Insights & Case Studies | Commercial Floor Cleaning Tips

Spot on Carpet

Sometimes people try to clean spot on carpet that just can not be removed. Recently I was asked to go inspect a spot that no cleaner had been able to remove. Typically this means that the cleaning process performed by the owner of the carpet or the facilities department did not work. Many times multiple cleaning solutions and methods are used that can either set dyes or distort the carpet. In this case it was something different. Nothing was going to work to clean this spot out because it was not a stain, spot or spill. Take a close look at the picture to the right. What do you see?

March 24, 2026

Commercial Tile & Grout Cleaning

Commercial tile & grout requires special care. We have all walked into a restroom needing tile & grout cleaning that smells like a monkey cage. This is usually caused by poor maintenance of the tile floor. A professionally maintained tile & grout floor requires a customized plan that includes proper; training equipment & tools cleaning solutions and professional expertise Soil, oils, detergents and floor finishes get trapped on tiles and in the grout causing unhealthy bio-films to build up on locker room and restroom floors. These bio-films can be breading grounds for odor causing bacteria. Locker rooms and bathrooms are typically cleaned using detergent-disinfectants. These tile & grout cleaning agents

March 19, 2026

Removing Ink from Upholstery

A quick note on removing ink from upholstery from Sean Mooney, ECO’s Senior Account Manager. Removing ink from upholstery can be difficult. There are many variables that exist that will either assist in its removal or make these stains more permanent. Often when a professional gets to the ink spot many people have already tried to remove it with various types of stain removers. This often spreads the ink, makes it more difficult to remove, or even can make it permanent . Some of the factors that may help when removing ink are: The type of fabric it is. Fabric protectors that have been applied before the spill. (ex.

February 25, 2026

Protecting Carpet During Construction

Protecting carpet during construction is an absolute necessity. Too often carpet is installed during the construction phase. Why does this happen? It is simple… poor planning delivery mix ups & rushed jobs use during construction acclimation requirements installation schedules We live in a world where after a decision is made everything “must be ready yesterday”. The trades really do not have time to do the job completely according to spec. How can a corner be cut with minimum risk? It’s the world we live in. Years ago when I first started cleaning carpets I used to see rolled paper, plank boards, plywood or particle board set over a freshly installed

February 15, 2026

Carpet Repairs

Carpet Repairs affect Appearance and Safety Carpet repairs are not always fun to deal with. These unsightly issues can happen immediately after an installation or after time. Typical repair issues include but are not limited to: Bad seams performed by the installer loose fibers pulls in the carpet wrinkled carpet (caused by not power stretching) de-laminated carpet (carpet separates from the backing) bubbling carpet Stains and tears There are installation guidelines written by The Carpet and Rug Institute. The CRI 104 & 105 Installation Guidelines. These guidelines should be strictly adhered to by all installers. Many times repairs are necessary due to installation related issues. “No matter if it is

February 13, 2026

Cleaning Wood

There are many different types of wood. Cleaning wood involves knowing: the type of wood it is is the wood manufactured or natural who the mill or manufacture is what finish(s) have been applied to the wood prior to cleaning Damaged wood, scratches or water marked wood can be tricky to clean. Restorative cleaning procedures and repairs should be made prior to development of a cleaning maintenance plan when possible. Cleaning maintenance plans should include: Proper cleaning frequencies for removal of foreign soils proper use of neutral pH cleaning solution avoidance of abrasive, harsh, high pH solutions use of soft towels,mops and microfibers understanding use of finial finish equipment and

February 6, 2026

Cleaning Hotel Carpets

Cleaning hotel carpets can be challenging. Most often special cleaning processes need to be considered prior to attempting to improve their appearance. Too often, people who are not qualified or properly trained and try every spot cleaning product available. 95% of the time this approach will set a spot or stain making it permanent. At this time, repairing becomes costly. What is the difference between a spot and a stain? A spill can quickly become a spot or a stain if not removed quickly. A spot is typically foreign matter on the surface of a carpet fiber. Usually can be removed easily. A stain is the addition of color to

