Insights & Case Studies

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