This Guide to the CRI’s Seal of Approval (SOA) Program is the 18th in a series of 18 articles designed to share some of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) best online assets – a collection of downloadable fact sheets. Developed as easy-to-use, one-page position statements, the CRI Fact Sheets cover four main carpet-related topic areas: Indoor Air Quality, Asthma and Allergy, Cleaning Products, and Environmental Sustainability.

Each of these topics is addressed from the perspective of various market segments: carpet dealers and consumers; architects, designers and builders; school administrators and facility managers, and healthcare administrators and facility managers. There are also separate fact sheets explaining CRI’s Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality and Seal of Approval carpet cleaning standards – 18 fact sheets in all.

The fact sheet on the Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment begins:

What’s the Seal of Approval Program?
“The CRI Seal of Approval program tests the effectiveness of carpet cleaning products and certifies those products that remove difficult stains or a sufficient amount of soil without damage to the carpet. Not all products clean well enough to earn this distinction. Seeing the CRI Seal of Approval logo on products helps consumers recognize that they are buying quality products.” It continues:

What types of products are tested?
Under the Seal of Approval program, tests are conducted on cleaning solutions and deep cleaning machines. Each product is tested at an independent laboratory against control samples to assess product performance using scientifically accredited cleaning standards.

• Spot removers and pre-spray/in-tank cleaning solutions are tested for overall cleaning effectiveness, pet stain and odor removal effectiveness, rate of resoiling, pH, optical brighteners and colorfastness to light.

• Deep cleaning extractors are tested for soil removal efficacy, amount of residual moisture and appearance retention.

• Deep cleaning systems (which use a specific machine used with a particular cleaning agent, following a set procedure) are tested for soil removal efficacy, resoiling, appearance retention, residual moisture, surface appearance change with repeated cleaning, colorfastness, pH and optical brighteners.

• Vacuums are tested for soil removal, soil containment and wear to the carpet.

Why is the Seal of Approval program necessary?
Not all cleaning equipment and solutions achieve the same results. Independent testing has shown that various cleaning detergents and spot removers clean no better than water. Worse, they can leave a sticky residue that attracts soil at a faster rate. Also, the equipment used to clean carpet varies widely in its ability to remove soil, recover water and maintain a carpet’s appearance.

How does the Seal of Approval program benefit customers?
Effective carpet cleaning helps maintain the life and beauty of the carpet. This means customers get more enjoyment out of their carpet and more value for their investment. Also, helping carpet maintain its life-cycle cuts down on its premature removal to landfills. And that benefits everyone. Finally, some carpet companies require the use of Seal of Approval products as part of their carpet warranties.

What is Space Foundation Certification?
An important feature of the Seal of Approval program is the use of XRF technology to measure the amount of soil removed from the carpet. Because the Space Foundation recognizes the XRF component of the Seal of Approval program as a Certified Space Technology©, companies with certified products are eligible to display the Space Foundation Seal along with the CRI Seal of Approval. This is an excellent way to showcase how space science applies to everyday life.

Why are some Seals platinum, gold, silver or bronze?
The Seal of Approval program utilizes X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology to measure precisely how much soil a product removes from a carpet sample. Those that meet the stringent minimum requirements for the Seal of Approval qualify for the bronze rating. Those achieving higher soil removal receive a silver rating. Products achieving an even higher level of measurable soil removal are awarded a gold level Seal of Approval. Recently, a platinum level was added for those products that reach the highest level of efficacy.

What else should people know about carpet cleaning?
Today’s carpets are more stain resistant and durable than ever, making them relatively easy to clean and maintain. However, preserving the life and beauty of carpet depends on several factors: the quality of products and equipment used to clean carpets; the frequency which carpets are cleaned; and the skill and knowledge of the people doing the cleaning.

CRI wants to be known not just as the science-based source of information about carpet, but as the first stop for any and all questions about this useful floor covering.

For the complete list of Carpet and Rug Institute Downloadable Fact Sheets, click on this link.

Check our latest costumer review here or simply click on them to read the entire experience.

Werner Braun: Carpet a safety device on Dalton Daily Citizen-News!

Carpet and Rug Institute President Werner Braun continues his series of articles for the Dalton Daily-Citizen News with a column on a very important benefit of carpeted floors: added comfort and safety. In earlier columns for the paper, Mr. Braun discussed how carpet improves acoustics, and gave tips on the best ways to clean and maintain carpet for optimal health of indoor environments.

