So I cleaned my first Triexta carpet today...

I cleaned a Triexta, aka Smartstrand carpet and it was interesting. The customer told me it was this new fiber and all she had to do was use water to clean up spots. So, I walk into her living room and see this beige stuff that was covered in these little gray spots.... everywhere (except under the furniture). I presprayed it with MB Redline and it was STILL hard to clean. It took quite a few wand passes to really get those spots out. It looked good when I was done, but I was concerned of overwetting so I bonnet-dried it. Is the best way to clean this stuff is to just treat it like an Olefin? It was very soft to the touch I will say, and it supposedly never needs protector. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of carpet?

 

I am not sure if it was that trexia stuff friday. realtor claimed it was indiscructable and bleach proof. and never needs soap. It was barely 980 s.f and took 6 hours to clean the crap with all the stains, oil build-up, traffic lanes. I finally got fed up wasting chems. so I got out the greased lightneing and sprayed the traffic areas. rinsed then bonneted and it finally came clean. Not unethical since I hit it with everything with no results.

 

Just something else to make cleaning more difficult. Great Marketing, those guys sure know how to sell ICE to an ESKIMO.

 

Never had any problems with that stuff. In fact I did some tests on them and could not stain or remove color. I've cleaned dog pee out with a flash of an eye and with just straight water. I wonder if they gave her the wrong stuff?

 

Several months ago I did a pet urine job with the same type of carpet. I didn't have any issues with it, in fact it cleaned up pretty nice.

 

Just recleaned one yesterday afternoon. The client has had it almost 2 years and hates it. I'm not keen about it either but we love her dogs, especially the 2 that keep peeing on it. We've been back about 6 times for 2 rooms. I did not see any evidence that it'll clean with just water. On the really heavy areas PetZone with the water claw does great. Yesterday there were also a bad coffee spot and a dog vomit spot. Both cleaned great but with the right products. The stuff she has also has a very bad problem with picking from the dogs' claws. There are threads sticking up everywhere.

 

View attachment Carpet - Triexta.pdf

Here is a Techncial Guide I wrote about Triexta carpet last year. It might help you recognize these when they come your way and know the best way to clean them.

We definitely think it requires more than water to clean it. It does have an affinity for oil much like its cousing polyester. It does naturally resist water-borne spills and dry soils. So if protector is applied, the main benefit is to resist the oily soils.

 

OK, I made a follow-up call to my customer from yesterday. She told me the carpet looks as good as new.
So, I am guessing the gray spots were oil-based and I just need to be a little more aggressive on the prespray.

 

We ended up using Redline powder and citrus solvent as Masterblend recommends for olefin. Works great! Does'nt clean well with just water.

 

Wow, pretty cool seeing this thread come back up again as I am going back to this house Wednesday.
This time, it is spilled strawberries...
If it was like the Gatorade I got out last time, it will be simple - no special red treatments necessary.

 

was this cut pile if so, i wouldn't be post bonneting this type of fiber only berber style you risk the possibilty of blooming the fiber.

 

From what I understand it is very similar to polyester. IQ 150 or Triexta or Smart Strand or Dupont Sorona
YOU MAY NOT want to use your hydrogen peroxide on it as the color may remove easily especially with hot water or if its mixed with a higher pH. So be carfull

 

Basically it is polyester and polyester does not attract acid dyes. As most food, drink and bodily fluids are acidic that is why they are easily removed. Oily spots are attracted to it and will definitely need a solvent to remove.

Nylon loves acid dyes which is why we need to use special dye removers aka Red Relief to remove.

 

I have a customer with this type of carpeting. Her daughter got into some red fingernail polish and smeared it all over the place! The fingernail polish came out successfully with no issue. However oils from the dog can be challenging to deal with. At least this stuff is better than P.E.T. tho. I'm not sure whether triexta is good or bad yet.