 | Patrick Goebel has been involved in the home improvement industry for over 10 years and is currently director of retail flooring of the Flooring & Decorating Division of Star Lumber & Supply Co., Inc. You may contact Patrick by email at pgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2005-04-01 10:50:00
What is CRI “Seal of Approval?
: What exactly does the CRI 'Seal of Approval' on carpet cleaning products mean?
ANSWER: The CRI Seal of Approval is your assurance that a cleaning product is up to the job. Proper cleaning is critical to extending carpet's life and appearance-especially in high traffic areas. CRI's Seal of Approval program sets test methods and performance criteria for two categories of cleaning products:1. Spot removers2. Pre-spray/in-tank cleaning solutionsThese cleaning products are designed to be used in all settings - residential, commercial and institutional.The third phase of the Seal of Approval program -- for testing of extraction equipment and cleaning systems -- is in the process of being launched now. This Seal of Approval program tests for:1. Efficacy (the ability to remove stains)2. Resoiling (whether the product attracts soil at an accelerated rate)3. pH (excessively acid or alkaline products can affect dyes and fibers)4. Optical Brighteners (can adversely affect color, appearance and performance)5. Colorfastness to light (residues on pile yarn can accelerate color change)The Seal of Approval program uses water as its control standard. This means that the performance of a product is measured against the performance of water, for all of the criteria outlined above.The CRI spot testing program takes on the toughest stains. Staining agents tested include: mustard, ketchup, hot black coffee, grape juice, permanent marker, chocolate syrup, dirty motor oil and American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) synthetic soil. Evaluation of cleaning efficacy is performed using the AATCC Gray Scale for staining, and is rated by three independent, trained technicians. Resoiling is tested by applying AATCC synthetic soil to the cleaned carpet sample. As with efficacy, the differential soil level between the cleaned sample and control sample is rated by trained technicians.Pre-spray and in-tank products must pass multiple spectrophotometer readings. As with spot removing products, pre-spray and in-tank products are applied to carpet according to manufacturer's instructions. Cleaning efficacy is based on a product's ability to remove soil and thereby improve the appearance of the carpet. The differential soil level between the cleaned sample and control is rated instrumentally and by a panel of independent technicians using the AATCC Gray Scale for color change.Rate of resoiling is evaluated by applying the test product to a standard carpet sample. Then, by applying synthetic soil in accordance with ASTM D-6540. The differential soil level between the cleaned sample and control is rated instrumentally and by trained technicians. Similarly, spot removers, pre-spray and in-tank products are tested for pH levels, optical brightness and colorfastness to light. Some cleaning products which are extremely acidic or alkaline can adversely affect dyes and certain carpet fibers. Seal of Approval certified products have more neutral pH levels. They are have no amount of optical brighteners because such additives are know to affect fiber color, appearance and long-term performance. Finally, Seal of Approval carpet cleaning products must show that they do not contribute to residue on pile yarn that can accelerate color change.The bottom line is that Seal of Approval' cleaning products effectively remove stains and soil without adversely affecting the appearance or the performance of the carpet, which is a wise investment for both consumers, commercial and institutional purchasers.
