2025 First Quarter Newsletter
1st Quarter Update
Soaps, Surfactants, and Detergents
Pat Slaven
The carpet care business is about getting dirt, crud and crap (and unfortunately some real crap…) out of carpets and rugs. And well, making customers happy. You care enough to be a member of ARCS, so we assume that you know that a detergent is considerably more than just a surfactant. Still, what is a surfactant? and how does a surfactant work? Then what is a detergent at least technically? And where does soap come into this conversation? And how do these relate and can the words be used interchangeably or will someone get hissy?
You have all heard that oil and water do not mix. And maybe even use that expression off handedly to describe certain friends or family… Luckily chemistry is interesting stuff. The geeks in lab coats figured out how and why it is possible to get oil and water to mix in certain circumstances. This involves lowering the surface tension of water and other interesting reactions to make oil and water somewhat compatible. (1)
Surfactants, which is a shortening of ‘Surface Active Agents’, are wonderful molecules with two very different functional groups on opposite ends of a connecting chain. Yes, soap is a simple surfactant. The first synthetic Surfactant was Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), synthesized in 1830 by French chemists Dumas and Peligot. They were much more famous for their work isolating uranium. However, SLS wasn’t widely produced till after the second World War (2,3)
The head of a Surfactant molecule loves oil and the tail, often festooned with a sodium or potassium ion, loves water. Opposites are connected. The tech words are oleophilic or lipophilic (both mean loves oil) and hydrophilic (loves water). Or conversely hydrophobic (hate water) and oleophobic or lipophobic (hate oil). Most dirt (but of course not all dirt) has some carbon chains which are considered ‘oil’. Our cleaning solution is, well, generally water. Are you starting to see where this is going?
Soap is technically a very simple Surfactant but has a lot of limitations. (1) Soaps work best at higher temperatures, and generally have a fairly high pH ~9-10. Wool is much happier in a neutral or slightly acidic solution rather than a basic one. Standard soaps are rendered ineffective by hard water or salty water. Also, they can have some unappealing side reactions such as forming ‘soap scum’ in water with an elevated hardness caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium. (1)
Surfactants work by those oleophilic heads swarming around a bit of ‘dirt’ on a dirty surface. Such as that grubby rug. That dirt has some oily component and that Surfactant's oleophilic end attaches to it. The tails are hydrophilic and they extend out into the water, very happily. On a molecular level this forms a weird spiky ball or aggregate called a “micelle” that now lifts off the rug fiber and goes quite easily out into the water solution. (1,4) So the Surfactants surround a bit of dirt completely forming a micelle, which then separates and moves into the water solution. The dirt in the center of the micelle has thus separated from the rug you are trying to clean and becomes part of the water solution. This then simply rinses out with water.
While this reaction has a scale a bit greater than molecular, you’ll need an electron microscope to observe the micelle formation and separation from the dirty carpet into water! Surfactants can be formulated to work in different situations, temperatures and with varying amounts of pH and water hardness. They also functionally make water wetter by lowering surface tension. Our industry uses anionic or neutral Surfactants for rug and carpet cleaning. There are cationic Surfactants used in a variety of other industries.
Pretty clever chemistry? Surfactants are chemically tweaked for all sorts of dirt, pH and hardness conditions. However, all ‘dirt’ isn’t the same. We do need more to clean rugs than just Surfactants. This starts the conversion about what is in a Detergent. There is more to follow on this topic in another article.
Regarding the oil and water - well Surfactants help with that on rugs but not your inlaws….
Per usual, if you have an idea for an article, send me an e-mail: pat.slaven@gmail.com
References:
- Surfactants Handbook of Textile Fibers, Dyes and Finishes - Howard Needles
Turkey Rug Trip 2024
Alan & Audrey Falls - Distinctive Rug Cleaning
In November 2024, the Association of Rug Care Specialists organized a unique two-week trip to the country of Turkey to learn all about rug weaving, cleaning, history and more.
Alan and Audrey joined a group of 16 others with Robert Mann and Ahmet Opcin personally guiding and sharing their lifetime of rug experiences with us.
Istanbul
Our trip began in the metropolitan city of Istanbul. We were surprised to learn that Istanbul is one of the most visited cities in the world and has a massive population of around 16 million people! Part of Istanbul is in Europe and the other part is in Asia, making it a very unique melting pot. This was the perfect city to begin to immerse ourselves in Turkish culture, food and history (once our jet lag finally subsided).
We spent time on the Europe and the Asia side, taking in the sights, walking many miles a day, and eating everything along the way. The Topkapi Palace is a beautiful display of architecture and history and boasts a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus. We visited the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art and saw some of the oldest cohesive rugs on display in the world from the 13th century. There are multiple mosques to visit throughout the city, as well as several superb archaeological museums. The Grand Bazar is not to be missed, with its dizzying layout of shops upon shops full of anything you could possibly imagine. Istanbul is home of many world-class restaurants as well and we took advantage of this every evening!
Izmir
We took a quick flight from Istanbul and landed in sunny Izmir! This was one of our favorite cities we visited. Its position on the Aegean Sea provides a comfortable climate, plus beautiful views and sunsets. Izmir reminded us of southern California.
We visited the Antique Textile Conservation facility. They work for private collectors and museums all over the world. The artisans here can perfectly repair or reweave anything – we mean anything! From repairing your grandma’s oriental rug to reweaving museum quality textiles or Navajo chief’s blankets and everything in between, this is the world’s most experienced conservation facility.