January 28, 2026

Commercial Carpet Maintenance

Carpet doesn’t clean itself! Spots, soil and grease in commercial carpet do not just magically appear. It is spilled on, tracked on and/or grinded in. It is easy to get caught up in the blame game of whose fault the spots are. Bottom line it is often a little of everyone’s fault and, in most cases, it is so simple to fix. Maintain it with a professionally custom designed commercial carpet maintenance program and your most likely going to be happy with your textile floor-covering for years to come. There are a few things you need to keep in mind. Commercial Carpet Warranty’s require a cleaning maintenance program. No program…No

January 26, 2026

Cleaning LVT

Who said that cleaning LVT was easy? Cleaning LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tile can be a challenge. Many cleaning contractors often struggle to maintain it. LVT is becoming a popular specification by designers and retailers for flooring in homes or offices. Often it is sold to the end user as a “low” or “no” maintenance floor. Truth is all flooring systems need maintenance. Soil can build up and cause irreversible damage to the wear layer (the top protective layer of the LVT). Furniture legs and tables that are dragged over the surface can cause scratches that can not be removed or easily repaired. It makes sense to make sure

January 2, 2026

Flooring Problem

A flooring problem can be a big headache If you purchased a new carpet, wood (manufactured wood) or vinyl floor for your home or business and have a flooring problem you may need some professional help. Consumers of all types of floor surfaces can have failures. There are multiple causes for failures and often they can be due to a combination of events. Warranties and installation grace periods can be vague and time sensitive. Installation guidelines may or may not have been followed. Typically you end up with everyone pointing a finger at someone else and all you want is it fixed. Often a flooring problem can be blamed on

December 10, 2025

How much does it cost to clean commercial carpet?

One time commercial carpet cleaning jobs are usually priced out by the amount of square feet that needs cleaning. There are a variety of different cleaning systems. Determining the type of cleaning system you should use is a matter of the cleaners or end users personal preference, the manufactures recommendations and the condition and location of the carpet. You determine the amount of square feet by doing one of the following: Measuring with a laser pointer or counting ceiling tiles Measuring with a rolling measuring devise Taking specs off a blue print, schematic or cad (computer aided design) drawing. Asking property management familiar with the facility Some may ask office

September 24, 2025

Types of Commercial Carpet Fibers

Types of Commercial Carpet Fibers While there are many considerations when replacing or cleaning old commercial carpets, property manages must be aware of carpet fiber types. This is because fiber type refers to the actual material used to manufacture the carpet. The type of fiber will dictate price points, applications, maintenance needs and longevity. There are six main types of commercial carpet fibers: Nylon Carpet Fibers Olefin Carpet Fibers Polyester Carpet Fibers Wool Carpet Fibers Wool Blend Carpet Fibers Synthetic Blend Carpet Fibers The various types of commercial carpet fibers have various advantages and disadvantages for commercial properties. There is no “one size fits all” solution for property managers when

September 4, 2025

Smelling Clean and Green..

Fragrances can mask odors or can enhance perceived cleanliness, but watch out, in today’s ECO friendly world they don’t always pay off. Not all “fresh smelling“ additives guaranty customer satisfaction. Fragrances or masking agents are often used in cleaning solutions to enhance the total sensory perception of a carpet-cleaning job. If it smells good it must be clean, right? Well, the problem is that not all agree. All it takes is one asthmatic person in the home or one chemically sensitive occupant of a building to ruin your day. In my opinion clean is odorless. Clean means that you have removed unwanted matter. This would include anything that smells or

August 21, 2025

Removing Odors from Basement

Once again Eco Interior Maintenance BactiBarrier cleaning system has removed odors from a basement that sat around for over 4 years without inhabitants. These products are phenomenal. Cleaning, disinfecting and protecting makes so much sense. Cleaners that use it are setting a higher standard. Its our new “Standard of Care”. Currently our client both commercial and residential are benefiting from BactiBarrier’s superior technology. Do not know why we will ever disinfect and protect any surface any other way. Hope everyone gets a chance to reap the benefits. Before After

