Polyester question

Sounds more like polypropelene to me. Some manufactures will use bulked and crimped fiber cut into staple legnths to give the bulky look in cheap goods, 3-5 year life expectancy. Complexes try to get 8-10 yrs out of it.

Polyester has always had wear and light reflection problems. You can clean it you just can't make it look good!!!

Ahh I see you have discovered PET carpet. The mills in Dalton, GA make it, I'm pretty sure the same mill that makes Mohawk. We see it a lot in apartment rentals and yes it a PITA to get to look good. I've thrown everything at it, olefin prespray, prescrub, rinse with an alk detergent, and post pad and still looked like junk. As Watson said its polypropelene. It wears like most resin coat polyester upholstered fabrics. Cleans up great but one side of the fibers are always dark.

I guess I'm repeating whats already been said, but as Frank said tell them to switch to a better grade of carpet. Show them how many more years they can get out of it by you cleaning, as it'll be worth it in the long run.

The first thing I would do is quit guessing, do a chemical test on the fiber, you say you got lots, find out for sure what you are cleaning and then you can approch your questions with a little bit more of intelegence.. Not being a smarta$$ just(Yes I am) tring to help you think smarter.

Pet

Yes Mohawk does make most of the PET (they bought Image Carpet Mills) but it is polyester not polypropylene.
Apartment complexes will always try to put the cheapest crap made in apartments. Everytime a mill says they have a new miracle carpet that doesn't need an expensive acid dye resister they jump on it.

Due to the corn being processed into polyester (Sorona) polyester is increasing and nylon is decreasing. We should all be sad about that.

:agree:
Yeah, I really dont like that poly carpet. My favorite line from the customer is "I bought this carpet at the carpet place, they really pushed this kind, its made of recycled plastic bottles!!"

Junk

This polyester carpet is showing up everywhere around here many builders and rental owners are using it because it's cheap. You go to a home that has it it's 2 years old looks like 10. I have gotten good results with Bridgepoints Traffic Slam boosted with either Citrus Solv or Boost All depending on the type of soiling, and using Power Point to extract. That is as long as it isn't packed like concrete.

Bobby Hales

Sounds like what you are experiencing is no longer a cleaning issue but rather a damage issue such as pooling, better known as pile distortion. In the traffic lanes, the pile fiber surfaces are actually damaged and will reflect light differently than the rest of the carpet. This is irreversible, beyond your control, and most importantly it's not your fault. Grooming the areas will temporarily help but always remember it's damaged.

Traffic Slam would be what I would use. Add 2 ounces of Citrus Solv per diluted gallon of prespray.. An ounce of Boost All can make the colors brighten.

Scott Warrington