what we can do:

• Apply a preconditioner to the filtration soils
• Agitate into the filtration soils (tamping or carefully scrubbing)
• Rinse
• Apply a gel solvent
• Agitate
• Rinse
• Repeat if necessary (all steps) 

Challenges

Probably the biggest challenge to removing soil filtration lines is where they are on the carpet.
Although about one-third of soil filtration lines are under doors kept closed most of the time, the other two-thirds are in areas very difficult to work on.

What causes spots and spills to reappear on my carpet?

If a spill reappears within 24 hrs of cleaning it up, it is due to the initial spill penetrating into the backing of the carpet.  As the drying process takes place the residuals migrate up the fiber causing the spot to reappear or to “wick” onto the tips of the fibers.  Now…if a spot gradually comes back over the course of several weeks, even months, it is due to some sort of heavy residue from soap, grease or sugar which attracts dirt from foot traffic.  The more the residue gets walked on, the darker the spot gets.

To prevent wicking: First, clean up the spot with a neutral spot remover then place a white cotton towel over the original spot and weigh it down with about 20 lbs to press the spill and spot remover into the towel.  Keep the weighted towel on for about 6 hours.  You should notice the a residue on the towel and NOT on the fibers.  Fluff fibers and allow to completely dry.  Repeat as necessary.

To prevent reappearing spots: First, you must start with a good neutral spot remover such as our product – Spot Out.  Apply the appropriate amount of spotter on the spot and use a wooden spoon to dislodge the residue then blot, do not rub, the spotter into a white cotton towel.  Repeat as necessary and let dry.

Final note:  A wet vac  will work very well to remove the initial spill and the spot remover to make the process of spot cleaning go faster and more thorough.

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Twelve Things You Need to Know About Carpet and Rug Cleaning - Ayoub Carpet Service, Serving Reston, Fairfax County, Manassas. Located South of Dulles in Chantilly

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