August 14, 2025

Walk Off Mats

Are walk off mats helpful? Preventative Maintenance Walk off mats protect interiors of commercial buildings, help preserve floor covering warranties and help insure against costly slip/fall claims. Strategically placed interior and exterior walk off mats are essential to a complete commercial building maintenance program. If maintained properly, these mats can add years to the use life to your interior hard and soft floor coverings. Dry particulates are any floor coverings nemesis. Almost half of the soil in a building is made of sand, quartz, dolomite, clay, feldspar and limestone. A single grain of sand has 32 cutting edges and equates to 120 grit sand paper. The constant abrasion from particulate

May 4, 2025

Seam Sealing

Seam sealing is a must for all new broadloom carpet installations. You may not know, but according to the Carpet and Rug Institutes Commercial and Residential Carpet Installation Guidelines all broadloom seams have to be seam sealed during installation. This installation step protects the freshly cut carpet backing from unraveling at the seams. The backing is a weave. When that weave is cut it creates a weak point if not sealed. Yes, you have seen this. You or the night time facility service provider vacuum over a seam and a carpet yarn gets tangled up in a vacuum brush, often leaving a very obvious missing row of loops or tufts.

April 16, 2025

Clean Schools

What is more important than demanding clean schools? How much time do you, your children or your love ones spend in classrooms, day cares, or universities? This is where most of us have spent big money in taxes or tuition to build our intellect and social being. Children have no choice when it comes down to facility cleanliness. Clean schools is of utmost importance. Fortunately today we have cleaning scientists from groups like CIRI (Cleaning Industry Research Institute) and the EPA spending time and money on surface cleanliness & contamination and it consequences. The EPA’s has Seven Technical Solutions that define the most common issues that schools need to address

March 4, 2025

ECO helps write The Carpet & Rug Institute Commercial Carpet Cleaning Guidelines

One of Eco Interior Maintenance founders, Doug Bradford, worked with The Carpet & Rug Institute in Dalton Georgia to help write the update of the Carpet Maintenance Guidelines for Commercial Applications. This document is used and distributed by many of the carpet manufacturers domestically and internationally. Reviewing the document after purchasing commercial carpet will help end users understand the importance of proper maintenance as it relates to appearance and use life. The document also reviews important factors to consider when building a commercial carpet maintenance program. These factors include specifying the right carpet, cleaning procedures, frequency and choice of cleaning systems needed to achieve optimum performance levels from your textile

December 30, 2024

Corporate Profits driving down Quality of Service

Corporate Profits driving down Quality of Service In tight economic times corporate accountants and advisors dictate to the real estate asset managers and owners what the numbers have to be to be successful. Public REIT’s (Real Estate Investment Trusts), Government and private enterprises seek bottom line performance numbers. Degrees of profitability reach beyond achievable human and technological performance levels. Managers of corporate business plans for building asset maintenance are forced to drive down costs of quality service providers by doling out RFP (Request for Proposals) that provide the lowest possible cost to end user. These are often followed by best and final pricing negotiations when they pick a few often-desperate

November 25, 2024

Roll Crush

What is carpet roll crush? As an Certified Carpet Inspector roll crush is one of the most frequent issues I am asked to go out and correct. It is noticeable immediately after or during installation. if it does not disappear in the first 2 weeks it can be professionally addressed. 98% of the time it can be fixed by steaming and pile lifting the carpet pile. It can happen to broadloom carpets or carpet tiles. If you notice roll crush talk to the person who sold you the carpet soon after installation. According to The Carpet &Rug Institute: “Roll crush usually appears across the width of the carpet as areas

November 1, 2024

Waxing VCT

You would think that stripping and waxing VCT would be a simple process. Think Again. Waxing VCT can be tricky if you do not know what to use or how to properly prep for the job. Sometimes it may be a new installation but usually layers of old yellowing wax need to be removed first. There are ECO friendly ways to do this. Layers and layers of old coatings can send contractors into overtime hours quickly. The difference between Coatings (wax) is significant: Sealers (preparation for coatings) Acrylic Coatings ( sometimes associated with yellowing) Polyurethane Coatings (longer lasting) Stripping floors can be difficult to do in an eco-friendly way. Property

