| What do the chemical and physical criteria mean and | | | | temperature (heat), and the higher the amount of |
| how does the chemistry work on stain-resistant | | | | water left after cleaning, the more the fiber enlarges; |
| carpet? Simply put, high pH levels (alkaline), high | | | | stain-resistant molecules then can escape. The lower |
| temperatures and/or cationic (positively-charged) | | | | the temperature and the residual moisture, the less the |
| cleaning chemicals can affect the integrity of | | | | potential for compromising the stain protection. |
| stain-resistant treatments. And, high residual moisture | | | | The pH Threshold |
| levels may make it easier for the stain-protection | | | | The pH of a solution, whether it's the dyebath at the |
| system to be compromised. A brief look at how fibers | | | | mill or a professional cleaner's cleaning solution, can |
| and dyes work will help explain this further. | | | | cause both dye and stain-resistant molecules to go in |
| Stain-resistant chemicals are polymers - large | | | | or out of fiber. These molecules, when in a low-pH |
| molecules made up of colorless, dye-like monomers; | | | | (acid) solution, are pushed into the fiber. When the |
| thus, polymers are larger than dye molecules. Fibers | | | | solution is alkaline (high pH), stain-resistant chemicals |
| are made of nylon polymer chains that open and | | | | are drawn out of the fiber and into the solution. |
| expand in the presence of hear and/or water. | | | | Research demonstrates that the upper limit of a |
| Small water and dye molecules can enter the fiber | | | | cleaning chemical's pH should be nine. |
| easily, but the large molecules of stain-resistant | | | | Criteria Are Interdependent |
| chemicals have more difficulty penetrating the nylon. | | | | Heat, water and high pH, together or separately, can |
| Thus, dyes penetrate far into the fiber, while the | | | | be undesirable. The heat and water open the fiber, and |
| stain-resistant chemicals stay just inside the fiber's | | | | the high pH entices the stain-resistant treatment out. |
| surface. | | | | And if cations are present, the stain resistance is lost. |
| Stain-resistant molecules are negatively-charged | | | | Re-Soiling of Spots and Spills Tested |
| (anionic) particles; if positively charged, particles are | | | | In a separate study, removal of spots and spills from |
| called cations. Two particles of the same charge repel | | | | stain-resistant carpet was tested. The research was |
| one another, but an anion and cation attract and | | | | designed to compare the cleaning effectiveness of the |
| neutralize one another. | | | | "home remedy" spotting procedures recommended by |
| Cleaners Must Be Anionic | | | | the producers of the stain-resistant treatment with |
| When a stain molecule, which is an anionic dye, meets | | | | how well the dry extraction cleaner removed the |
| the anionic stain-resistance in carpet, it is repelled. On | | | | spots. |
| the other hand, if a large concentration of cations, such | | | | The spot removal procedures - the dry method and |
| as a cleaner or topical treatment, comes in contact | | | | the manufacturers' recommended methods - were |
| with the carpet, it is attracted to the stain resistance, | | | | equally effective in removing the spots. However, |
| neutralizes it, and the carpet loses its ability to repel the | | | | those cleaned with the dry method re-soiled more |
| anionic stains it was warranted against. | | | | slowly and much less extensively. |
| Low Temperatures Required | | | | Stain-resistant carpet, as the research demonstrated, |
| Since water and heat are necessary to open up nylon | | | | is more forgiving; but, the carpet is not stain-proof. |
| fiber, so that dyes and stain-protection treatments can | | | | Getting to spots and spills a quickly as possible, and not |
| enter, excessive use of water and heat also can | | | | leaving behind a soil-attracting residue, proved crucial. |
| cause the escape of the treatments. The higher the | | | | |