Carpet Fiber Identification
Now, don’t get concerned that you must identify
the fibers before starting to clean! 99% of the time, cleaning carpet is
just coming in to the home (or business), leaving your literature with the
customer, doing a pre-inspection (preferably with the customer), cleaning,
sometimes doing some spotting, and applying carpet protector (if you were
able to sell this extra service). The only time we need to know the fiber
type is when we see problems or when we must get very aggressive in cleaning
or spotting. For example, if it’s 100% olefin, we can use chlorine
bleach for spotting, BUT, we cannot use a hot iron and we should not apply
a carpet protector to olefin. With wool, we are very restricted in what chemicals
we can use for cleaning and spotting. Fortunately both fibers are easy to
test for.
Olefin is easily tested for – it is the only fiber that
floats in water! To test, simply place some fiber in a glass of water, or
preferably some very diluted detergent, hold it under the surface of the
water, and squeeze out all the trapped air, and let go. If the fiber floats,
it’s olefin! BUT, if you’re planning on using chlorine bleach,
test with chlorine bleach too in case this is a nylon-olefin blend.
Wool is also easy to test for. First, if the carpet or
rug smells like a wet dog when you’re cleaning it – it’s
wool! In addition, you can always run a “burn test”. Use a butane
lighter to melt or ignite an unknown fiber to determine its type (never use
a match). The purpose of using butane lighter is to avoid masking the odor
of the burning fiber. Burned wool smells like burned hair. Burned silk smells
like burned feathers. Additionally, wool dissolves in undiluted chlorine
bleach.
Chemical fiber tests are more difficult requiring the
use of such things as formic acid and hot cresylic acid. The good thing with
carpet fiber is that if it’s not wool and it’s not olefin, both
of which are easy to test for, it most likely is nylon!
Burn Tests:
Use a butane lighter to melt or ignite an unknown fiber to determine its
type. Never use a match. The purpose of using a butane lighter is to avoid
masking the odor of the burning fiber since the butane flame is odorless.
- Acrylic:
Melts and shrinks from an approaching flame
and ignites quickly. In the flame, burns rapidly with bright, sputtering
flame with a lot of
smoke. When withdrawn from the flame, it continues to burn, melts, and
drips. It has an acrid odor and results in a hard, irregular black bead.
- Cellulose:
Cellulosic fibers, such as cotton, burns and the ash crumbles – as
do protein fibers such as wool and silk.
- Corterra:
Similar to polyester.
- Cotton/Linen:
Cellulosic fibers such as cotton and linen ignite readily
with an approaching flame and scorches. Once in the flame, it burns rapidly
with yellow flame. When pulled out of the flame, it continues to burn rapidly
with a red afterglow upon extinguishing. Smells like burning paper. Its
burned residue is a gray to charcoal colored light feathery ash, which
easily crumbles.
- Nylon:
Melts and shrinks from an approaching flame. In the flame, melts
and burns slowly and is smoky. Once out of the flame, burns slowly and
tends to self-extinguish. Burning nylon smells like celery. Its burned
residue is a hard, shiny brown or gray bead.
- Polyester:
Melts and shrinks from an approaching flame. In the flame,
melts and burns slowly. When withdrawn from the flame, it burns slowly,
melts and drips. Has a slightly sweet smell. It produces a hard, shiny
black or brown bead.
- Polypropylene (Olefin):
Melts and shrinks from an approaching flame. In the flame,
it melts and burns. When withdrawn from the flame, it continues to burn.
It has a candle wax odor and produces a tough, tan bead.
- Protein:
Protein fibers, such as wool, burns and the ash crumbles – as
do cellulosic fibers such as cotton.
- Rayon:
Scorches and ignites readily with an approaching flame. In the
flame, burns rapidly with a blue flame. When withdrawn from the flame,
continues to burn rapidly with a red afterglow when the flame is extinguished.
Smells like burning paper, leaves a gray to charcoal color light feathery
ash.
- Silk:
Curls away from an approaching flame. In the flame, it burns slowly
and sputters. Weighted silk glows red. Out of the flame, it is self-extinguishing
or may burn very slowly and smells like singed hair. Its residue is round,
shiny black beads, easily crushed. Weighted silk has the skeleton of the
original fiber.
- Wool:
Chars and curls away from an approaching flame. In the flame, it
burns slowly and unevenly. Once pulled out of the flame it is self-extinguishing.
It smells like burning hair. It has a brittle, irregular black ash. As
with cotton and linen, protein fibers’ ashes readily crumble.
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