This is a subject that begs more attention especially since we’ve had a number of situations where the color in a carpet has been affected creating a change or loss of the original color. Aside from the normal atmospheric or environmental influences of color loss or change such as sunlight, ozone or oxides of nitrogen, which will create fading of various magnitudes in a carpet, there are other influencers. Before we get into that though we also have to consider the fiber and dye system of the carpet and how it will prevent or allow color change or loss.
Specific to the issue is one particular case where a Berber style carpet consisting of 93% polypropylene fiber and 7% yarn dyed nylon is being said to have white spots appearing. Polypropylene is solution dyed and it is virtually impossible for a bleaching or oxidizing agent or chemistry to change the color. It is loathe to have color taken from it because the color pigment is an integral part of the fiber. Additionally, polypropylene is hydrophobic, which means it pushes water away. Any water based agent or substance is naturally repelled by polypropylene. Water or a liquid substance may go into the carpet but it won’t be absorbed by this fiber. Polypropylene can be cleaned with bleach and it will have no affect on the color of the carpet. It can fade in the sun with enough exposure, as any colored material will, but indoors where most of it goes this will happen so slowly and gradually that it may never be noticed. It’s intriguing to hear of a color issue on polypropylene like this because it suggests something else is going on at the installation site to create the complaint condition. What is not happening is something bleaching the color out of the predominant polypropylene fiber content in this carpet, of that you can be sure.
On the other hand nylon that is dyed with a post dyed system can fade with exposure to sunlight, ozone or oxides of nitrogen. These naturally occurring conditions are so common that carpet is routinely tested for the effects of this triad of color killers. Manufacturers know this and can build the fiber to resist these color influencers or add special inhibitors to prevent or lessen their effects on a carpet.
Most color loss or change in carpet, not caused by one of the three naturally occurring sun or gas conditions in the environment, is caused by someone introducing a foreign substance to the carpet that will quickly or slowly change the color. This could be any number of cleaning agents or chemicals used in the home, acne medication, personal care products, perfumes or colognes, topical medications or ointments and even carpet cleaning products, do it yourself or otherwise. In the case of acne medication for example, it can sit on a carpet from hand contact for months until the right stimulus, heat and humidity, catalyst a reaction and cause a color change that can occur in minutes; and that’s not an exaggeration. Other substances can take a long time as well, so long that no one remembers or can recall anything getting on the carpet. But, as I’ve told you for years, the carpet never lies; it will always tell you what’s wrong if you know how to interpret what it’s telling you. Same type tell-tale clues you see on CSI provide the evidence of the culprit that caused the problem with the carpet or other flooring materials for that matter. The evidence never lies regardless of who says what and you can’t change science with a verbal defense.
To your benefit, relative to color loss issues are newer fibers possessing technology that naturally resists color loss and change. Besides solution dyed nylons and polypropylene, polyester is one and the new Corterra and Sorona used respectively by Shaw and Mohawk. These two newer fibers have the combined performance characteristics of nylon and polyester. They wear like nylon and have the color fastness and natural stain resistance of polyester. These fibers and carpet made with them will afford you excellent protection against color loss or change.
Anytime there is a color loss or change in a carpet it is most likely caused by someone doing something that caused it. This is particularly true if there is a pattern of any kind to the intrusion, whether it be drip spots, an isolated location, a location in proximity to where someone would be cleaning something or a where a particular event may have or be taking place. Color loss or change caused by atmospheric or environmental influences will likely be overall and most often manifest itself as fading.
These conditions and the affected carpets can all be tested to determine what caused the problem and there will always be evidence that will implicate, often very clearly and irrefutably, the offender. Sometimes it can be the carpet but most of the time it’s something or someone else.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts