Did you know- Carpet yellowing can be caused by a number of factors including environmental factors, pH level,
carpet cleaning solutions and more.
Carpet Yellowing
Yellowing of carpet fiber is often perplexing to the consumer and the carpet professional alike. Consumers often insist yellowing is a result of a manufacturing defect and the carpet professional has a difficult time convincing the consumer otherwise. Yellowing of carpet fiber has become more commonplace in recent years due to the development of stain resist technology. Consumers are now able to purchase lighter shades of carpet with less worries about the cleanability of the fiber. These new, lighter colors hide yellowing less than the darker colors of the past.
Identifying the source of the yellowing can sometimes be elusive. There are a number of causes for yellowing of synthetic carpet fiber. Yellowing can be the result of one isolated source or a combination of sources. (see also carpet color fading)
While permanently eliminating the reoccurrence of yellowing can be difficult without identifying the source, a temporary solution can usually be achieved by applying an approved acid-rinse solution to the face fiber. An acetic acid solution (white vinegar) or a citric acid solution should be used by a carpet cleaner to remove any yellow discoloration. A ten (10%) percent pharmaceutical grade citric acid solution often works well due to the residual benefits of the citric acid solution. In some cases, the consumer may use a solution of one cup water mixed with one cup white vinegar to neutralize small areas of discoloration. Any other consumer application should be discouraged. The application of any detergent solution should also be discouraged since some types of yellowing can be permanently "set" by the high alkalinities of many detergent solutions.
Possible Causes of Yellowing
BHT (butylated hydroxy toluene) or BHA (butylated hydroxy anisole) is probably the most commonly recognized yellowing situation and probably the most over-blamed. BHT serves as an ultraviolet inhibitor and an antioxidant. It was used through the years as a preservative in polypropylene yarn systems, carpet adhesives, some latex formulations, various backings and back coatings, and many other consumer products. Many rebond carpet cushion (carpet padding) products may contain Bht and has been attributed to numerous carpet yellowing complaints. BHT is considered non toxic and is even contained in many food items.
Optical Brighteners are fluorescent dyes that are added to many
carpet cleaning solutions to enhance apparent cleaning results. Unfortunately, these dyes begin to oxidize as they begin to deteriorate and may cause carpet fading or yellowing. Once added to carpet fiber, there is no reversing the process. Carpet fiber is permanently damaged. Optical brighteners are rarely listed on product ingredients. But chemical formulators have known of the deleterious effects on carpet for many years.
Carpet manufacturers expressly forbid their use, yet many chemical formulators continue to include them in their formulations because of the perceived cleaning enhancement. They can easily be detected on carpet fibers with the use of a black (ultraviolet) light. If you suspect optical brighteners have been used on your carpet, either by a carpet cleaner or in a do-it-yourself carpet cleaning solution, contact your carpet manufacturer to determine whether they have a published recommendation prohibiting its use. If they have a published recommendation and the brighteners were sold/applied after the publication date of the manufacturers bulletin, you may or may not have a legal claim against the formulator/cleaner or both. In either case, you should contact an attorney for legal advice.
Bleaching Agents - There are two types of
bleaching agents that can affect carpet color; reducing bleaches and oxidizing
bleaches. Oxidizing bleaches, like Chlorox®,
can be used in the hands of a professional to prepare a carpet to be
redyed, but in most cases the most common complaints received are accidental use
of these bleaching agents by consumers. Oxidizing bleaches work by adding oxygen
to the stain to change the structure of the dye.
Rarely will a consumer ever make the connection between the use of a bleaching
agent and color loss or yellowing of their carpet. Sodium hypochlorite
(the active ingredient in many household disinfectants) can be tracked from
restroom floor areas to carpeted areas where carpet color can be removed.
In some cases, the center of these areas will be devoid of color, while the
edges may produce a yellow discoloration (also see carpet color fading)
One point of confusion for consumers is the increased of olefin fiber which is
solution dyed. Some carpet retailers
use the expression that "olefin resists stains so well it can be cleaned with
Chlorox®". While olefin fiber will
resist the color loss effects of bleaches, some olefin carpets are blended with
other fibers which do not resist these bleaches. In addition, some
consumers many confuse the carpet they purchase with the retailers description
of the olefin fiber style they may have seen. Another very common problem
is for a consumer to use bleach on an olefin carpet style and traffic from the
damp carpet is tracked to other carpet that is not solution dyed. Many
bleaching agents are not free rinsing and will remain on the fiber even after
drying. A moisture catalyst may reactivate this bleach.
The second type of bleaching agent is a reducing bleach. or a stripper.
Reducing bleaches are used for stain removal where color has been added to a
carpet fiber like Kool-aid or gatorade,
red wine stains, or
grape juice stains. These strippers work by removing oxygen.
The following have been recognized as contributing to yellowing of carpet fibers as well. See Carpet Glossary for full description:
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oxidize as they begin to deteriorate and may cause carpet fading or yellowing. Once added to carpet fiber, there is no reversing the process. Carpet fiber is permanently damaged. Optical brighteners are rarely listed on product ingredients. But chemical formulators have known of the deleterious effects on carpet for many years.
