DALTON GA - December 14, 2010.  Nine new carpet cleaning solutions and four new vacuum cleaners have been certified under CRI's Seal of Approval (SOA) testing program.

  Nine new solutions have been certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's SOA program for carpet cleaning products. These include:

• Enviro-Solutions’ ES93+ In-Tank Solution
• E-Clean Products’ E-Clean Carpet Cleaner Concentrate
• DuPont's Teflon Advanced Low-Moisture Pre-Spray Solution
• Industrial Paper Products' Encaptivate Dry Spot Remover
• Industrial Paper Products' Pre-Captivate Spot Remover
• Grab/XL Brands' Liquid Grab Green Spot Remover
• Freedman Seating Company’s S3 - 2 Food and Drink Cleaner
• Home Care Industries’ Febreze 2X Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator
• Home Care Industries’ Febreze 2X Deep Cleaning and Allergen Removal

The CRI Seal of Approval program was launched in 2004 to test the cleaning effectiveness of spot removers, pre-spray and in-tank cleaning chemicals. Spot removers and pre-spray/in-tank cleaning solutions are tested using the following criteria:

• Overall cleaning effectiveness - This ensures the product removes soil and spots effectively.
• Rate of resoiling - This ensures the product does not attract dirt to the cleaned areas faster than the rest of the carpet.
• pH - A more neutral pH ensures that carpet dyes and fibers are not adversely affected.
• Surface texture change - The product must leave the carpet pile minimally changed after repeated cleanings.
• Optical brighteners - None are allowed, as they can leave some patches of carpet lighter than the rest.
• Colorfastness - Products must not be so aggressive that they cause a color change in the carpet.

Staining agents tested include mustard, ketchup, hot black coffee, grape juice, permanent marker, chocolate syrup, dirty motor oil and American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) synthetic soil.

• Evaluation of cleaning efficacy is performed using the AATCC Gray Scale for staining and is rated by three independent, trained technicians.
• Resoiling is tested by applying AATCC synthetic soil to the cleaned carpet sample. As with efficacy, the differential soil level between the cleaned sample and control sample is rated by trained technicians.

As with spot removing products, pre-spray and in-tank products are applied to carpet according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• Cleaning efficacy is based on a product's ability to remove soil and thereby improve the appearance of the carpet. The differential soil level between the cleaned sample and the control is rated instrumentally and by a panel of independent technicians using the AATCC Gray Scale for color change.
• The rate of resoiling is evaluated by applying the test product to a standard carpet sample. Then, by applying synthetic soil in accordance with ASTM D-6540, the differential soil level between the cleaned sample and the control is rated instrumentally and by trained technicians.

Four New Vacuums Receive Seal of Approval Certification
The Diversey Company of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, has earned Seal of Approval recognition for three new vacuum models. The TASKI Vento 15 commercial canister joins the program at the Silver level. Commercial uprights TASKI Jet 30 and TASKI Jet 50 have been approved at the Bronze level.

The Kirby Company of Cleveland Ohio added its first vacuum cleaner to the Seal of Approval list with their Sentria Household Upright vacuum, which received Gold-Level certification.

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) program for vacuum cleaners validates performance in soil removal, indoor air quality protection and reduced carpet wear.