6 Carpet Maintenance Practices For More Environmentally Sustainable Facilities
First, businesses that adopt environmentally friendly practices prove they are good stewards of the resources needed to run their businesses. And that matters to many consumers.
In fact, a 2018 survey showed that “83% [of respondents] would always pick the brand that has a better record of sustainability…”
But — beyond the intangible benefit of being a good environmental steward and making customers happier, creating a more environmentally sustainable work environment can help your facility save money, too.
So, how can you help you facility become more environmentally sustainable, for the planet, or your budget and for your customers?
Surprisingly, the way you manage your carpet cleaning process can help. Here are 6 simple ways you can help your facility become more environmentally sustainable – simply by improving your carpet cleaning practices.
Environmentally Sustainable Carpet Maintenance Practices
1. Clean instead of replace.
Maybe your carpet looks bad. Like, really bad.
So bad, in fact, that you’re considering replacing it.
But before you click the “buy” button on a brand-new carpet, talk to a carpet cleaning professional like DPM Care.
Odds are good that it’s not as bad as you think.
A professional will be able to tell you whether your carpet is salvageable. And, if so, how much more life you might be able to get out of it. By cleaning instead of replacing, we keep hundreds of square feet of carpet and padding out of landfills each year.
We’ve been able to make ugly carpets look almost brand-new. We may be able to do the same for you.
2. Use low moisture cleaning methods.
This might surprise you, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, only “0.5% of the earth’s water is available fresh water.”
Water is a finite resource. So, it’s important we conserve it.
And, surprisingly, carefully considering your carpet cleaning method can help you do that.
DPMCare’s low moisture carpet cleaning methods use 399% less water than hot water extraction. So, the next time you hire a carpet cleaner, choose a low-moisture cleaning method.
3. Use tea tree oil-based solution for combating odors.
When you’re being tormented by an unpleasant odor, it’s tempting to go for the heavy-duty commercial solution.
But before you do that, try a more natural option like tea tree oil to get rid of the offending smell.
Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. It’s even great in the medicine cabinet for topical application on cuts, scraps, athletes food and all sorts of skin conditions.
4. Look for vendors that use eco-friendly products.
While there are some carpet maintenance practices you can handle on your own, at some point, you’ll need to call in a professional.
When you do, find vendors that use eco-friendly products.
5. Consider adding a layer on top of the carpeting to extend its life.
One of the ways your carpet gets worn down is by dirt and debris getting locked into the fibers, causing wear.
But adding a walk-off mat system to the entrance of your facility can help you stop a large portion of that dirt from ever making it to your carpet. Simply by putting a few walk-off mats at the door, you can extend the life of your carpet.
6. Create a long-term carpet maintenance plan.
Here’s the truth—
One day, your carpet will reach the end of its life. And after you hold a candle-lit memorial service, it will be time to replace it and move on.
But, you can greatly extend your carpet’s life simply by having a carpet maintenance plan in place.
As with tip #1 (“Clean instead of Replace”), this tip keeps your carpet out of the landfill for longer and saves you money.
In fact, we believe an effective carpet maintenance program is so important we wrote an ebook on the topic:
How to Develop an Effective Carpet Maintenance Program
Just click here to download it for free.
Creating a more sustainable office environment isn’t complicated, it just requires a bit of planning.
Use these 6 tips to create a more environmentally sustainable facility without causing too much headache.