Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval

Assures Carpet Cleaning Effectiveness

Proper cleaning is essential to preserving a carpet’s life and appearance, but not all cleaning products clean equally well.

Independent testing shows that some cleaning solutions and spot removers clean no better than water and can even leave a sticky residue that attracts soil at a faster rate. There are also big differences in the soil removal and moisture capture capacity among extractors, some of which are designed for deep cleaning, others for interim cleaning, and still others for light appearance cleaning.

To make sure carpet cleaning products deliver expected results and to help customers identify those products, the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program tests solutions and equipment and certifies those that meet demanding performance standards.

The CRI Seal of Approval program sets test methods and performance criteria for three categories of cleaning products:

• Spot removers/pre-spray and in-tank solutions
• Deep cleaning extractors
• Deep cleaning systems (processes which incorporate a specific machine used with a specific cleaning agent, following a specific procedure)

Benefits of Effective Cleaning

Effective cleaning has cost-saving, environmental and health-related benefits. Preserving and even extending a carpet’s life saves residential, commercial and institutional users from spending money on premature replacement and reduces the amount of carpet going to landfills.

In addition, carpet serves as a trap for allergens and other particles that fall to the floor. Removing them with vacuums that keep dirt and dust within the canister helps improve air quality. Likewise, using extractors that effectively recover water and cleaning detergents from the carpet minimizes the possibility of mold growth, which can occur when dirt and moisture remain in the carpet.