We toured the Arkas Sanat Urla museum, which exhibits works by artists from Turkey and abroad, such as paintings, sculptures, carpets, armor, and glass objects, etc.
We also toured the Arkas Sanat Bornova museum, which houses Anatolian Carpets produced in Western and Central Anatolia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Wow! This place was incredible!
From Izmir, we took a day trip to the Ephesus ruins. We consider this a must-see for anyone traveling to the area. Our guide explained the history behind the city and the people who lived there, the excavations that have taken place over the last 100 years, and various events that took place such as those recorded in the Bible at Acts chapter 19 and more. We learned a lot!
Usak
The road to Usak and the city itself was rich with a textile heritage. People (mostly women) have been weaving rugs in small villages for thousands of years. We got to sit down at a loom and tie a few knots around the warps of a new rug that was being weaved. The ladies’ skills and workmanship was amazing to see firsthand.
We also toured a wool dyeing facility as well as a wool processing facility. When you pick up a skein of wool at the store, you don’t always consider how it got there. Seeing the process from the sheep to the loom was impressive.
Lastly, we toured a rug patchwork facility. Here, they take damaged rugs or unsaleable rugs because of the colors and bleach them or over dye them, cut them into pieces, then sew pieces of different rugs together to make one big rug with an eclectic style. No two rugs are the same, which makes their product very unique.
Konya
We found Konya to be the most conservative of all cities we visited. It wasn’t exactly a village, but it also wasn’t a metropolitan city – it was somewhere in between. It was just the right size and a little slower speed, after spending time in the bustling cities of Istanbul and Izmir. The city has a nice spice bazar and many unique shops and beautiful mosques.
We visited a very large rug gallery that had five floors FULL of beautiful rugs. We also toured the gallery’s rug washing and repair facility.
Antalya
Antalya was the perfect place to end our wonderful trip! Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, this city is recognized as the “capital of tourism” for Turkey. It has a gorgeous long coastline, it is flanked by the Taurus Mountains, and it has all of the Mediterranean city vibes, complete with cobblestone streets and old, architecturally-pleasing buildings. We loved it!
We visited another rug cleaning facility situated near the mountains. They clean rugs with an amazing view! They had their own sheep to provide them with wool for rug weaving. After that, we enjoyed walking the city and enjoying a day lounging at the beach, soaking up the sun on our last day abroad.
The food in Turkey was terrific. We love Fort Wayne’s Turkish Restaurant Deema. After visiting Turkey, we are impressed at how authentic the food at Deema is. The owner, Yasser, works hard to provide delectable meals and a fantastic experience. We brought a small rug back from Turkey and have it on display at Deema. See the rug and have a delicious meal at 6410 W. Jefferson Blvd in Covington Plaza.
Visiting Turkey and meeting the wonderful people there gave us a greater appreciation for the history of rugs and textiles. Seeing the process of rug making from beginning to end, impressed on us just how much work goes into creating true handmade rugs – they are works of art!
We are so thankful to the Association of Rug Care Specialists for planning and executing such an awesome trip!
Do you have a rug in Northeastern Indiana that needs cleaned and/or repaired? Visit Distinctive Rug Cleaning to learn more about our services and expertise.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Intermediate In-Plant Rug Cleaning
Dates: May 5-7, 2025
Location: Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., Dallas, TX
IICRC Continuing Education: 12 credit hours
Price: Member Price: $975; Non-member Price: $1800
The class consists of three intensive eight-hour days taught primarily on the work floor of an operational wash plant. Topics covered will be cleaning chemistry, spotting, rug identification, learning to ‘read’ and identify rug construction, rug intake assessment, rug washing, drying theory, and finishing after wash. Hands-on portions of the class will demonstrate the practical application of all that theory on an active wash floor in real-time. The hands-on training will focus on wet cleaning; students will wash a lot of rugs and have the opportunity to try a range of techniques and observe the results. More than just an opportunity to work and learn on a high production wash floor, students will gain a broader understanding of the cleaning process and how it applies to their own businesses. The fee for the class includes lunch for the three days, handouts, and all teaching materials. A short test will be given at the end of the class session. You will need to bring wash boots.
CRS Course & Test (Dallas, TX)
Dates: January 20-25, 2025
Location: Class and test given at Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., Dallas, TX
The Certified Rug Specialist class is a five-day, advanced rug identification seminar. Aimed at those who are already competent in basic rug ID and looking to take the next step, this class arms students with the tools to improve and expand their readily apparent rug identification skills, as well as provide them with the skills to identify those rugs which may not be so obvious.
In addition to identifying the rugs' origins, the class covers the practical uses for that knowledge, such as common pre-existing conditions, cleaning considerations common to the rug type and conversational knowledge with helps to distinguish oneself in the marketplace.
While this class is the primer for the rug identification portion of the CRS exam, it is also of value to anyone looking to improve their rug knowledge or "shake the dust" off existing rug ID skills. Class fees includes five lunches, handouts and a copy of A Comprehensive Guide to Oriental and Specialty Rug Cleaning, which serves as the class manual. While there are currently no specific prerequisites for this course, students must be cleared by the ARCS education committee to ensure they have the adequate background knowledge to benefit from the material presented.
The CRS class is for students with a good foundation of experience in cleaning and rug identification, the ability to readily identify commonly encountered rugs and looking for a program to take their skills to the next level. Participants must be ARCS members in good standing. No specific prerequisites are required, but all applicants for the class are encouraged to speak with the head of the Educational Committee, Robert Mann, or the class instructor, Ellen Amirkhan, for final approval.
If you are a member of ARCS, please join our ARCS Member page on Facebook !
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