September 19, 2024

Free Carpet Cleaning

How to Get Free Carpet Cleaning in your Home or Office FREE Carpet Cleaning for your Home: Refer a neighbor or friend in town to use ECO and your next cleaning we will clean 2 areas or one chair for free. Clean 5 areas and we will clean one area for Free Clean a Sofa Sectional and a Chair and we will clean area rug for free. $15 off on the spot for a testimonial on Yelp. FREE Carpet Cleaning for your Office: Refer a property manager or general manager who gives us a $1000 job and get 5 areas Free carpet cleaning in your house. Clean 5000 sq/ft and

September 9, 2024

Assisted Living and Cleanliness

Today more and more people are aware of the cleanliness of the environment they live and work in. It makes sense that those that manage the facilities pay close attention this. People of all ages are beginning to really care about measuring cleanliness. It makes sense to restore, maintain and test. Below is a picture of an Assisted Living Facilities carpet. Carpet should never get looking this bad! It is just not healthy. Eco Interior Maintenance, Inc. has preventative solutions that can assist facility managers in proper protection and maintenance. Inquire today!

September 2, 2024

Choosing the right Commercial Carpet

Making a decision on what type or whose carpet to buy is difficult. With many manufacturers pushing their latest and greatest choosing the right commercial carpet or flooring is many times left up to an interior design firm. Designers may be great with color schemes, suggestions for eco friendly furnishings, office layout and aesthetic appeal but when it comes down to functionality, ease & cost of maintenance and use life this may be best left to an experienced building maintenance consultant. Eco Interior Maintenance has built a reputation taking care of all types of interior furnishings and floor coverings. Each usually have their own set of manufacturers recommended maintenance guidelines

August 14, 2024

Stripping & Waxing Floors

Stripping and Waxing floors and how much it costs? Many commercial buildings have VCT or Vinyl Composite Tiles in high traffic or heavy use areas. Shoe scuffs, rubber wheels and spills create the need for stripping and waxing floors. The use dictates the cleaning frequency. For instance, an entrance hallway or mail room may need to be mopped daily and a computer cleanroom may only need to be cleaned every 2 weeks. Poor cleaning frequency specifications and mopping procedures, over time, will create the need for the VCT to be restored. Doing the job correctly takes time, experience, the right equipment and of course the right floor finish. Preperations include:

August 6, 2024

No Mold no MRSA

No Mold no MRSA– Clean fax Magazine October 2014 Disinfectants No Mold. No MRSA. No Odor. Stopping the spread and growth of bacteria with organosilanes. By Doug Bradford and Dr. Daniel Bernazzani October 09, 2014 Homeowners, athletes, travelers, hospital patients, senior living occupants and office personnel all have one thing in common: More than ever, occupants are concerned about bacterial infections due to harmful microbial growth and cross contamination. Staph bacteria are the most prevalent infection-causing germs and cannot be prevented with yesterday’s disinfectants. In fact, over 60 percent of staph infections are now resistant to antibiotics, up from 3 percent in 1974. These microorganisms can survive on inanimate surfaces

July 1, 2024

Ripples, Waves, Buckling Carpet

So how did ripples, waves or buckling carpet appear at your home or office? Carpet ripples, waves and buckling typically are associated with a stretch-in installations over pad. The main reasons they appear are: Installer does not use a power stretcher during installation. (uses only knee kicker) Carpet was not acclimated in the home or commercial facility before installation Carpet has padding/cushion that was not installed properly or is the wrong specification Tack strip/threshold failure because of installation or tack strip specification Secondary backing latex failure (manufacture related) Heavy objects rolling or pushed over carpet and pad. Improper glue use or application (Double glue/direct glue down installations only) Power Stretcher

April 17, 2024

Choosing the Right Carpet

Many of our customers are confused when it comes down to replacing carpet… Choosing the right carpet for your home or commercial facility is no easy task for the average consumer. After spending almost 3 decades cleaning the fuzzy stuff I can certainly give you some pointers. It is easy to get some bad or misleading information by carpet sales people, wholesalers or marketing propaganda. You may not know until months after the installation if you made the right choice. Be wary of believing everything you hear, see or read when it comes to picking your carpet. After all, do interior decorators or retail sales people get to install and

