CRI Launches New Seal of Approval Program

Dalton, GA - November 17 - The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has launched a new Seal of Approval program designed to recognize superior carpet cleaning products that pass stringent tests administered by an independent, accredited laboratory. Since August, three products have been awarded the Seal of Approval. "The CRI Seal of Approval signifies to customers that they can trust that when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions the product will do an effective job of removing certain stains or soil from carpet or rugs without any damage to their appearance or performance. It sets a high bar for carpet cleaners," said Werner Braun, CRI president. Braun noted that tests have revealed that many carpet cleaning products are not as effective as water at removing stains and soils. Also, some products have been found to increase the rate of resoiling, which means the area cleaned attracts new dirt at an accelerated rate. Also, some soil and spot remover products can affect the color appearance and performance of a carpet or rug. The first product to receive the CRI Seal of Approval is Spot Chomp, a spot remover made by Environmental Solution International, Batavia, Illinois. According to Kent Pullen, a spokesperson for Environmental Solution International, "the Seal of Approval really separates effective products from those that don't get the job done. That's why we wanted to be the first on board to get this distinction." The other two companies who have received the Seal of Approval are Chemical Specialties Manufacturing Company, of Baltimore, and Milliken Company, of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Chemical Specialties Manufacturing has the first pre-spray to pass the testing in Chemspec-ECOgent Carpet Cleaner and Pre-spray, while Milliken's spot cleaner Capture Carpet and Rug Dry Cleaner with soil release pre-mist has also earned certification. Seal of Approval testing is administered by Professional Testing Laboratory, Inc. of Dalton. An experienced panel of technicians tests the performance of two kinds of products: spot removers and pre-spray/in-tank solutions, which may be used in residential, commercial or institutional settings. Carpet cleaning products are designed to be applied to carpet in order to safely and easily remove spots or stains. The testing program's parameters include efficacy, resoiling, pH, optical brighteners, and colorfastness to light. The independent testing lab's technicians compared the products' performance against that of water in all categories. The Seal of Approval is only awarded to those cleaning products with superior performance in all of the testing categories. The product must be applied and the spot cleaned in accordance with carpet manufacturers instructions. Staining agents used for the testing include mustard, catsup, black coffee (hot), grape juice, permanent marker, chocolate syrup, dirty motor oil and synthetic soil. To evaluate the spot removal efficacy, technicians utilize the gray scale for staining according to the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Evaluation "procedure 2." Three independent trained technicians rate the products' efficacy, and those ratings are then averaged to the nearest 0.1. Products that have passed the testing criteria for the cleaning products will be listed on the CRI website: www.carpet-rug.org

Related Topics:RD Weis, Carpet and Rug Institute

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