This article, titled “Carpet a safety device“, says, “The reasons people continue to put carpet on their floors are almost as varied as the choices of colors, patterns and textures of the carpet itself. Make no mistake; carpet is the floor covering of choice for a reason… Carpet continues to make our homes and businesses a better place by providing a softer surface that is ideal for cushioning our footsteps, reducing slips and falls and minimizing injuries when falls do occur; not to mention, carpet underfoot just feels better.”

The article mentions one study that shows carpet is 82 percent less stressful to stand on for prolonged periods compared to hard surfaces. Multiple studies show that pleasing surroundings play a vital role in job performance, and teachers and others who spend much of their workdays on their feet appreciate the cushioning carpet provides. In schools, carpet helps create a better learning environment for teachers and students alike.

Carpet also prevents slip and fall accidents that happen when there is too little friction or traction between footwear and walking surfaces. The most common slips happen on wet or oily surfaces, occasional spills, or loose, unanchored rugs or mats, and flooring or other walking surfaces that do not have the same degree of traction in all areas. The article continues to point studies that show that people – especially toddlers and the elderly – are less likely to be injured when falls do occur.

“Not to mention, have you ever dropped a dish or glass before? Chances are you probably spent the next few minutes cleaning up broken dish and glass if it wasn’t on carpet.

So what can you do to protect yourself and your family, specifically toddlers and older individuals, from slips and falls? Make sure that all rugs and mats are properly attached to floors, especially in bathrooms and kitchens where spills are more prevalent. As for all the other rooms in your house, properly installed carpet is the number one safety measure for slips and falls, and the best comfort.”

~Carpet and Rug Institute vacuum testing program identifies the best for soil containment, indoor air quality

I was rushing through the grocery store recently, trying to get everything I needed for a last-minute dinner party, when a woman stopped me and said, “I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who walks around talking to herself.” Admittedly, I had been muttering, but I didn’t think anyone but me was listening.
One thing I have never done is talk to my vacuum cleaner, however I couldn’t help but identify with this post from Nancy Kibbee, editor at NaturalInteriors.com, who doubts her vacuum’s ability to remove and contain soil from her home – particularly since she cites the benefits of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval testing and certification program for vacuum cleaners. The article is titled, “A Message for My Vacuum Cleaner,” and it begins:
“You have served me well for a very long time, but there has to be something that holds dust better.”
“…I am coming to terms with reality: My vacuum cleaner is no longer the top of the line. It has seen me through every tough job, and it operates with admirable suction power. But too much of what it sucks up comes back out of its filter and it’s polluting my indoor air.
It is probably time to look for high-filtration technology, although the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) – which has a certification program for vacuum cleaners – says these costlier options are not always necessary.
For more guidance, CRI, a manufacturers’ trade organization, uses an independent laboratory to test vacuum cleaners on multiple points of performance.  CRI’s website also offers a wealth of information on how to choose the vacuum cleaner that is best suited for your carpet or flooring. For example, engaging the vacuum’s beater bar – the high speed on my vacuum cleaner – is not recommended for the wool carpet in my home.
As for dust containment, the best-performing vacuums are not always the most expensive, says Bethany Richmond, CRI communications manager.

The fact is, everyone has their own style when it comes to home and business decor. So there is no right or wrong answer. Carpet is the foundation of your room’s look. It can be a neutral color, blending in with fabrics and other surfaces, or it can be a vibrant focal point of the room, making a statement that reflects your style.

Ever-popular beige carpet can make a room look spacious. Environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quartz and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular. Warm colors can turn up the heat in a room that lacks light, while cool greens and blues have a calming effect. The good news is that no matter what look you’re going for, there is a carpet color out there to compliment it.

A good TPI to look for: 4.50 to 4.75.

• Nylon comes in a variety of color schemes, has a soft feel and excellent resiliency and durability.
• Olefin is resistant to water stains, making it the primary fiber used in indoor/outdoor carpet.
• Polyester features luxurious feel, inherent and permanent stain resistance, and the ability to produce bright colors.
• Wool is a natural fiber noted for its luxury and performance. Its features include soft “hand”, high bulk, color variety and inherent flame retardant characteristics.