Your Carpet Experts

Choosing the ideal color scheme for the carpet has a decisive impact on its durability and expected maintenance costs. In commercial and institutional settings in particular, greater attention has been paid to carpet color schemes in recent years. Lighting calculations often influence the choice of carpet color. The so-called light reflectance can lead to savings on lighting costs. Planners tend to try to implement this and therefore specify extremely light carpet colors. However, this line of thinking completely disregards the costs of ongoing maintenance cleaning. It is important to note that, as a general rule, dirt and stains tend to be dark (with exceptions, such as in a grain mill). It is therefore recommended to choose a slightly more muted color scheme. Darker, patterned carpets are extremely effective at concealing dirt, as high-traffic areas and stains are less visually noticeable on these designs than on solid-color ones. The visibility of widespread soiling should also be evaluated based on the color scheme. White, orange, beige, gray, red, blue, green, brown—in this order, the visibility of soiling decreases. Patterns are even more effective at concealing soiling in these color schemes.

Advantages include: • Individual tiles can be easily replaced if they become dirty or damaged • Using tiles of different colors and various installation patterns allows for customized design options • Carpet tiles are easier to transport • Carpet tiles can be removed and reinstalled • Minimal waste. Points to note include: • The subfloor must meet the requirements of DIN 18365 (Floor Covering Installation) as well as the requirements of DIN 18202 (Flatness Tolerances). • The tiles to be installed should be brought into the relevant rooms 24 hours before installation to acclimate to the room temperature. • The room temperature should not fall below 18°C, and the relative humidity should not exceed 65%. • As a general rule, tiles are always secured to prevent slipping in order to ensure durability and the properties guaranteed by the manufacturer. For this purpose, low-emission, slip-resistant “adhesive fixings” (see the flooring manufacturer’s installation instructions) can generally be used. • In contiguous areas, only tiles from the same batch should be installed in a single direction, with the exception of tile types that can only be installed in a checkerboard pattern. Please follow the specific installation instructions for each tile type. • To enjoy the benefits of tiles over the long term, it is essential to establish a consistent care and cleaning schedule and adhere to it from the very beginning. Failure to do so can result, for example, in an unsightly “patchwork” appearance when replacing tiles, caused by adjacent areas that may not have been cleaned. • Spray extraction is not permitted for textile flooring tiles and panels. Light spot cleaning in small areas using minimal moisture is permitted to assist with stain removal. The combination method (shampooing/spray extraction) is not permitted.

As a general rule, you should avoid using chemicals for stain removal in the first step! This is because any cleaning product applied to the carpet must be removed without leaving any residue—otherwise, it promotes re-soiling (the remaining surfactants, for example, “continue to do their job”: they bind dirt). Regardless of this, the use of chemicals usually places an unnecessary burden on indoor air quality. When you consider that various carpet manufacturers already offer products that are emission-free after installation, it becomes clear that the use of chemicals would quickly negate this excellent feature. Manufacturers generally produce their carpets using such high-quality fibers that most stains can be removed with lukewarm water. This is referred to as indirect stain removal—that is, you never apply water directly to the carpet; instead, you dampen a microfiber cloth with lukewarm water, wring it out thoroughly, and then treat the stain by dabbing (not rubbing!) from the outside in. Sparkling mineral water, which is also used indirectly, can help remove the stain. Additional tips on stain removal can be found in the respective care and cleaning instructions or in the information sheet at werterhalt.org.