April 14, 2024

Removing Pet Odor

Removing pet odor can be a tricky task to tackle. First of all, you do not often know where the odor is coming from. The accident may have happened months ago, but you just started smelling it yesterday. Humidity or water extraction cleaning carpet can sometimes intensify the smell. Secondly, you may not know what the source of the odor is. Third you may not know how much damage is under the surface. How can I find the source of the Odor? Use a black light (urine fluoresces) Use your nose Look for stains Find what pet or person looks guilty No matter if the urine is from a cat,

February 18, 2024

Wet or Dry Carpet Cleaning

What is best? Wet or Dry Carpet Cleaning You may ask, Is wet or dry carpet cleaning better? First there is no such thing as totally dry carpet cleaning unless you are just using a vacuum to extract the soil. About 79 % of all the soil that builds up in you carpet can be removed that way. The other soil, that is left after vacuuming, is either tacky, sticky, oily or a stain. Vacuuming is recommended prior to any cleaning, wet or dry. Regarding vacuuming, most of the time there is: no frequency chart or schedule only spot vacuuming or vacuuming as necessary taking place a vacuum in

February 12, 2024

How to get carpets really clean

If you want to know how to get carpets really clean…. you first need to understand what a clean carpet is. Clean = Free of Unwanted Matter. To get carpets really clean you need to remove unwanted matter. What is unwanted matter? Unwanted matter is anything foreign to the carpets original construction. For instance outdoor soil, skin dander, dust, bacteria, lint, food and drink spills all fall under this category. Some of this unwanted matter that settles in your carpet is visible and some is invisible. It many times is the invisible stuff that creates asthmatic issues for people, floating around until it settles. Pre-vacuuming and hot water extraction is

January 25, 2024

Worn out Carpet

This worn out carpet looks worse than what I just got rid of!! The plain fact is that the manufacturers only consider your new floor covering to be worn out carpet or a wear issue if it has 10% or more loss of face fiber. If your carpet had 10% or more loss of face fiber it is quite probable that you would see holes in it. So using the words “worn out carpet” may not get you anywhere if your carpet is starting to look older than the carpet you just replaced. There are a number of things that can cause your carpet to look worn out. Pooling, Shading

December 27, 2023

removing carpet wrinkles

Removing carpet wrinkles is a carpet repair that is not really easy to do once it has become noticeable. Carpet wrinkles usually form because the carpet was not stretched into place properly by the installer. Once carpet wrinkles have formed, the dimensional stability of the attached backing system can be compromised. Re-stretching may help if caught early enough, but most of the time they become more difficult to remove as time goes on. Usually carpet wrinkles go just in one direction. Installers may be able to detach carpet from the wall or open a seam, trim and re-install to fix the problem. Some times seams peak causing a wrinkle. Again

November 4, 2023

BactiBarrier Cleaning System

Eco Interior Maintenance is proud to announce its new state of the art detail cleaning and microbe protection program. child care facilities conference rooms work out facilities bathrooms/locker rooms Our unique cleaning process cleans and disinfects hard surfaces in your facility followed by an electrostatic application of an invisible, odorless nano-technology on all surfaces that provides bonded long lasting antimicrobial protection for months. If all hard surfaces are maintained using our very affordable cleaner disinfectant we will guarantee that it will still present for 1 full year or we will reapply for free. Great for use on: any hard surface telephones computers wood,stone and VCT counter tops ** electrostatic application

November 1, 2023

IICRC S100 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings

Doug Bradford, one of the founders of the Eco Interior Maintenance chaired the update and revision of the international carpet cleaning standard and reference guide. It was just approved by ANSI last month and is available for purchase. The Journal of Cleaning & Restoration highlights the ANSI/IICRC S100-2015 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings and its accompanying R100 reference guide which are valuable tools used by the industry to reference the proper way to specify, develop and institute carpet cleaning maintenance programs. It took 9 years to produce with over 100 industry experts. Eco’s Senior Operation Management and Sales Team , Justin & Aaron Eader have participated in

October 8, 2023

6 Benefits of Cleaning VCT

There are at least 6 benefits of cleaning VCT or vinyl composite tiles in commercial buildings. To enjoy these benefits, a professional cleaner must evaluate the floors condition and develope a cleaning or restoration plan. Good communication between the facility managers, occupants and the cleaning company is required to start and complete the job safely. For instance, you should plan the job during times when occupants are less likely to be present. In addition, tape-off, block-off and put wet floor signs down in entranceways and connecting hallways to kke people off of the floor. This helps to prevent slip and fall accidents. Here are six benefits of cleaning VCT professionally.

