Steve Hanson

If you offer carpet spotting as a service in your cleaning business, you should have a professional spotting kit. Here's a list of what should be included in your kit:

• Spotting Tool Box to hold all chemicals and tools.
  
  
• Blotting towels. Use to transfer spots. Use white towels only. Colored towels may leave dye on the carpet.
  
  
• Bone scraper. Use for breaking up hard or crusty material by agitating the chemical on the spot. Whalebone is best.
  
  
• Q-tips. Use for applying small amounts of chemical.
  
  
• pH Test Strips. Use for testing the alkalinity or acidity of a spot.
  
  
• Spotting brush/ tamping brush. Short, stiff-bristled brush, use for tamping (not scrubbing) spots and stains.
  
  
• Duck Bill Scissors. Use for taking samples of carpet fibers and trimming loose ends.
  
  
• Flip top bottles. For easy application of chemical.
  
  
• Trigger Sprayer. Use for applying chemical to larger spots.
  
  
• Standard spotting chemicals:
  
  • ADS - Alkaline Detergent Solution - Use for removal of acid-based stains.
  • NDS - Neutral detergent solution - Neutral in pH and will not leave residue.
  • VDS - Volatile Dry Solvent - For removal of oil, tar, and grease. Also use to rinse (NVDS).
  • NVDS - Non-volatile Dry Solvent - Use for removal of paint, grease, and gum. Allows more time on spot without evaporating.
  • Acid Spotter - Use for removal of alkaline spots and browning.
  • Rust Remover - Hydrofluoric acid solution for removing rust.

Remember: do not rub or scrub spots because this may result in spreading the spot and fuzzing of the carpet.

Download a Spotting Chart Here

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.