Carpet pile reversalby Jeff Cross

Have you ever cleaned a carpet and noticed a weird, "squiggly" line running across it, or forming what looks like a "pool"?

Perhaps you cleaned a hallway, and the middle of it looks "snaky" - a distorted line running the length.

If so, you are the victim of "pile distortion", also referred to as:

• Pile reversal
  • Watermarking
    • Pooling
      • Shading

      Taking the blame

      Whose fault is this?

      Don't worry... it's not your fault. It's considered an occasional characteristic of mainly dense, cut-pile carpet.

      It's rare to find this with looped pile carpet.

      However, carpet cleaners can be blamed for this phenomenon, because often this problem isn't as obvious until after cleaning.

      Soils can hide some pile distortion.

      Look at this first picture. Obviously, there's something odd about the appearance of this carpet.

      It is lightly soiled, but has "pools" in various locations. This doesn't appear to be much of a problem, until you walk to the other side of the room.

       

       

      This second picture is from the other side of the room. Same carpet, exact same area of the carpet.

      But notice the pile reversal. Different angle, different perspective.

       

      If you see what appears to be pile distortion, walk around the room and view it from different angles.

      If the appearance changes, as in these two photos, you know what you have - pile reversal.

      You should have documentation with you at all times on why this occurs.

      The Carpet and Rug Institute has an excellent technical bulletin on this subject. Click here to view it. There is a diagram that helps explain how this occurs.

      Be sure to print it and keep it for reference. If you are ever accused of causing this problem, this technical bulletin is your lifesaver.

      Sometimes this problem doesn't show up until after cleaning. As mentioned earlier, soils can often hide pile reversal in carpet.

      After it is cleaned, your customer or client may think you caused the problem.

      Can it be fixed? Rarely. Hot water extraction can help, and a pile lifter can help, but consider this characteristic to be permanent.

      Any fix you do is almost always temporary.

      Educate your client. That's the best thing to do.

      If in doubt if you have pile reversal, you can do two tests.

      This may help you prove to your client that you are not at fault.

      Testing for pile reversal

      Lay a piece of paper in an area where you think the pile has been reversed.

      Under your hand, roll a pen or pencil across the paper.

      The paper will move in the direction of the pile.

      The principle? The paper follows the path of least resistance.

      Then, put the paper where the appearance in the carpet is different, such as in the photos above. If the paper moves in a different direction from the first test, you have proof the pile does not all lay in the same direction.

      The second test is easy.

      Get on your hands and knees in an area where the pile appears to have changed.

      Put a mirror out in front of you, reflecting back towards you.

      What you are trying to do is see the carpet from two angles at the same time.

       

      This way, you can see how viewing the carpet from one direction is different from another direction. http://www.advantagecleaningteam.com/ or http://www.janiservu.com/