September 22, 2023

Senior Living Facility Carpet Care

What is the standard of care for textile floor coverings in senior living facilities? Senior living facility carpet care protocols are all over the board. It is time to standardize carpet & upholstery cleaning specifications for all those who reside in assisted living health care facilities. Clean pro-actively instead of re-actively. As a practicing Senior Carpet Inspector, a Master Cleaner and an industry cleaning consultant I decided dig into this. I have spent years watching different parties try to take the lead in this subject only to see it kicked around by state & government regulators, carpet manufacturers, cleaning franchises, private businesses, real estate investment trusts (REIT’S) and cleaning associations.

September 18, 2023

Retail Facility Business Magazine February 2011

The Hidden Side of Customer Satisfaction: Floor Maintenance By Doug Bradford Have you ever walked into a store and immediately noticed how many spills are on the carpet? How about a sticky hard surface or wood that is in need of attention? How about a counter top in disarray? Even if these things did not draw your attention immediately, subliminally they can have a lasting impact on your first impressions of the store and its product line. There are many professional firms that cater to the development and sustainability of the relationship between the retailer and the consumer, but customer loyalty is achieved when you look at a consumer’s

September 14, 2023

Cleaning Commercial Floors, Carpet and Upholstery

Cleaning commercial floors, carpet and upholstery are all services that require professional expertise. Whether it is stone, wood, carpet or textile covered office furnishings these detail cleaning procedures need to be done correctly the first time. Many things can be effected by skipping an important procedure just to cut the cost or get it done quicker. Often, people who are not qualified or trained properly to perform the work try to quickly fix commercial maintenance problems without implementing the correct procedures, equipment or cleaning solutions. This can cost the building owner, GM, GC, office coordinator or facility manager big dollars. Outsourcing or hiring trained professionals to take care of detailed

August 20, 2023

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Carpet Cleaning

Environmentally Friendly & Green Carpet Cleaning The benefits of eco-friendly carpet cleaning for homeowners negate the use of harsh, aggressive cleaning chemicals used in the past. Many carpet detergents and spotters contain chemicals that can damage or weaken carpet fibers during the cleaning process. As a result, the carpet cleaning process actually may shorten the life expectancy of your home’s carpets. Today’s tested and/or certified eco-friendly cleaning solutions are: Environmentally Friendly Safe For Kids and Adults Safe for pets Extends the Carpet life Anti-allergenic Eco-Friendly Testing You would think that most cleaning products these days have been through a rigorous testing program. The fact is, that many of the products

August 1, 2023

How often should I clean my Upholstery

We are frequently asked, “How often should I clean upholstery?”. This is a great question. You disinfect and clean your sinks, bathrooms and counter tops weekly yet years may pass before your couch is cleaned properly. With all of the talk about germs, bacteria and indoor air quality issues that can arise from poor maintenance, upholstery somehow slips by undetected until it looks so dirty that you can not stand looking at it anymore. Family room couch and upholstered furniture – Yearly Dining room chairs, oversized chairs & ottomans – Every other Year Leather recondition & clean – Every other year Basement furniture (dehumidify in summer) – Yearly depending on

June 22, 2023

Swept Under the Rug

The Hidden Side of Customer Satisfaction: Floor Maintenance Have you ever walked into a store and immediately noticed how many spills are on the carpet? How about a sticky hard surface or wood that is in need of attention? How about a countertop in disarray? Even if these things do not draw your attention immediately, subliminally they can have a lasting impact on your first impressions of the store and its product line. There are many professional firms that cater to the development and sustainability of the relationship between the retailer and the consumer, but customer loyalty is achieved when you look at a consumer’s experience holistically. From excellent customer

June 6, 2023